Glossary term
Waterproof-breathable
A fabric construction that blocks liquid water from entering while allowing water vapour to pass through — enabling sweat to escape from a sealed garment.
Definition
Waterproof-breathable fabrics use a membrane (microporous, hydrophilic or a hybrid) laminated between shell and lining layers.
Breathability is measured in moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) — higher numbers mean more sweat can escape.
Why it matters to DSEAMS
DSEAMS preserves both waterproof performance and breathability across every seam. Traditional seam-sealing reduces local breathability where tape is applied.
Related terms
- Hydrostatic headA laboratory measure of how much water pressure a waterproof fabric can hold back before leaking through, expressed in millimetres of water column.
- Barrier membraneThe thin functional layer inside a laminate that blocks liquid water while allowing vapour to pass.
- MVTRA measure of how much water vapour can pass through a fabric per square metre per day — a proxy for breathability.
- Laminate constructionA textile assembled from two or more layers bonded together — typically a face fabric, a membrane and a lining or backer.