Jack Wolfskin has launched a new women's waterproof jacket that replaces the usual seam tape with a continuous membrane.
Taped seams usually do a pretty good job of keeping out water, but they have some disadvantages. First of all, the tape and adhesive add to the weight of the jacket. Second, even when taped, seams are a potential point of failure and are the place where your waterproof jacket is most likely to spring a leak. Thirdly, taped seams can be quite bulky, and can sometimes rub when you're wearing a pack.
