A waterproof item is completely impervious to moisture and prevents liquids from going inside the item. Water-resistance is a measure of how well a fabric resists becoming wet with water. Water Resistance  If you ever want to know if an article of clothing will resist water, look for its water-resistance level, which usually ranges from "light" (good at repelling dripping) all the way up to "very good" or "excellent" (wet just a few drops). The best fabrics have both this protection and a tight weave that helps keep them dry on the inside as well as the outside. So just because your jacket's rain hood wraps around doesn't mean it's going to be particularly helpful against light summer showers