I need a raincoat - YouLookFab Forum

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I need a raincoat

Indigoprint

Veteran

My job requires me to travel from home to home in all kinds of weather. I have adequate outerwear for the most part but am lacking a raincoat. Historically I just got wet but I am getting too old for that.
I am looking for advice from those wiser than me regarding rain gear.
I would not buy something new, look for thrifted or poshmark venues etc.but honestly do but know what to look for. I would want something to wear in hot summer storms as well as cold freezing rains. I carry a computer style bag. It seems like just a rain poncho might be my best choice but wondered what other options may be available.
Thank you for any input

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from catherine

elpgal

Veteran

For summer storms, Marmot PreCipis great. Lightweight, doesn’t make you sweaty, less sticky than a poncho and totally waterproof. It is gear but I have it in a bright pink. I recommend looking on GearLab for reviews of similar items.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Are you looking for suggestions on how to shop those sites or specific items to search for on them?

What are your specific needs? How formal/dressy is your work attire? How long do you want the coat to be? Many people are fine in a shorter jacket for quick or light rain.

I have a bunch of raincoats in my finds from a year ago, when I sought one & bought two, and from a year or two before that, when Inge suggested a bunch for me. These are the two I got, and a long one I thought was nice but not as suited to my needs. Most of what I looked at was in my classic berry spectrum (which runs boysenberry-blueberry-cranberry) but the goldenrod just called out to me; it is a complement to my usual colors and I enjoy wearing it.

by Stagiaire Fash

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by Stagiaire Fash

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by Stagiaire Fash

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Athleta made a terrific hooded rain coat a few years back — I still have mine even though it’s snug now. Maybe you can find one secondhand. It may be a bit too warm for truly warm weather rain, but I find that any rain jacket that’s truly worth the name is not breathable enough for warm weather.

Gap Rainfall Jacket

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5

Anonymous

To me, a hood is essential in a raincoat! The trouble with thrifting one, is it may have lost its ability to keep you dry. That happened with one of mine (the black one w black/white lining).
Otherwise, I have a cape (YLF suggestion) which I keep in the car and is good for hot days with pop up storms.
The copper one is good for cooler weather.
For cold rain I end up wearing a puffer, though I should have something longer.

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Bernardo Bernardo Metallic Rain Jacket (Regular & Petite) | Nordstrom

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16

RobinF

Veteran

Ooh a rain poncho would be fun! Just throw it over your bag and whatever coat you are wearing. I agree with suntiger, a hood is essential for me in a raincoat. I also like enough length to cover my knees.

Joy

Veteran

Rain gear has gotten harder to find because I hate the scrunching sound of much of it. I would look for something with a hood, pockets and not too short so that it can keep your whole outfit dry. Will an umbrella be of any help? I got my last rain coat at REI, their brand. Wear flat shoes with grippy soles that will not slip on wet surfaces. Slip ons would be good to slip off inside. I have Merrell hikers and sneakers with Vibram soles for serious slipping but athletic slip on flats work ok most of the year. I like rubber soles and have some Anne Klein that I wear in warmer weather (wet but no ice). Crocs and jelly shoes are pretty waterproof and work in hot weather. Good luck putting something together. You may need two coats, one for warmer weather and one for cold days.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

For going from car to destination (and not really spending significant time in the rain) -- especially in variable temperatures -- a hooded poncho sounds like the way to go. You could wear a poncho over your usual outerwear and in hot weather it would let air currents in.

Depending on wind conditions you might also consider an umbrella.

Otherwise, you will soon find that there really is no "one raincoat to rule them all." Some are rain resistant (but not fully waterproof). Some are intended more for sporty outings. Some are dressy. In rainy climates, most people aim for a selection, depending on their roles and needs. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where six to seven months a year can see rain of various intensities in different temperatures. I now own 7 rain-worthy coats and jackets of different types and believe it or not, I feel like I could use more!

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Saskia Water Resistant Trench Coat

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7

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Port Madison Hooded Raincoat

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Long downtown field jacket

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London Fog London Fog Women's Midi-Length Trench Coat

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2

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

ST, Great point about raincoats losing their mojo, so you get wet in them. That happened to me before my recent purchases. The rain jacket in question is older than my son (now in college).

