Multifunctional work jackets

Colloquially 'waterproofⁱ' starts at 1,500 to 2,000 mm water column - enough for short showers and light drizzle. For the construction site standard you should choose at least 5,000 mm, combined with taped seams. From 10,000 mm we speak of true rain-jacket quality for continuous rain - that is the Isotex class from Regatta Professional, which is the right choice for roofers, winter service and mountain rescue. Important: without taped seams the highest water column is useless because water enters through the needle holes of the seams. DWR impregnation (the beading effect of water rolling off) is not waterproofing, only water repellency - after 20 to 30 washes it must be re-treated with Nikwax or Grangers.

A 3-in-1 jacket is a system of two separately wearable jackets connected by a zip: the waterproofⁱ outer jacket (rain and wind protection) and a removable inner jacket - either as fleeceⁱ or as padded softshellⁱ. In autumn you wear only the outer jacket, in spring only the inner jacket, in winter both together as full kit. The advantage over a simple winter jacket: with one purchase you replace two or three jackets in the wardrobe and can react flexibly to weather and location. The Regatta Professional Kingsley (RG1430) and the Defender III (RG1300) are the reference models in the 3-in-1 segment. When purchasing, make sure that the outer and inner jackets are ordered in the same size - otherwise it will pinch when worn together.

For actual winter road-service duty in sub-zero temperatures, we recommend at least 300 g/m² padding, combined with a sherpa inner lining at the collar and a waterproofⁱ outer fabric from 5,000 mm water column. The Regatta Professional Northdale (RG245) with Warmloft insulation and the Sabre pilot jacket from Result Workguard (RT300) with 320 g/m² are proven models for municipal-depot winter service. For extreme deployment in sustained double-digit sub-zero temperatures — gritting service with long standing phases, mountain rescue, winter THW deployment — the heated models with Thermogen Powercell technology (RG2100, RG739) are the benchmark. These have integrated heating elements in the back and chest area, battery-powered with three heat levels and around eight hours of runtime on the medium setting.

Softshellⁱ jackets are water-repellentⁱ (not waterproofⁱ), windproofⁱ and breathableⁱ - they are lighter, more comfortable to wear and ideal for everything that isn't continuous rain: indoor installation with a route to the vehicle, sales field work, electrical field service and the transitional periods in spring and autumn. Waterproof jackets with PU membrane (RG301, RT118, RT124) are mandatory for anyone working in continuous rain: roofers, carpenters on structural work, landscaping and civil engineering. Rule of thumb: if you stand in the rain twice a week for more than an hour, you need a waterproof jacket - otherwise a high-quality softshell is sufficient. The Regatta Professional Hydroforce (RG650) and the 3-layer softshell RG745 are the reference softshells in the trades segment.

For multifunction work jackets, we recommend embroidery instead of printing - the embroidery withstands rain, Nikwax re-impregnation and frequent cleaning cycles better than print films, which can detach at the edges. Standard positions are the left chest (company logo, about 8 to 10 cm) and the back (company name with slogan, up to 25 cm). Important: on waterproofⁱ membrane jackets, only positions outside the rain protection zone should be embroidered - every needle perforation in the membrane area theoretically reduces waterproofing. In practice, our embroidery partners additionally seal the back of the embroidery with a waterproof film. For club and corporate orders from 15 pieces, we can offer personalisation directly. Allow an additional delivery time of about ten working days for finishing.

Multifunctional work jackets tolerate machine washing at 30 to 40 degrees – please consistently avoid fabric softener, because it destroys the DWR impregnation and clogs the pores of the membrane. Use a special technical wash agent such as Nikwax Tech Wash or a normal liquid detergent without fabric softener content. After twenty to thirty washes the water-repellentⁱ effect wears off – then re-impregnate with Nikwax TX.Directⁱ or Grangers Performance Repel. Tumble drying at low setting additionally reactivates the DWR impregnation (only if the manufacturer approves tumble drying). Never iron, never dry clean. Pull hood and cuffs smoothly into shape and allow to dry flat, otherwise edges and drawstring channels will curl. On 3-in-1 systems, always wash the inner jacket separately – fleeceⁱ and waterproofⁱ outer jacket have different wash requirements.

With 33 models, Regatta Professional is the market leader in the range – the British outdoor workwearⁱ brand offers the widest selection of 3-in-1 systems (Kingsley, Defender), Isotex waterproofing and heated models (Thermogen Powercell). Daiber (brand James & Nicholson) follows with 21 models and a focus on softshellⁱ jackets with Cordura reinforcements – the STRONG line is the German answer to the British Isotex series. Result Workguard (11 models) is the EU workwear alternative with good price-performance ratio, especially in the Sabre pilot jacket series. Terrax Workwear (4 models) is the German industrial classic with a focus on robustness and industrial-laundry suitability. James & Nicholson (4 models directly under the brand) rounds off the offer with Doubleface and hybrid models. For team kitting in the trades, we advise Regatta Professional for 3-in-1 requirements, Daiber for Cordura focus and Result Workguard for price-sensitive orders.

Yes, distinctly. 11 of the 90 multi-function work jackets have a genuine Women's cut rather than a scaled-down unisexⁱ size. The difference lies in narrower shoulders, a tailored back and sleeve construction oriented towards women's anatomies — the Kingsley 3-in-1 Women's jacket from Regatta (RG1440) and the Isotex 10,000 Women's version (RG148) are the benchmark models. For mixed teams in the trades, landscaping and facility management, we consistently recommend kitting out the female team members in Women's cuts — unisex models often do not fit in the shoulder and back area at smaller garment sizes and therefore do not sit wind-proof at the collar. For the order, please provide a separate Women's/Men's count with Size allocation.