What Makes a Quality Rain Jacket?

This may be a question you have been asking yourself as you&#;ve been searching for the perfect rain jacket before winter really kicks in. 

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There are factors into making a good rain jacket. A good quality rain jacket should keep you dry, but you will also want a jacket that is breathable, comfortable and offers the best protection for your needs.

We&#;ve put together this guide to take out the guesswork when it comes to buying a good quality raincoat.

 

Traditional or high tech? A closer look between fabrics.

When you think of a traditional rain jacket, the classic yellow rubber fisherman style coat might come to mind, but technologies in fabrics have upgraded the traditional rain jacket. But which is best, sticking with tradition or investing in high tech fabrics?

Rubberised Rain Jackets.

While there are some jackets made entirely from rubber, most rain jackets are coated in a PVC or PU rubber coating which helps make the fabric water repellent. Rubberised jackets are great at repelling water, perfect for a sudden downpour.

However, there are some drawbacks of rubberised rain jackets, the main one being that it isn&#;t necessarily breathable. Of course, this is dependent on the brand and design of the jacket, but rubberised jackets don&#;t allow for internal moisture to escape.

Rubberised jackets are classic and durable, designed to repel water and keep you dry in a sudden downpour.

High Tech Rain Jackets

There are a lot of different fabrics which are high in tech, designed to keep you dry and stop you sweating. Perfect for high-performance outdoor activities.

The technologies behind these fabrics are the driving force which makes them breathable and waterproof. Microscopic pores are built into the fabric allowing to vent our water vapour that builds up when you perform. The microfibers are small enough to keep water out, making it entirely waterproof.

These jackets are often lightweight and easily packable too. Some big names to look out for are Gore-Tex and Pertex eVent.

 

The type of fabric you decide to go for is entirely dependent on what you plan on doing while wearing the jacket. Rubberised jackets are great for keeping you dry while you do day to day activities, high tech fabrics are ideal for more high-performance activities where you&#;ll be outdoors for a longer period.

 

Water-Resistant Vs Waterproof

It is a question that has stumbled across the lips of many people: what&#;s the difference between water-resistant and waterproof? It is an essential question if you want to find a quality jacket but are unsure of the difference between the two.

Water-Resistant

Water-resistant jackets generally mean that they can handle light rain or a short period out in heavy rain. They are not designed to keep you entirely dry for long periods out in downpours, they are built for someone walking to town in the rain or short periods of travel.

Coats that are water-resistant do not have taped seams so water can get through the jacket at weak points. Over time the water-resistant coating can wear, therefore a good way to see that your water-resistant coat is effective is if the water beads on the fabric.

Water-resistant jackets are great for everyday use, perfect for short trips out in light rain.

Waterproof

Waterproof jackets are designed to keep you dry no matter how hard the rain is. They are versatile for being out in the elements for long periods of time and are more suited for harsher weathers.

The fully taped seams ensure that water cannot enter on weak points, ensuring that you stay dry all over. The fabric is also treated with DWR (durable water repellent) which ensures that water is repelled across the garment.

Waterproof jackets are ideal for extensive outdoor activities, perfect to keep you dry no matter the weather.

 

What do layers mean?

When investing in a rain jacket you will probably come across terms such as 2-ply, 2.5ply or even 3-ply. In a broad term, these refer to the layers of fabric of the garment, one layer generally being the waterproof or water-resistant covering and the others being a mix of fabrics.

2-Ply

This is the weakest of the layers and offers the least amount of water resistance. Made with a layer of polyurethane or similar water repelling coating, and a layer of tightly woven face fabric. A mesh lining is loosely attached to stop the rubbery feel of the material on the skin.

This type of coat is great as a casual rain jacket around town or downhill skiing.

 2.5-Ply

Made using similar materials as the 2-ply but the added half-ply is what makes the difference and trips people up. This half layer is applied in a dot or grid pattern inside of the jacket. This acts like a lining by keeping the jacket&#;s inner surface off the skin. This key difference makes these jackets lighter than the 2-ply.

This type of coat is great for travelling or for outdoor activities such as running or cycling.

3-Ply

This type of layering offers the greatest protection from wind and rain. Generally, they are fitted with a more breathable waterproof membrane which can be sandwiched between a face fabric and an inner fabric. These three components are then either bonded or laminated to feel like a single piece.

This type of coat is great for long outdoor activities such as hiking or skiing.

