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How to Choose Rainwear
Did you ever wander into an mayrain rainwear section and feel like you’re lost in a wilderness of nylon and polyester? Understanding some key terms and the basics of rainwear technology will help you navigate to the jacket that keeps you dry—and the one that fits your budget.Any jacket offers some level of water resistance. Understanding terminology will help you determine what degree of protection a specific jacket has.
Waterproof vs. water-resistant
We call a jacket “waterproof” when its water resistance is sufficient to keep out driving rain. Though companies disagree on test standards, you can trust that any gear that a major brand designates as “waterproof” can stand up to a serious squall.
Waterproof/breathable: This type of performance rainwear keeps rain from getting through to your skin, while also moving sweat back through to the outside world. If you’re planning any activity that gets limbs and lungs pumping, this is your kind of gear because both precipitation and perspiration can soak you.
Water-resistant: Also breathable, this is gear that can handle light rain for a brief time—windbreakers and featherweight jackets, for example. If precipitation lingers or starts coming down sideways, these won’t be up to the task.
Waterproof/nonbreathable: Think rain slicker or emergency poncho. If you simply need to keep the rain out while sitting or standing around, this gear does just fine—and costs very little money. If you do any exertion, though, your rain slicker will be slick inside, too. And it won’t take much wind to make a poncho largely ineffective.
