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The record high temperatures in the Pacific Northwest are usually known for their mild climate. This year’s first wave of heat arrives before the official start of summer. Jackets may be the last thing you want to consider-swimsuits and sweat shorts may be your first choice. But this season did not start with hot weather-Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, was a washout. Despite the warm weather, Google searches for raincoats are even on the rise.
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When shopping for raincoats or coats, you may come across coats with fur-trimmed hoods, including Marmot's Chelsea Coat, or other coats lined with wool, such as LLBean's style-these features are not ideal in the scorching sun . Traditionally, raincoats are often not too light. "The classic yellow raincoat is not breathable-but very waterproof," explains Margaret Frey, a professor of fiber science and clothing design at Cornell University. However, this does not mean that you will not find a raincoat that you can wear in a sudden summer rainstorm or drizzle. To this end, we consulted experts about the factors to consider before buying raincoats, and collected some men's and women's coats from brands such as Everlane and Hunter.
You might think that the raincoat can withstand any splashing water. This is not always the case.
When looking for a suitable raincoat, you usually see three terms: waterproof, waterproof and waterproof. Although they seem to be synonyms, they are not. "Many manufacturers use these terms, and consumers don't know or understand the difference," said Ashlee Rzyczycki, a visiting assistant professor specializing in fashion sustainability at the University of St. Thomas in Florida. There are subtle but significant differences between the three-knowing which one can help you in deciding one or the other.
To understand waterproofness and waterproofness, it may be helpful to first understand the true meaning of waterproofing for raincoats. Preethi Gopinath mentioned that the term "waterproof" means that water cannot penetrate into fabrics-these fabrics can be coated or laminated with materials such as PVC, rubber or silicone, and are often harder and less breathable than waterproof fabrics. Associate Professor of Textiles at Parsons School of Design.
Janet Brady, a professor of materials technology at Thomas Jefferson University, said that although traditional raincoats can be waterproof or waterproof, the real design purpose of waterproof jackets is to "provide greater waterproof penetration, especially in downpours." So, depending on how much protection you need, one may be better than the other.
It can be said that the waterproof jacket is not foolproof, but it is still very similar. "Technically speaking, it can be said that waterproofing and waterproofing are similar-these fabrics are used to resist moisture and waterproofing," Brady said. Outdoor equipment sales expert Mike Kreis explained that these two types of fabrics usually have a durable waterproof finish on the outermost fabric, or DWR for short-this will provide a "line of defense". To prevent water from soaking through the jacket and maintain breathability company REI.
"The main difference is that the waterproof material will not let water pass through even in heavy rain, while the waterproof material will prevent water from passing for a period of time, but in the end it will pass if it is used for long enough in the rain or the amount of rain is very difficult," Fu Ray told us. This is the same view as Kreis, who believes that the waterproof jacket "performs well in light rain in a short period of time." Likewise, if you are looking for a lighter jacket, Rzyczycki recommends a waterproof jacket.
On the other hand, water resistance refers to "the ability of a fabric to resist moisture (minus the penetration aspect)," Brady said. Brady pointed out that this is the characteristic of the "return" trench coat, and some fabrics-including polyester and nylon-no longer absorb water-it just falls off their surface. In a sense, the waterproof jacket is a bit like raindrops on the windowpane—the rain just rolls down.
"But if people experience downpour-water can penetrate into the fabric by moving between fibers and yarns," Brady explained. This is similar to the way that Preeti Arya, professor of textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), describes the meaning of waterproofing: “Water-proof materials form water droplets when they come into contact with water, which can be easily removed from the surface. The longer the contact time or the greater the pressure difference, the material will absorb moisture."
In view of the above expert guidance, we have collected men's and women's rain jackets, which are designed to be lightweight for hot, humid and rainy days.
This foldable rain jacket can be folded into the back panel pocket and then carried with you using the included shoulder strap. It has a back vent to help ventilate in hot weather. Nike claims that this Windrunner is partly made of recycled polyester-the material used is waterproof and has a certain degree of elasticity. According to the brand, the jacket is also equipped with an adjustable hood that provides UVA and UVB protection. It is available in sizes from S to 4XL.
The jacket uses Under Armour's UA Impasse technology, which the company says is designed to lock in water while still being breathable. Its hood, hem and cuffs are designed with elastic details to fit more closely to the figure-there is even a central front hook that keeps the jacket closed when the zipper is unzipped. This jacket is made entirely of nylon and can be fully packaged, with its own pocket in the left breast pocket. It is currently available in sizes from S to XL and five colors (the sixth shade is sold out), including black and graphite blue.
For those who like outdoor activities, this jacket is suitable for running, hiking and traveling. It is also designed to be worn with thin layers-so it may not be practical in colder temperatures. This jacket offers UPF 50 sun protection, and a single elbow button at the bottom of the hood provides more coverage during heavy rains. This waterproof option is DWR surface treated and made entirely of polyester. It is currently available in sizes from S to XXL and four colors: black, cognac, indigo and palm.
This jacket is made of a nylon shell, which should be breathable and wind resistant, as well as waterproof. It is worth noting that it also includes UPF 50 protection. You will find elastic bands at the bottom of the sleeves and a three-piece hood in this option. It comes in sizes from XS to XXL and three colors: vintage indigo/rococo red, TNF black and practical brown/retro white.
This colorful coat comes in three shades-bayside blue/warm gold, natural/bold orange and spruce/Tuscan olive-and is decorated with decorative trim at the waist. It is based on an original jacket of the brand. Like many of LLBean's collections, this jacket is designed for outdoor activities, such as walking on trails, and can fit in your own pocket. This jacket is made of waterproof and windproof nylon-it is recommended that you wear a light jacket. It currently has sizes from S to XXL.
