AT STONEY CREEK, OUR PHILOSOPHY IS TO DESIGN GEAR THAT IS OPTIMISED TO PERFORM A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND TO MAXIMISE YOUR HUNTING EXPERIENCE. OUR PREMIUM RAINWEAR HAS BEEN TRUSTED BY HUNTERS WORLDWIDE TO PERFORM. SINCE 1994, WE HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF PRACTICAL DESIGN, FABRIC AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS. WE HAVE ALSO HELPED CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND WHAT RAINWEAR IS RIGHT FOR THEIR SPECIFIC HUNTING APPLICATION – AS THERE ARE SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS OUT THERE. KERRY CRAWFORD, OUR LEAD TECHNICAL PRODUCT DESIGNER, WILL SIMPLIFY THE TECHNICAL AND DEMYSTIFY THE COMPLEX SPECIFICATIONS AND RATINGS. HE’LL ANSWER SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHICH WILL ARM YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE TO ENSURE YOUR NEXT RAINWEAR PURCHASE IS THE RIGHT ONE, THAT LASTS FOR YEARS, AND MAXIMISES YOUR HUNTING EXPERIENCE.

Which jacket should I buy that does it all? I want to use it for hunting and on the farm.

(KC) Just like you cannot run a marathon in gumboots, it is important to select the right rainwear for the environment and situation. If you want a heavyduty jacket for the farm, it’s not going to fold up and disappear into the bottom of your pack as a backup when heading out hunting. Every design and performance attribute has its strengths and weaknesses, so you need to ask yourself what is going to match your needs and select the right garment based on what attributes are most important for that specific application

What does purpose-built actually mean? And what does it mean for a hunter?

(KC) Every outdoor situation is different and unique. It’s not possible to get one tool for every job, so the first question we always ask ourselves when designing rainwear is: What are the non-negotiables that are going to help maximise the hunting experience? Then we design every detail from the ground up, every technical fabric and every feature are carefully considered. We use real hunting situations and worst-case scenarios to ensure we have our customers covered. The needs of a multi-day hunt in the back country, are very different to an early morning bush stalk. We consider how much is the jacket going to be carried and how much will it be worn? What’s the terrain like? Will the hunter be pushing through wet bush and scrub? Climbing up exposed ridges to get to the perfect glassing spot? Does the need to dry quickly, outweigh the need for silence? These are all things that keep us constantly searching, testing and innovating.

How does waterproofing a jacket actually work?

(KC) Making a jacket waterproof requires number of components. At Stoney Creek, we don’t think of rainwear in single fabric layers or rated numbers. We look at “waterproofness” as a team effort - much like a rugby team. There is a team of different fabrics, technologies and design that all play an equally important role to be a unified success. DWR coatings and the outer face fabric deniers and densities are the first line of defence. They are not chosen to be waterproof, but to be strong, resilient and prepared to tackle everything that is thrown at them. Next in line is the membrane or ‘the midfield’. The membrane is the waterproof barrier and selecting the right membrane is critical. Stoney Creek only uses high-performing membranes that balance extreme waterproof performance with high levels of breathability and bond strength. But don’t get taken in by big flashy numbers. The membrane may have all the technical skills, but it’s only as good as the team around it. The final line of defence ‘the backs’ includes inner linings and antimicrobial technologies. These are the back-ups and play an equally important role. Focusing on a single player in this finely balanced team can leave you exposed and ultimately your defence will not be up to the challenge. Also, don’t forget your ‘Bench’. Think of the subs as your responsibility to keep the players protected with the right garment care and servicing and replenishing your waterproof team to keep in it’s prime condition

What is the difference between a microporous (hydrophobic) and monolithic (hydrophilic) membranes?

(KC) Both membrane types are designed to prevent water from passing through and to allow trapped moisture vapour to escape. But the way they achieve this is very different. Microporous membranes have microscopic pores that are too small for water droplets to pass through, but big enough to allow water vapour exit. This process requires a number of environmental factors. Trapped moisture (sweat, internal water) needs to be converted into water vapour via body heat and air before it can be forced though the pores by a pressure differential. Being wet and damp inside the jacket, and wet and damp outside stops this process and the jacket will “wet out” leaving you feeling damp. Monolithic membranes breathe through a process of absorption and migration - driven by heat and high humidity. Moisture is passed from the inside to the outside of the jacket in a stepping-stone process. When this differential is higher due to heat build up, the process is accelerated. When the heat is lower, the process will slow - keeping you more comfortable. Similar to the microporous membrane, this process is reliant on a natural pressure differential, but the difference is a monolithic membrane is solid and is less effected by dirt and oils that can block the pores in an unprotected microporous membrane.

