I am almost duty bound at the start of every waterproof jacket review I write nowadays to outline the changes in the waterproof garment industry. Much is changing thanks to the ban on PFAS - so-called ‘forever chemicals’. On the whole this is a good thing for the environment, and a bad thing for staying dry; modern, post-ban tech chemically isn't as good, particularly in the case of durable-water-repellent (DWR) treatments.
One positive thing I have noticed though, in my third year of curating our guide to the best waterproof cycling jackets is a shift in consumer focus away from simply chasing the most waterproof option in favour of a more balanced approach taking into account breathability and other factors. This is a good thing and has shifted the market away from simply plonking anything Gore-Tex at the top of the tree by default, and I have seen far more jackets utilising Pertex Shield in recent months than I have anything else.