This jacket comes from the sports and leisure brand Lululemon, designed for sports and designed for running. It’s worth noting that the waterproof jacket includes perforated areas for ventilation, and the pockets also serve as vents to calm you down. There is a hidden phone case in one of the outer pockets. The cropped jacket includes a tightenable hem and a hood. It is made of a blend of nylon, polyester and elastic fibers. This jacket is available in sizes from 0 to 14 and is available in two colors, Black and Mystified White Opal Multi.
Hunter may be famous for its rain boots, but the company also has other raincoats. Take this cotton raincoat as an example. It aims to provide waterproof protection through the durable waterproof finish and sealed seams described by the brand. Since it is made of cotton, this jacket should be breathable-a mesh lining should also help breathe. The hood is equipped with an adjustable drawstring. It is currently available in sizes from XS to XL and five colors including army red and dark olive.
For a more modern raincoat, Everlane's raincoat is based on the traditional Mackintosh jacket, with a pointed collar and button closure on the front. This jacket is made of cotton, with a waterproof finish and a lightweight inner lining. It is available in two colors, khaki and cocoa brown, in sizes from 00 to 14 (both shades of size 16 are out of stock). It is a popular choice among Everlane shoppers, with an average 4.61 star rating from over 500 reviews.
This jacket is made of polyester and is water-repellent. Old Navy said the jacket includes a quick-drying shell and a breathable mesh lining. In terms of function, this jacket has a patch pocket on the front, an adjustable drawstring at the hem, and a built-in hood. It is available in sizes from XS to XXL and three colors: Golden Glow, Black Jack and Ancient Forest.
This waterproof trench coat is suitable for running around-whether it's running errands or exercising. It adopts tailoring and boxy tailoring design, and is equipped with a spacious waist pocket. Like other Girlfriend Collective clothing, this jacket is made from recycled disposable plastic bottles. This jacket also includes a concealable hood and a waist that can be tightened.
Experts explained that of the three types of protection mentioned above, jackets designed to be waterproof or waterproof are generally lighter than fully waterproof jackets. However, what makes the raincoat lightweight also depends on its fabric and shell.
When it comes to raincoats, you will find that the same fabrics are used repeatedly-you can divide them into two broad categories: synthetic materials (including nylon and polyester) and natural materials (such as cotton).
Arya added that while natural fabrics are "breathable by default," synthetic fibers are designed to be breathable because their fibers are treated to allow moisture to wick away perspiration. "Therefore, considering durability and price point, manufacturers use nylon or polyester fibers to make raincoat fabrics and finally treat them to make them waterproof."
For some reason, nylon is one of the most popular of these fabrics. "Nylon is an excellent material for outerwear because it is tough and elastic. This means it wears well and can be stretched and bent without deforming," Frey said. In addition, it means "extremely hydrophobic," Gopinath explained. Brady tells us that its popularity also depends on its light-weight ability-thanks to its density, which is usually lower than other fibers.
One of the relatively new fabrics in raincoats is Gore-Tex, which has been around for decades. Almost all the experts we talked to said that it is used in waterproof jackets and designed to be breathable. Brady mentioned that the "layman's description" of the breathability of clothes means that the moisture on the surface of our skin will move outward and evaporate, making you feel more comfortable.
"Therefore, the key to how Gore-Tex and similar materials work is that they are first chemically a hydrophobic (hydrophobic) material-which means that water will form beads on the material and roll off instead of spreading and immersing," Frey explained. "Secondly, this material has very small pores-so small that water droplets cannot pass through, but water vapor can escape-so raindrops cannot enter, but the water evaporated from your body can be discharged."
Storeability also affects the lightness of the raincoat. "Some coats can be carried in their own pockets, which is an interesting feature. If not, you can roll the jacket into the hood at any time to wrap it up when you need to pack it," Kreis said. But in addition to the practicality of travel, jackets sold under the name of ultra-light or packable may be lighter when you wear them. Gopinath tells us that these jackets are often also made of polyester and nylon.
Typically, raincoats "may be made of stitched, glued or laminated multiple layers of fabric," and the outermost layer exposed to the elements and environment is the so-called shell, Gopinath describes.
Shells are mainly divided into two camps-hard shells and soft shells.
Kreis said that the role of the hard shell jacket is to prevent water and wind from entering, but it has little effect on the top insulation-on the contrary, the other layers will help keep warm. Rzyczycki said that the hard shell will "provide maximum protection" against various elements, but it is "much harder than the soft shell and harder to the touch." She added that many manufacturers use waterproof and breathable fabrics, such as Gore-Tex with a hard shell.
Kreis said that the soft shell tries to combine the "outermost and middle layers" and prioritizes "breathability rather than weather protection" because it is usually waterproof. They are often made of nylon and polyester and are more suitable for use in light rain. Rzyczycki explained: "If there is a big storm and heavy rain, water is likely to seep in." "It may also have some additional insulation material to keep you warm if needed."
According to Rzyczycki, there is also a separate insulation shell that can be filled with down or down substitutes, as you find in different duvets, which can create more warmth with an extra layer. However, for summer, these may not be the best choice.
"In my opinion, the difference between the'soft shell' and the'hard shell' lies in the packability of the soft shell, which provides lighter weight and even thinner materials, which can be easily folded into a more portable Small package," Brady argued. .
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Ambar Pardilla is a former reporter for NBC News Select.
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