 

The Finer Details

All rain jackets come with a varying of different styles and attachments, they can determine the make or break of a jacket. But what details do you want to look out for when you come to choose the best jacket for you?

Taped Seams

A term that you may have already heard but what exactly do taped seams mean?

Taped seams are a material applied to the inside of the garment along the stitching. Designed to stop water penetrating through the stitched holes of the material, it can be essential in making a jacket waterproof.

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Watch out for terminology, critically taped seams are seams which have been taped in certain areas, such as the hood, neck, or shoulders. While important areas are protected other areas such as arms are not, which means that you could get damp from prolonged exposure to the rain.

Welded seams are when two pieces of material are fused together with heat and pressure. It melds the two pieces together so that there are no holes from stitching. This type of taped seams works best as there is no way water can seep through.

Hood

An essential to any rain jacket and one you might see as a given to offering the best protection. But not all hoods are designed the same, there are some that offer better protection than others.

The main thing to look out for in a hood is whether it fits entirely over your head and ears. You want to be completely covered and protected, so a hood that falls short of this is unsuitable. If you find a hood with good coverage, make sure it has adjustable drawstrings, this allows you to customise the fit.

Some extra features on the hood can include peaked hoods, these types of hoods are great for keeping the rain off your face. Acting almost like a baseball cap, it gives you that extra bit of coverage.

Helmet compatible hoods are perfect if you plan on climbing. These hoods have adjustable drawstrings around the crown of the hood, ideal to reduce hood volume and secure the hood to your helmet.

Ventilation

Rain jackets that offer manual ventilation are ideal if you are doing vigorous activities, giving you complete control over how you want your jacket ventilated.

There are a few places where ventilation can be added to the jacket. Vented pits sit in the armpit, allowing manual ventilation for those active wearers. Great for preventing sweat but concealed to keep you protected from the rain. Another feature are back flaps are great at preventing moisture from staying within the garment.

Mesh can be used across a wide variety of jackets, even some of the cheaper options. Mesh panels are used in key areas of a jacket which may need ventilation. In cheaper options you might find mesh in the pockets, these can act as a form of ventilation to the garment.

Pockets

A sign of a quality jacket is whether it has enough pockets, in the right places, for your needs.

Pockets in jackets are crucial, perfect for storing your personal items and in a handy place for you to grab them when you need them. If you&#;re into climbing or mountaineering, rain jackets specifically designed for the sport tend to have chest pockets on the torso so not to create bulk where the harness might sit.

In other non-technical jackets, pockets are usually positioned central to the body, making it convenient and within easy reach of the opposite hand without difficulty. Pockets with zips might be engineered to open and close easily with just the one hand.

Drawcords

Essential to make the jacket fit perfectly to your body and to provide waterproof coverage.

Drawcords are designed to improve the fit of the jacket and eliminate dead space, ensuring that your body is well covered encase of a sudden storm. Great for making the fit more personal to you.

Hem drawcords allow the user to cinch the bottom of the jacket in, this can be great for heat retention during those colder months and breezier conditions.

Cuffs

 

Ensuring that water stays out of your jacket no matter what the activity.

There are varying options for cuffs on a rain jacket, especially if it is a jacket designed for performance. If you have a lightweight packable jacket, then elasticated or narrow cuffs would be perfect to save on weight and bulk when packed away.

If you&#;re wanting a more specialty jacket, then adjustable cuffs which can be opened and closed are ideal. They will usually be wider too, but you get to customise the width with drawcords. Perfect for ventilation as well.

Angled cuffs are ideal as they maintain coverage over your arm. Additionally, these cuffs provide an ease of movement if you extend your arms, ensuring that they will remain covered.

 

Choosing the Right Rain Jacket

The main question you must ask yourself now is: what do I intend on doing while wearing a rain jacket?

If you want a jacket for keeping you dry while climbing mountains or trekking in the countryside, you&#;d want a more performance conscious brand which offers the features we&#;ve highlighted above. If you want a rain jacket just for popping into town or during a run, then a lighter jacket that you can easily pack away might be the better option.

If the performance rain jacket is what you need, we&#;d recommend some staple pieces from And Wander. High tech jackets that keep you dry no matter how long the hike is.

Perhaps you just need a jacket for short trips out? Then we&#;d recommend you check out Rains, perfect for casual trips out and features some of our highlights from the guide.

