Custom Hardshell Jackets
30-Piece MOQ. 1-Piece Sample.

What Waterproof Rating You Actually Need

Waterproof rating is a hydrostatic head measured in millimetres — how tall a column of water the fabric holds before it leaks. 5,000mm handles light rain over short exposure. 10,000mm covers steady rain and is the practical floor for a jacket sold as waterproof. 15,000mm handles heavy rain and wet snow while seated or kneeling, which is why it is the standard for ski and snowboard programs. 20,000mm and above is specified for prolonged exposure and sustained pressure from a pack harness. Past 20,000mm the marginal benefit is small while fabric cost and stiffness rise sharply, so most buyers over-spec here.

Fully Taped Or Critically Taped Seams

Stitching a waterproof fabric punches thousands of holes through the membrane, so seam tape is what makes the jacket waterproof, not the fabric alone. Fully taped means every seam is sealed, and it is required for any jacket claiming a waterproof rating in sustained rain. Critically taped seals only the shoulders, hood and upper chest, which cuts cost and is acceptable for a light rain shell but not for ski, snowboard or marine use. Always confirm which one a quote includes — it is the most common place a cheap quote hides its saving.

2L, 2.5L Or 3L Hardshell Construction

A 2-layer hardshell bonds the membrane to the face fabric and hangs a separate mesh or taffeta liner inside — comfortable, forgiving to manufacture, and the usual choice for resort ski jackets. A 2.5-layer replaces that liner with a printed or sprayed protective coating, giving the lightest and most packable shell but a clammier feel at high output. A 3-layer laminates face, membrane and backer into one sheet: the most durable and breathable build, the most expensive, and the right choice for technical and alpine programs. Specify layer count in your tech pack — it drives cost more than the waterproof rating does.

Reading Breathability Numbers On A Quote

Breathability is quoted as MVTR in g/m2 per 24 hours, and higher is better, but only figures measured by the same test method can be compared. Ask which method was used — ASTM E96, JIS L1099 A1 and JIS L1099 B1 produce very different numbers from the same fabric, and a factory quoting a large figure without naming the method is quoting the most flattering test. A 10,000 g/m2 rating tested consistently is a genuinely breathable shell for most outdoor use.

What To Send A Hardshell Manufacturer

Hardshell quoting depends on construction details a photo cannot show. Send these and we quote in one pass, at 30 pieces per style MOQ with 1-piece sampling at $100 refunded against bulk.

• check_small Target waterproof rating in mm and breathability in g/m2, with the test method named.
• check_small Layer construction: 2L, 2.5L or 3L.
• check_small Seam sealing: fully taped or critically taped.
• check_small Zipper spec — waterproof YKK reverse-coil on the main front and pocket zips, or standard zips under a storm flap.
• check_small Hood, powder skirt, pit zips and pass pocket — each feature changes the pattern and the price.
• check_small Quantity, size breakdown, target delivery date and Incoterm. We ship DDP where required.