Nothing beats a good raincoat to look sharp,
to keep warm, and to keep dry. But
when buying
a raincoat, what should you look for?
- Style - Let's start by pointing out the obvious:
a raincoat is a piece of clothing, and therefore,
by definition a fashion item. The raincoat
you pick should be appropriate to the occasions
where you are going to wear it. For example,
a bright yellow slicker might be perfect
if you are reeling in fish or working as
a crossing guard, but don't dare try to slip
it over your tuxedo for that special night
on the town. The material also plays a tremendous
role in the stlye like it does with any other
clothing item: if its plastic (or looks shiny
like plastic) then its for children or manual
labor unless it happens to be that one of
a kind, stop dead in your tracks, fashion
item.
- Material - Plastic, nylon, and rubber are
efficient raincoat materials for keeping
out the wet, but they also keep in the wet,
and without ventilation, you'll quicly find
yourself in your own miniature rain forest.
On the otherhand, untreated natural fibers
will soak up water like a rag. There are
breatheable high tech fabrics (like GORE-TEX)
and treated natural fabrics that do an excellent
job of keeping moisture out and wicking away
your body's moisture at the same time. Let
us not forget that there are also animal
skins, such as leather, which are water repellant
but these tend to stain and soil when wet
unless chemically treated or oiled.
- Construction - The way the raincoat is made
is important to its value.
|
|
