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Think about the first monsoon rain! The sky is heavy with grey clouds, the sun and the heat have taken a back seat, and any moment now, the sky can start pouring, drenching the city and providing the relief that you have needed for months of hot summer. What a delight! Let us add to this scene two chairs on your balcony, your favourite person, two cups of coffee and some savoury snacks. Perfect start to the monsoon and that time of the year when rains will become an everyday happening for a few months. But what if you have to go out in this weather for some work or what if you feel like going out for a two-wheeler ride with friends to enjoy the most of the rainy weather? Well, a raincoat is the option to choose.
Which raincoat should you carry? What should the raincoat cloth material be? Which is the best raincoat? If you are wondering about all this, then worry not. In this article about types of raincoat, we will help you discover all the required details related to a raincoat and find answers to all your questions. We will also share with you our top picks for the best raincoats of different types to help you choose the best brands for raincoats online.
Before we look at the different types of raincoats, let us understand what a raincoat is and how a raincoat was first created and used. A raincoat is a piece of fabric that is worn as a jacket or a cover over your dress to protect you from getting wet in the rain. A raincoat is a waterproof or water repellent jacket or an entire suit consisting of a jacket and a trouser that is worn over any outfit to protect you and your outfit from getting wet in the rain. It is very commonly used in cities that get heavy rainfall during the monsoon season or throughout the year. It is also very commonly used by travellers and people who regularly go on treks as they can never be sure about the downpour. Hence, carrying a raincoat ensures some protection. A raincoat is made of different materials depending on the type of raincoat, the brand manufacturing the same and the purpose for which that raincoat is most suitable.
In the upcoming sections of this article, we will be taking a look at all this information related to raincoat material fabric, the types of raincoats you can choose from, which is the best raincoat fabric, and so much more.
Where and when did we find the first raincoat in the world? A raincoat or a waterproof covering or garment to protect from the rain was first used around 1200 AD in the Amazon region. From the records of this time, a raincoat is made up of a milky and sticky substance (rubber) that is extracted from rubber trees. This type of raincoat or a garment to protect the body from getting wet in the rain was first discovered by the Europeans- travellers and explorers when they travelled to the Americas. In the 1700s, the Europeans discovered how these people used crude methods and used rubber for the waterproofing of their clothes.
Talking of the first raincoat, we must understand that what the Amazonian Indians used as a water repellent or waterproof garment and what we look at as a raincoat will be very different from each other. Over the centuries, a raincoat has undergone developments around the world, and what we see now is known as a modern raincoat. The first modern raincoat was created in the year 1824 by the Scottish Chemist Charles Mackintosh. The raincoat material used by Charles here was a new tarpaulin fabric that he defined as Indian rubber cloth.
We now know the history of a quality raincoat that we also use in the modern-day. Let us now take a look at the types of raincoats to help you get more information on this product.
Which is the best raincoat material? To find the answer to this question, you must understand the types of raincoats and how they are different from each other. This will ultimately help you answer which material will be the most suitable for a raincoat.
A poncho raincoat is one of the types of raincoats used very commonly. These raincoats are lightweight and hence easier to carry around anywhere. This type of raincoat is made of plastic, making it so compact and easy to use for various purposes.
Our best pick, the Adult Hiking Rain Poncho 50 - 10 L - blue from Decathlon is a lightweight poncho raincoat that is a must-have for hiking and trekking.
If you are looking for a type of raincoat that reduces the hassle of carrying a bag, especially for keeping it or looking for a place where you can keep your raincoat when not using it, then this is the best option for you. A pocket raincoat is made up of lightweight and reusable material, and you can easily fold this raincoat and keep it in a pouch or in your pocket.
This quality raincoat is made of durable waterproof material to keep you dry as you enjoy the rains this monsoon season.
Decathlon has a wide range of Quechua raincoats for both men and women. These are the best quality raincoats available at the most affordable prices online. The Women’s Waterproof Hiking Jacket from Quechua is 100% waterproof, lightweight and also windproof. The Men's Raincoat Full Zip is a raincoat designed for flexibility and is also 100% waterproof.
The best raincoat material is waterproof material as this type of material is impervious to water and offers the highest degree of protection against getting wet.
In this section, let us further discuss the following two types of raincoats:
‣Water-Resistant raincoats: other than waterproof, raincoat material can also be water-resistant. This type of raincoat offers good protection but is not as good as the waterproof raincoat.
‣Water Repellent raincoats: the raincoat cloth material in this type is treated specially with chemicals and coated with the same to repel water. Compared to water-resistant, it provides better protection and compared to waterproof; it is still not as good.
Check out the widest range of raincoats online and shop for the best waterproof raincoats from the comfort of your home. Follow this link for the Best raincoat made of 100% waterproof material that is lightweight and hence perfect for the monsoons to protect you from the water while you go through your everyday activities.
