Brand · France
Forclaz / Decathlon
Decathlon's trekking label, notable for publishing internal test figures — including whole-garment shower tests — more often than most brands at any price.
Background
Decathlon was founded in 1976 in Englos, northern France, by Michel Leclercq; Forclaz is its trekking label. A separate founding date for the Forclaz label itself is not published on the official sources we reviewed.
What to check before buying
Editorial buying guidance, not a brand rating
Identify the exact product reference before comparing specifications. Similar-looking jackets can be intended for different activities and levels of exposure. Read any published test conditions carefully, and distinguish a fabric measurement from a claim about the finished garment.
For the general method, see how to choose a waterproof jacket and waterproof ratings explained.
Brand facts
Published company information
- Country of origin
- France
- Founded
- 1976
- Price range
- Entry
- Jacket families
- MT100, MT500, MT900
- Warranty
- UK: two years from purchase for members on Brands by Decathlon products. The separately advertised ten-year Forclaz/Quechua warranty covers backpacks, not jackets. Terms differ by region — check the local warranty page.
- Repair programme
- Official UK support documents DIY iron-on waterproof patches for textile repair. A universal free professional repair service for rain jackets was not found on official sources.
- Sustainability
- Publishes group-level sustainability reporting. Verify any environmental claim per product and season.
WaterproofJacket.com assessment
Our editorial view of the brand
Strengths
- Publishes whole-garment shower-test protocols (intensity and duration) where most brands publish nothing
- Distinguishes fabric waterproofness from assembled-garment resistance in its own documentation
- Very low entry prices for fully taped, membrane-based jackets
Weaknesses
- Product pages can contradict themselves — one reviewed MT500 page showed both 20,000 mm and 25,000 mm in different fields
- Range naming (MT100/MT500/MT900) does not indicate waterproofing: the MT100 padded jacket is water-repellent only
- A universal professional repair service for rain jackets is not documented on official sources
Frequently asked questions
What does Decathlon's shower test actually show?
It is a whole-garment test developed by Decathlon that simulates rainfall at a stated intensity for a stated duration — for example 450 litres/m²/hour for four hours on a reviewed MT500. It demonstrates the assembled garment's resistance under those conditions; it is not a universal guarantee for every Forclaz jacket or a different product generation.
Is every Forclaz MT jacket waterproof?
No. The MT number indicates a trekking product family, not a waterproofing level. The MT100 synthetic padded jacket, for example, is described as water-repellent for light rain. Check the exact product reference and its published specification.