Or you can explore our entire range of jackets here.

&#;If you're in the market for an insulated jacket, check out our Guide to Insulated Jackets here.

The following information is provided to help you pick out raingear for FOP. Please note, raingear must have a hood. Unacceptable raingear includes any type of warm-up jackets, wind-breakers or plain nylon jackets, as well as ponchos designed to fit over backpacks. Any jackets or pants that have a non-polyester or cotton lining are unacceptable. RAINGEAR IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU HAVE. A good test (we're serious) is to wear your raingear in the shower. If you have any questions about raingear you are buying or if you are borrowing from someone and don't know exactly what they are giving you, simply contact us and ask.

When looking for raingear, you can use a few basic features to distinguish between pants and jackets in order to decide what you want to buy.

Waterproof Materials

There are several types of waterproof materials that are used in rain jackets, but most fall into three categories: rubberized raingear, coated nylon, and Gore-TEX.

• Rubberized or plastic jackets usually made from PVC are excellent at repelling water and often very inexpensive. They are heavier than their Nylon and Gore-TEX alternatives and don't "breathe" (allow water vapor to escape through the fabric) so sweat and water accumulate on the inside of the jacket.
• Coated nylon jackets provide an inexpensive, breathable alternative to PVC jackets. By applying a proprietary polyurethane coating to a layer of the fabric, the fabric keeps water out while still allowing breathability. They make great jackets at a great price.
• Gore-TEX: By stretching Teflon into a thin membrane, Gore created a fabric that repelled water in it's liquid form (rain), but allowed it to pass in a vapor form ("breath"). This waterproof membrane is often embedded beneath an outer layer of nylon in Gore-TEX jackets. Though often considered the top-of-the-line jacket, they are quite expensive.

Weight

Raingear comes in three basic categories: ultralight shells, midweight, and expedition weight. All three weights are suitable for FOP, although ultralight shells may not respond well to the high degree of wear from the heavy backpacking.

• Ultralight shells are made for lightness and packability. They are made for bare-bones day-hiking or running and often have few extra features.
• Midweight jackets are more durable and a bit heavier than the ultralights. They have less reinforcement than the expedition-weight jackets and are still light.
• Expedition-weight jackets are built to withstand all weather and terrain. They are ruggedly reinforced, often in the elbows and shoulders, and loaded with options.

Fit Over Clothes

Make sure that your raingear fits over three layers of clothing including your heavy fleece or wool jacket. Wear or borrow clothes at the store to test the fit. If the jacket is too small, it will restrict your movement and decrease insulation when wearing three layers.

Additional Raingear Features

• Durable Water-Repellent Finish (DWR) is a final coating put on coated nylon and Gore-TEX jackets that causes water to bead up on the shell rather than soak in. When the DWR coating washes or wears off, the jacket will absorb more water. To restore the DWR coating, see the Raingear Care section below.
• In coated nylon and Gore-TEX jackets the waterproof layer is enclosed in either a two-tiered or three tiered layer of fabric. In two-ply, a mesh lining protects the delicate waterproof layer on the inside of the coat, while in three-ply, a fabric sandwich encloses the waterproof layer on both sides. Three-ply jackets protect the waterproof layer, creating a more durable jacket, but are heavier.
• Look for a spacious hood with the ability to adjust size and a generous and stiffened bill. For use on FOP, your raingear MUST have a hood.

Raingear Care

Two of the biggest reasons that rain jackets lose water-repellency or waterproofness is dirt and grime working it's way into the fabric and the DWR finish being washed or worn off the garment.

It's important to wash your raingear after every use to prevent dirt buildup. To do away with minor dirt, wash the raingear in warm water with no detergent. For a more thorough cleaning, machine wash with a mild detergent or non-detergent soap like Nikwax Techwash. Rinse the garment twice to eliminate soap residue. Dry the jacket on low or steam-iron it on warm or synthetic. Either process will redistribute the DWR finish more than an air-dry. NEVER use bleach, fabric softener or dry-cleaning solvents on rain jackets.

Eventually, through washing and wear, the DWR finish on a jacket may rub off. Many outdoor stores sell DWR-reviving solutions that you can spray on the outside of the coat or add to the wash and wash-in. Wash-in DWR applications work well, but coat the jacket inside and out and can inhibit the wicking capability of a storm shell's liner.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of micro jackets suppliers. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.