Raincoat suggestions
Hey again,
I think the most logical piece of outerwear I should purchase at this point is a raincoat as April is right around the corner and sometimes Canada gets a lot of rain during the spring months. I've owned a few windbreakers but never a dedicated, fashionable raincoat.
I heard Uniqlo has some good coloring options, what are they called exactly on the website? Also looking for other brand suggestions!
Thanks!
27 Replies
there are a number of options of high quality and/or 'fashionable' rainwear (imo better than uniqlo) but given that this is a functional garment first i would narrow down what exactly you're looking for:
- when you say 'sometimes canada gets a lot of rain' how frequently does that happen (daily, multiple times per day) and how intense is the rain (drizzle, steady, torrential)?
- how frequently are you out in the rain when it happens (a short walk from your car to the inside of a building, a longer walk for a commute or job)?
- what activities are you planning to do in the rain (daily living, going to nicer or more formal events, performing outdoor activities)?
- when wearing those windbreakers for an extended period of time, did you find yourself getting sweaty or clammy underneath the jacket?
- do you have an idea of a maximum budget to spend towards this?
helly hansen
It depends how much you’re willing to invest. I think some of the ‘best’ raincoats are stutterheim. The after market is pretty good.
I suspect you might actually want also mean a shell jacket?
Those tend to be a bit more multipurpose
What do you mean by a "fashionable raincoat"? Can you give some examples?
1. Steady rainfall
2. I like to park somewhere safe in parking lots so I walk a bit further.
3. I do a lot of hiking, bit of photography here and there - probably not when it's torrential rain
4. I do tend to run pretty warm
5. $100-$150? I would take good care of it to maximize its lifespan
Shell jacket?
Functional would be good too. Something that keeps the water off me
Prices for new seem hefty...definitely out of my budget , how does that translate to the after market?
Second hand you can definitely find them in your price range if not cheaper
I have a Patagonia Torrentshell 3L. On sale they are <$150. Honestly, it's overkill most of the time, but when you need it, you really need it. It has pit zips, which I think are mandatory if you run warm.
thoughts on this:
- a steady rain means whatever option you get should be water resistant (maybe not water repellant)
- if you run hot you'll want something breathable as well so you don't build up sweat or condensation
- $100-150 is a little low for a quality jacket satisfying these new, but 1) these kinds of jackets often go on sale and 2) there's a pretty decent secondhand market to be had
i do agree with the recommendations for a shell jacket. it's a jacket designed to protect from rain and/or wind, worn on top of your other layers (a base layer like a t shirt and a midlayer to stay warm like a sweater). lightweight, almost always hooded, packable, and highly functional
patagonia (torrentshell), marmot, helly hansen, and north face. MEC is a canadian brand that I've heard good things about as well
if you're looking for a more "fashionable" jacket at the cost of some function or utility, rains and stutterheim are also good options
I got a Columbia rainjacket for well under a hundred on sale thats kept me bone dry through torrential UK weather.
Rains are more pricy but more general purpose fashionable
What colors are we looking at? Black is usually my go to, but it's kinda boring so I'd like to switch it up
Hahahah black is too versatile. Personally I’d stick with black.
Given an alternative maybe a dark grey, or bright yellow
I actually love the black Patagonia torrentshell, but I'll explore the options mentioned
Also shells generally refer to waterproof outlayers, they tend to be relatively light and easy to pack. Raincoats are full raincoats that are generally heavier because of the material they select.
Stutterheim for example is PVC which is cheaper than gortex which you find on a lot of shells
So for North face for example, this is what is referred to as a shell, what do you think of this?
I think shells have wider uses and there are specific styles that are significantly more technical in nature and focus more around utilitarian clothing.
Raincoats have less widespread usage
Yeah I figure a shell would be better..
I think for what you’ve asked for a shell makes the most sense
Technical garments tend to be more expensive just because of the fabric that’s used
It’s very much a ‘you get what you pay for’
That photo I posted looks pretty affordable, I'm looking at what it offers in the description right now
Marmot looks a little nicer at first glance but is double the price of Northface
Talking fit, should the shell run a little larger for layers underneath?
yes; most brands' shells will account for layering in their sizing
you'll want to check the measurements for individual product
re: price while i do think most shells minus arcteryx are worth the price you can usually find a discounted one without much effort; check the sale section, backcountry, MEC or ebay
most important thing should be the features - how much water resistance does it offer, how does it adjust, what are the pockets like, how breathable is it
Just trying things on. How's this Northface Antora XL look? I feel it's okay, the materials feel kinda meh though
@zeometer
Nah I walked out.
The guy sold me on the outdoor research foray 2, it's way more water proof, pit zips, etc. I'll wait till they get stock and try it on
imo the fit is fine in the body except it's too long; could this be the antora parka (which is longer) vs the antora jacket?
that said outdoor research is another good brand 👍 if it fits to your liking, check online for sales
I'll come back next week, they're getting more spring stuff too
when you say the materials feel kinda meh, is that the outside material or the inner (next to skin) material?
I didn't like the outside material that much
that is largely due to the material of the shell which helps make it water resistant
different shells may have different feel but they will largely resemble that one