Indigoprint

Veteran

Thank you all for your thoughtful input.
I now have some objective things to base my shopping on.
Also ST thanks for the thoughts regarding thrifting.
I would not have considered that and could meet with disappointment.
I am thinking a poncho is a good direction to look since it has length and the ability to layer over my warmer outerwear.
Thank you!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Reporting for rain duty from the rainy PNW, Indigoprint! And I am almost always on foot. I get rain!

There is no "one raincoat to rule them all", I'm afraid

I echo everything Suz says, since we live in the same climate.

A hood is essential unless you carry an umbrella, seek shelter while your stride, wear a rain hat or beanie, or don’t have far to walk.

Sometimes it’s so cold in the rain, I wear a beanie under my hood.

Sometimes the rain is very light and a hat or beanie with a raincoat sans hood keeps you plenty dry.

I’m on my phone, but will be back with examples from my own wardrobe. I have many raincoats! Different levels of warmth and types of rain demand different coats.

kkards

Veteran

unfortunate i'm not sure that there's something that will work for a summer storm and cold freezing rain. a poncho will work, but for cold rain it would assume that you have another coat on.
for a spring/fall rain coat, i love this Athleta coat. its roomy so i can layer under it for really cold days, and works well for warm days, but is definitely not good for rainy days where its much over 70(ish)F (this exact coat isn't available now, but i think they do something similar every year)
if you're ok with gear, you might want to look for something from TNF, Columbia etc in what they sell as interchange systems

Gap Ballard Waterproof Parka

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm back!

Here is my collection. All raincoats have hoods apart from the navy trench at the end.

#1 - Orange is for Summer rain.

#2 - Tomato red is for almost all rain - but not quite.

#3 and #4 - Yellow and Red Levi's raincoats are for VERY heavy rain.

#5 - Citron puffer for cold rain.

#6 - Navy trench coat for light rain.

Marks and Spencer

M&S Collection Cotton Hooded Parka Jacket

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9

HOBBS LONDON Chrissie Hooded Trench Coat

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Levi's Levi's Water Repellent Hooded Parka | Nordstrom

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Levi's Women's Fishtail Hooded Rain Parka (Standard & Plus Sizes)

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SAVE THE DUCK Alexis Puffer Jacket

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Saskia Trench Coat

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24

Indigoprint

Veteran

Thank you so much for your time to offer meaningful considerations for rain gear.
I need objective input as I easily get distracted by design details( love that fishtail detail on the Levi jacket) but that detail itself would not keep me dry!
Also a hood, I would say I do not like hoods, but I do not like any other headwear so a hood would be best to stay dry which is my objective.
I am now armed with helpful insight to sally forth in my rain protection Thank you!

rachylou

Veteran

I have not found raincoats to be rainproof. Not for a real rain. Where one is hanging out in it. I have taken to hardware store rain suits for walking the dog. For work, I’ll do my long puffer and an umbrella…

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

If you're in the USA, the first raincoat in this review (for the 'warm & wet fall') is a packable option with a defined waist that apparently works well even in humidity:
https://www.wardrobeoxygen.com.....lands-end/

For my subtropical climate, I use a rain poncho - I prefer this over a fitted coat because I can wear it *over* my backpack to keep it dry (like you, I carry a laptop to work). I can choose to button it together to create 'sleeves' or wear it open like a cape.

Joy

Veteran

Just one raincoat will not be enough. One needs to be dressy, one casual, one for funerals at the grave site, one just for running errands and travel. I reccommend that all be at least knee length and have pockets and a hood. A two directional zipper is good too

Indigoprint

Veteran

Zaeobi I have a couple of Land's End pieces so I will look there, Thanks for the link.
Suz and Angie thanks for the visuals having a visual really works for me.
Joy I am learning that I will probably need more than 1. I found a poncho that seems ok for work but when you consider other times I may need one (funeral) a poncho would be completely inappropriate.
So thanks to you ladies and your sage advice I am better prepared to make a suitable purchase! Thank you

catherine

Veteran

I recommend the Eddie Bauer Girl on the Go. It’s knee length, waterproof, hooded, packs easily, and looks fairly stylish. I note that it is on sale now. The waterproofing on mine diminished after about 10 years. I have a new one now.