How waterproof is a Stoney Creek jacket? How do I make sense of the rating numbers?

(KC) Buying rainwear based on one number created in static lab test is the biggest mistake a lot of people make. The number is a pressure test rating given when forcing water though a patch of the fabric in a very controlled environment. It’s no indication to how the fabric is going perform in the real world or in design of the final garment. Like the fabric ‘team’ analogy - relying on one flashy player (a big number, feature or weight) is not going to guarantee you have everything you need when the going gets tough. The fabric and membranes we have developed offer the optimal balance of waterproofness and breathability and they are backed up with fabrics coatings and treatments that combine to give you market leading performance. At Stoney Creek, we set our own very tough base-line minimum requirements for resistance to water penetration test (JIS L1092:2009 method B) as our guarantee of long-term performance. In our labelling, we use numbers for our minimum standard of waterproof rating rather than a maximum number achieved in a single test. So, if you are wanting to compare two different jackets based on a single number, be sure you understand what you are comparing, and compare apples with apples. Not lemons.

Has something changed in your rainwear waterproof ratings? I was looking at your Glaisnock Jacket last year, and it said 10,000mm waterproof rated. Now it is saying 47,368 mm waterproof.

(KC) At Stoney Creek we believe a jacket is functionally waterproof when you have achieved a minimum standard of 10,000mm of waterhead pressure at any point on the garment. We have always exceeded this number in fabric testing, but because we feel it is misleading to quote this number without context, it has never been our focus to rely on this number. However, based on recent market feedback to give a level playing field we now publish maximum rating (fabric only test) numbers alongside our own Stoney Creek standard minimum rating (complete garment test). It is essential to remember that we don't wear fabrics, we wear clothes. So, you have peace of mind that you have the most purpose-built gear, developed with industry leading fabric, and designed and tested right here in New Zealand.

Is the Stoney Creek waterproof test standardised and accredited?

(KC) Our fabrics are tested independently in an SGS certified laboratory to the JIS L1092 (method B) standard. This is a high pressure test that involves a sample of the fabric being clamped over a cylinder filled with water, air is then forced into the cylinder at continuously increasing pressure until a maximum of three water droplets appear on the surface of the fabric. The pressure is measured at this point and the test is repeated another four times. The average of these five results is calculated, and this is published as the fabric waterhead test rating. This test is performed in the centre of a sample of new fabric and is not completed on a garment or on a joining seam.

Why does it feel like I am getting wet inside my rain jacket?

(KC) Stopping the rain from penetrating your rain jacket is just the beginning. Creating a microclimate under your rainwear shell is the key to staying comfortable. Making good decisions with your layers before you are uncomfortable is the best way to perform and stay dry in wet conditions. Discomfort - being too hot or cold is felt as a sensation on the skin, so wearing a wicking base layer is critical. The mid and insulation layers you choose to wear between your base and your outer rain shell, give you the ability to regulate your temperature during the day. Changing your layers before you need to, is an important skill to master. Remove a layer before you push up a steep hill to prevent overheating. Add a layer when you stop moving - so you don’t cool quickly. If your base layer is saturated, change it out for a dry base layer. Doing all of these things will keep your internal microclimate in the right zone and will allow your rain jacket to work to its full potential.

What care should I take with my rain jacket?

(KC) Getting the maximum out of your rainwear requires a bit of care. After heavy use, the DWR coating will slowly begin to wear off, removing a layer of defence and leaving the outer fabric exposed. If you find that your jacket becomes heavy when exposed to rain, or your skin feels a bit clammy under the fabric, there's a good chance the DWR coating has worn off, or it has "wet-out." This doesn't mean your jacket has reached the end of its life. It can be rejuvenated by washing and reapplying a re-waterproofing treatment. Removing dirt/ blood and stains and drying the jacket properly after use and before storage is critical. See the Stoney Creek Rainwear Care guide for more details.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS TO MAKE WHEN CHOOSING THE MOST APPROPRIATE RAINWEAR FOR YOUR NEXT HUNTING TRIP. BUT RATHER THAN JUST CHOOSING THE HIGHEST NUMBER, OR THE LIGHTEST WEIGHT, WE RECOMMEND CHOOSING THE RIGHT APPLICATION FIRST AND THEN FINDING THE CORRECT BALANCE OF PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTES THAT WILL MAXIMISE YOUR EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT YOUR HUNT. HAVING A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR GEAR, HOW IT PERFORMS, HOW TO LAYER ACCORDINGLY, AND HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR GEAR IS CRUCIAL. TREAT YOUR TECHNICAL APPAREL WITH AS MUCH CARE AND MAINTENANCE AS YOU DO YOUR RIFLE AND IT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

Kerry Crawford. New Product Developer, Stoney Creek Ltd.