Top Trending Weatherproof Technology
From protecting your precious gadgets and small electronics to making sure your clothing is weatherproof, technology has a large part to play in keeping you dry and comfortable. We all lead hectic lifestyles, dashing from here to there and smaller items, like smartphones, are susceptible to damage, especially if they come into contact with water. That’s why many of the leading companies have adopted new weatherproof technology in 2019 to help safeguard and protect your investment.
From the wristwatch you wear to the mobile phone you use, your earbuds to a hard drive, pretty much everything can be manufactured to withstand a little H20. Rechargeable flashlights, cameras, walking shoes and backpacks for work are all being designed with the latest weatherproof and waterproof technology.
So whether you want to continue to use your iDevice during a downpour, take your camera with you to take pictures when you’re diving, or submerge yourself and your kit while crossing a river, you’re going to require adequate protection.
Let’s dive in and review the Top Trending Weatherproof Technology in 2019.
What Makes Your Device Waterproof As Opposed to Water-Resistant
While the latest smartphone you’ve bought might boast that it can take photos in the pool and your wearable tech promises to be indestructible, it’s important not to get lulled into a false sense of security. There is a big difference between waterproof and water-resistant. The two words are often used interchangeably but they really shouldn’t be and you don’t want a linguistic misunderstanding to end up costing you an arm and a leg.
Basically, waterproof means water is physically unable to enter inside a device, whereas water-resistant means water can get inside but only under certain conditions. Most of today’s devices are water-resistant, not waterproof and that’s a subtle yet crucial point to understand. So your phone will probably be fine handling a spot of rain, but you won’t be able to take it diving with you. That smartwatch you’re wearing can probably be submerged underwater for a small amount of time, but you won’t be able to press any of its buttons; otherwise, you’ll run the risk of the seal opening and water entering.
Devices Designed to Repel Water Are Described as ATM Or IP
ATM is what’s commonly used in most of the new wearable devices that hit the market in 2019. It stands for atmosphere. 10 meters underwater is two atmospheres and every subsequent 10 meters adds another ATM. So if you want to wear a device underwater, check out its ATM level as that will determine its water resistance and how deep you can go while wearing it.
IP Ratings Explained
An international set of approved IP (Ingress Protection) ratings exists and it’s this rating that you need to look out for when you’re purchasing products featuring the best weatherproof technology. IP ratings are used for popular consumer products like smartphones.
Let’s quickly take a look at what these ratings represent.
The first digit denotes the level of intrusion protection. With zero (or sometimes an X) providing no protection and six indicating that the item is entirely dust and other particulate tight (sand and debris, for example), including a vacuum seal.
The second digit refers to the level of moisture protection provided. Again, zero or X means there is no protection, while at the opposite end of the spectrum, a rating of nine implies that an item can be subjected to high-temperature jet sprays or a steam cleaning process and still remain impervious to water.
Many popular consumer products have a rating of 7 which means they can be immersed in water for 30 minutes up to a depth of 150 – 1000 meters. For continuous submersion in water, then the number you’re looking for is an 8. So if you require an item to be both dust and waterproof, then the IP code to look out for is IP68.
What About Waterproof Fabrics
You could, of course, opt to safeguard your tech inside a cover, case, backpack, or a coat pocket. In which case, you need to go for fabrics that provide adequate protection. So let’s take a look next at the next waterproofing technologies used by leading brands when it comes to garments and the like. When it comes to the turn of fabrics, something called Hydrostatic Head is used to assess how waterproof and weatherproof an item is. Shortened to HH, it’s measured by covering the bottom of a tube with fabric and then filled with water. The point at which water begins to leak through the material is measured to determine the HH. For any item to be categorized as being waterproof, it must have a minimum HH level of 1500 mm. If you are looking for advanced rainproof and waterproof protection under very high pressure, then the waterproof rating level you should be looking for is 20,000 mm.
You’ll also see that many of the leading brands additionally offer something called DWR. This stands for Durable Water Repellency and is the outer layer of a garment, such as a jacket, which causes water to bead away. If your items being to retain water, that’s usually a sign that the DWR coating needs reproofing. Accessible waterproof technology used in clothing, backpacks and footwear includes GORE-TEX, Pertex, Texapore, Omni-Tech and Storm Shield. Other repellent top layers also included Teflon and Polyurethane.
We’ve picked out GORE-TEX for final special mention because it’s a famous brand, highly respected the world over plus it provides exceptional levels of waterproof and windproof protection combined with breathability, which is also vital. Also, some of the best quality footwear are GORE-TEX boots.
GORE-TEX is available with four different levels of breathability, which vary according to the product, including 2-layer, 3-layer, Z-liner as well as LTD construction. There’s also something called GORE-TEX Pro, which is specially designed for high-intensity pursuits, delivering incredible comfort and support.
So there you have it. From IP to HH ratings, if you’re interested in the latest weatherproof technology, our handy guide should provide you with an essential overview
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