Signing up for an ultra trail, such as the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc®, the Diagonale des Fous® or the UT4M®, often means discovering for the first time the requirements of race organisations. Among the compulsory equipment is a waterproof jacket with a hood, capable of guaranteeing a minimum of 10,000 Schmerber of protection and 10,000 of breathability. At Raidlight, we know that this can be a confusing choice - who hasn't hesitated when faced with their first jacket? As an equipment manufacturer and ultra expert, we're here to support you with a complete collection of approved jackets for ultra trails. Discover our innovations and get ready to take on the trails with confidence!
The main features for choosing a waterproof jacket
To choose the right waterproof jacket for your needs, it's important to consider a number of key criteria:
Waterproofing: une bonne veste imperméable doit vous protéger efficacement des éléments (pluie, neige, vent). L’imperméabilité d’un produit est mesuré en Schmerber, on le considère imperméable à partir de 10 000 Schmerber.
Breathability: a breathable trail jacket wicks away the moisture produced by exercise, preventing condensation and discomfort, while maintaining optimum body temperature for long-lasting performance. There are several ways of measuring a product's breathability, the two most commonly used being :
The MVP (Moisture Vapour Permeability) calculates the quantity of water, in the form of vapour, that the fabric lets through in 24 hours. The higher the value, the better it breathes.
RET (Resistance Evaporative Transfer) measures a fabric's ability to let water vapour generated by the body (perspiration) escape. It is an index of resistance, the lower it is the more it indicates that the garment is breathable.
Lightweight and compact: The jacket should be lightweight so as not to weigh you down. The more compact it is, the easier it will be to pack in your trail bag.
Comfort: for maximum comfort, choose a jacket with drawstrings, pockets with waterproof zips, a hood with visor and an integrated gusset to protect your trail bag.
Reflective details: for added safety when running at night.
Our waterproof jackets
At Raidlight, we design waterproof jackets that incorporate unique technical features to enhance your trail riding experience. Discover the innovations you'll find on our models:
- Watch porthole: Our jackets have a watch porthole on the left wrist so you can check your watch without removing the sleeve, a practical feature when running.
- Non-slip print: Our trail jackets include a non-slip print on the shoulders to prevent your trail bag from slipping.
- Thumbloops: Integrated thumbloops on the sleeves of our Ultralight MP+ jacket keep the sleeves in place during exercise, preventing wind and rain from seeping in, and keeping your hands warm.
- Store your jacket in its pocket or hood: Our jackets are designed to be compact and can be folded into their pocket or hood, making them easy to store once the weather stabilises.
- Hood with visor: all our waterproof jackets have a hood to protect your head and neck from the rain. An integrated visor on the hood of our trail jackets protects you not only from the rain, but also from the wind, and ensures better visibility without water running down your face.
- Fit: For optimum fit, the hood, sleeves and bottom of our waterproof jackets are fitted with elastic.
- Reflective details: The reflective details on our waterproof jackets are specially designed to improve your safety during low-light activities, such as early-morning or evening training sessions or in bad weather.
- Gusset: we've fitted our Top Extreme Ultra jacket with a gusset to hold a hydration pack of up to 18 litres, effectively protecting your gear from the elements. The chest openings provide direct access to the flasks without having to open the waterproof jacket. At the back, a large adjustable zip ensures perfect coverage of the trail bag, keeping it dry while allowing the jacket to return to its natural shape when you're not using a bag.
Our membrane MP+
The MP+® membrane is a technology specially designed to protect riders from the rain and all types of bad weather. The characteristics of the MP+® membrane are :
- High level of impermeability (from 10,000 to 25,000 Schmerber)
- High level of breathability (from 10,000 to 50,000 MVP)
- Windbreaker
- Cold resistance
- Durability
The MP+® membrane is a solid, non-microporous membrane. As a result, it is totally waterproof, breathable and windproof. It's made from a hydrophilic polyurethane film with exceptional properties: thanks to its physico-chemical properties, it provides perfect comfort during your outings.
Want to find out more about waterproof clothing and get help choosing your trail jacket? We've got more articles on the subject:
How to choose your waterproof jacket
Everything you need to know on waterproof and breathable clothing
Discover ou collection of waterproof jackets and other waterproof equipment