As the name suggests, this type of raincoat is made of material that can endure heavy rains or the tropical climate. For example, polyester. This type of raincoat is best suited for those who travel and have no certainty of the weather conditions or for people who especially belong to tropical regions.
Check out Hiking rain poncho on Decathlon for trekking and hiking in the rain. This Tropical raincoat is one of the best options for areas of heavy rainfall and you can also protect your bags from getting wet with this product.
Rains are all fun and games until those winds hit along, and then it is you against the winds and the water. A water fighter raincoat is your best friend in such cases. This raincoat is made up of polyester and helps protect you against the harsh winds and the rains.
Portability is an important factor in the type of raincoat you are looking at. The mini raincoat balls are the most lightweight and portable form of a raincoat that you can carry as a keyring and use the raincoat as required. You can then also fold the same and place it back in the mini ball.
This type of raincoat is meant mostly for a single-use and hence can be disposed off after wearing. This is not a very good quality raincoat and should only be used if there are no other options. The user must ensure proper disposal of the raincoat after use.
We have now imagined rains, the fun part, the trek, the harsh winds, but what about rains in the winter season? The winter months are particularly cold in India, and often there are heavy showers too. For such a situation, of all these types of raincoats, the 2 in 1 raincoat is the best as it helps you stay protected from the cold and the rain. This is a raincoat and a jacket in one garment, and it insulates your body, keeping you warm even in the winter rains.
Let us add some more protection for you and your outfit with a jumpsuit raincoat. This type of raincoat will help you clever your entire body against rain and winds. As the name suggests, this raincoat is exactly a jumpsuit, which is an outfit commonly worn by women.
Some people might find the jumpsuit raincoat a little uncomfortable if they are not used to that style of garments and still need to protect their full body and clothes against rain. For this situation, you can choose a full-length raincoat. This type of raincoat is exactly like a regular raincoat but has a longer length to protect a larger area.
This Full-length raincoat on Decathlon is of the perfect length to help you protect your clothing and yourself from the rains this monsoon season.
We have now discussed all types of raincoats and understood more or less how each type of raincoat is different from the other. To better understand all these raincoats, we must now understand the material generally used for making raincoats. In the upcoming sections of this article, we will be taking a look at raincoat material fabric and what each type of material is used for.
Before we look at the details of the various types of material that a raincoat is made up of, we must understand the role that the material or the fabric plays in the raincoat. What exactly is the purpose of a raincoat? A raincoat is meant to protect you from getting wet in the rain if you are outdoors and either does not have an umbrella or find it uncomfortable. It is a garment worn over your outfit to prevent the water from coming in contact with the same. The first factor that is to be considered is that a raincoat must be waterproof or water-repellent or water-resistant. The raincoat fabric will play a major role in determining whether the raincoat is waterproof, water-repellent or water-resistant. Some raincoats are also meant to protect you against harsh winds or cold weather. Along with the features of protecting you from getting wet, the raincoat must protect you from the cold, and hence the fabric used in such a raincoat will be different.
Durability is another factor that plays an important role in a garment like a raincoat. If it is not a good quality raincoat or a raincoat made with poor material, it can easily get damaged or torn or spoilt. A raincoat made with good quality fabric that is suitable for use will be durable. It will be easier to maintain as well. You must also make sure to consider the design and the styling of your raincoat if you are very particular about your looks and your outfit. A raincoat is often used in hot and humid weather and hence it must provide proper aeration too. When washed or put in contact with water or any other cleaning agent or maintenance process, the raincoat must not undergo shrinkage.
These are some of the points that help us understand the importance of the material in a raincoat. Let us now take a look at the main types of raincoat materials used to create that perfect raincoat for the rainy seasons.
The following are the best raincoat material that can be used for making a raincoat for various purposes.
A raincoat is made of synthetic fabrics and materials because of how its properties are different from that of natural materials. Synthetic fibres and fabrics are far more hydrophobic than natural fabrics and are more suitable for making raincoats.
Now, we have looked at various aspects related to raincoats and the best raincoat material. This often gets confusing for a user who is looking forward to buying a raincoat. This section will share 7 major factors to consider when buying a good quality raincoat.
We hope this article has helped you understand the different types of raincoats to help you find the most suitable raincoat for the monsoons depending on your location and where you live. We also hope you understand how to choose the right raincoat as per your requirement.
If you have any further doubts, this section where we have answered some of the commonly asked questions will be useful for you.
Amazonian Indians first used raincoats for protection against rain, and later Charles Mackintosh designed the modern raincoat.
The best raincoat material is silk or linen.
Polyester resists water better when compared to Nylon. Therefore Polyester is better for raincoats.
Raincoats are made waterproof by a coating of Durable Water Repellant(DWR).
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