Omni-Tech®

What is Omni-Tech®

Think: waterproof protection of your childhood yellow slicker, minus the steamy sweatbox.

For each Omni-Tech® jacket, pant, and glove, the Omni-Tech® membrane works with a Durable Water Resistant (DWR) coating to block rain, snow, and sleet. But unlike that uncomfortable thing you had as a kid, Omni-Tech® allows sweat to escape, so you stay truly dry.

Columbia uses different laminates on various Omni-Tech® pieces to provide the optimal combination of waterproofing and breathability. When you make backcountry laps during a winter snowstorm, you’ll want outerwear with Columbia’s highest waterproof and breathability ratings. For bluebird days in the resort, that kind of protection is overkill, so consider outerwear that features more moderate ratings. All you have to remember: the higher the rating the more waterproof and breathable the fabric.