There are a couple of ways that you can create a waterproof fabric. A waterproof fabric can be created using a coating. The downsides are it is not as soft as other methods, and harder to make it as breathable. Montane limits the use of this technique to jackets designed for slower-paced activities.
The second is using a membrane. That’s the preferred option for us. Applying a membrane to the fabric can be done in a number of ways. You can have a two-layer fabric, where you have a face [outer] fabric and then the membrane is simply bonded to the back of that. With those garments, you tend to have a drop liner or something inside the jacket to protect the membrane.
You can also have a 2.5-layer laminate, where you have a face fabric, a membrane bonded to the face fabric, and then you have a print to protect the membrane and lift it off the skin. Our Minimus jacket has that construction.
The third option is three-layer which adds an inner layer. This is probably your most durable construction, because you’re fully protecting that membrane.