Yay or Nay: Target Anorak for London trip this month?

Emily

Sorry for the flood of posts, I promise this is the last one! I am going to London, England later this month and am shopping for a hooded raincoat for the trip. I've checked Mountain Equipment Co-op and Bench for more functional options, but not found quite the right fit. The closest was actually a boys' raincoat from MEC - unfortunately not particularly stylish and the hood was so large that it fell over my eyes when worn up!

Enter this inexpensive option from Target. It is labelled "Water Repellant" and is made of polyster. I love the fit and the stripes. Do you think it will do the trick in the rain? I do have one more sports/gear stop that has some sleek, functional options listed online, so I may yet find something better...

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11 years ago

Shopping

13 replies

Latest reply was from Ornella

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I guess it depends on your exposure to the potential rain. This is great for short walks, dashing from car to store/restaurant etc. But if you are thinking of serious walking (which I generally do in the UK) then I'd hold out for goretex. And pants

11 years ago

Jules

Veteran

Suz picked up a nice coat from North Face recently, don't know if you saw it. This one is cute and might make a decent back up while you look for the perfect one.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

It will get soaked in a heavy rain, but it's probably good enough. Can you get a sweater underneath? It won't keep you warm.

I know this because I have a Target windbreaker that's my *raincoat.*

11 years ago

Kim

Veteran

I have the same one from Target, except with polka dots and it's what I'm planning on using in London when it rains, unless it is torrential. I've used it here in Ottawa and it works just fine, for regular rain. In the case of downpours I'm ducking into a store or a cafe to wait it out! LOL I'll probably also bring a dollar store plastic poncho raincoat, and keep it in the pocket of my raincoat, "just in case". I don't plan on being outside in downpours, I'll be inside the museums, or on the buses, tubes or stores. Now to find "rainboots" that don't look like rainboots...

I brought a non-hooded one last year and I regretted having to carry an umbrella and a raincoat at the same time.

11 years ago

missvee

Veteran

I think it will work just fine. Pack a small umbrella too just in case you get a real downpour.

11 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

The anoraK is super cute...I would take it and as missvee said take a small umbrella...When it is just downpouring, you are probably not going to be out...
This is a cute choice...

11 years ago

Mander

(website)

Veteran

What about treating it with waterproofing spray? I've done that to several water-resistant jackets and it seemed to help quite a bit.

11 years ago

Kim

Veteran

Oh Mander, that's a great idea, I'll have to get some!

11 years ago

Emily

Veteran

Thanks all for getting back to me. I've decided that, especially for a couple of day trips we have planned, I'd much rather have something more technical so that I can be out in a downpour for a bit. I ordered one from LL Bean and located a backup option that I can procure locally if the LL Bean doesn't work out.

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11 years ago

L'Abeille

Veteran

Unless you're doing a lot of outdoor hiking rather than just staying in London...I am reminded of my mother's visit to the UK some years ago. She accompanied my dad on a business trip and then stayed at a BandB for a week, either Dover or Conrwall? Anyway at the end of it she wanted to leave her raincoat behind and offered it to all the other guests at the inn. They all just laughed at her and said "Raincoat? What's a raincoat? we just use umbrellas."

11 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

With all of your very efficient planning, you probably won't have a drop of rain...smile...I would be doing what you are doing and that is being prepared...All baby girls must be given a being prepared gene as they depart for earth...That seems to be a common trait...Have fun and remember to smile if it doesn't rain...

11 years ago

hedgiehog

Veteran

I think both options would work well. I spent almost a month in the UK last year with a hooded London Fog trench, a hooded Talbots anorak and an umbrella. Ironically enough, the only day I got really wet was one day in Paris when there was a downpour for an hour!
Mander's idea is great, too. I've done that with shoes but never with jackets!

Have a great time in London!

11 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

As much as weather is a big topic of conversation in England, my experience is that if it rains badly, then the hooded trench won't help and you'll probably hide somewhere - or if it's a few drops, then no hood is fine too. On that note, I never got soaked

What I want to say is that if you struggle to find the right outerwear, do not necessarily limit yourself to the hooded ones. I haven't followed your entire search so don't know what exactly you're after, but if you think of getting something for this trip alone then I guess you know what you'll be happiest with for that purpose alone, but if you want something you'll use in the long run then a small umbrella will successfully 'replace' the hood. Just my 2 pence

11 years ago

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