03
Dec
Hiking is great! Many people love it and enjoy doing it either as a hobby or as a sport. It gives us an amazing opportunity to enjoy the nature around us while exercising our bodies and clearing our minds. Somehow, we all decide to go hiking when the weather is nice and sunny. Of course, the sun feels great, it boosts our mood and vitamin D and brings positive emotions.
But, will you go for a hike even when it’s raining? Well, for some people this may sound like an implausible idea as getting wet in the rain isn’t for everybody. Still, just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you cannot go hiking. If you are a true adventurist by nature you may find this article helpful. Going for a hike requires being well equipped with some of the most essential hiking gear to get you protected and keep you dry on your trip. These include wearing a pair of comfortable rainy boots, and a waterproofed jacket.
However, finding the right hiking jacket may be difficult considering the wide range of brands available on the market. To make it easier for you, we’ll have a look at some of the most important aspects you need to be mindful of when purchasing a waterproof hiking jacket.
There is a Norwegian saying that goes something like this:” There is no such thing as bad weather only inadequate clothing”. Well, whoever wrote it probably knew the importance of good clothing and proper gear. But what makes a good hiking jacket? Speaking of it, the first most important aspect is choosing a fabric that is waterproofed, breathable, and lightweight. Some of the most preferred choices of fabrics for manufacturing good-quality hiking jackets are Gore-Tex, eVent, and fabrics by Polartec and Pertex.
The waterproofed performance of the hiking jacket is usually measured by Hydrostatic Head (HH). The resulting measurement in millimetres relates to how much pressure there needs to be for the water to penetrate the fabric. The higher the figures the better the performance of the jacket. Typically the figures range from 10,000mm to 30,000mm. The best fabrics results can be as high as 30,000mm before the water penetrate the fabric.
Some of the best water resistance fabrics are hybrids that combine synthetic insulation and water-resistant qualities. You should avoid cotton fabric at all costs as cotton is water absorbent and not suitable for rainy weather.
Although the waterproof’s jacket main job is to keep you dry, breathability is another feature a good quality hiking rain jacket needs to possess. This factor allows sweat and vapour to escape so you can stay dry from the inside. For instance, some of the Gore-tex style hiking jackets are excellent at keeping you dry while they also tend to be much heavier and expensive than some other fabrics
Different brands on the market manufacture different qualities of rain gear including, jackets. Some of the most well-known names are La Sportiva, Salomon, Haglofs, Marmot, and Mountain Hardwear. Most of them differ in the price and quality they offer.
Another essential element when choosing an outdoor rain jacket is selecting the right fit. Whether you choose to buy your rain jacket online or in regular stores, finding the right size and fit for your body type is of major importance. Every brand is different in the design and sometimes in the choice of sizes it offers. If you don’t know which size you wear is best to measure yourself to know what size you should be aiming for. These include measuring your chest size and sleeve length size so you can find the right fit that suits your body type.
Still, jackets differ in the design, as there are some that are more relaxed while others are more fitted. Therefore they are usually divided into three categories including relaxed fit, active fit, and technical fit, depending on how tight or loose you prefer them to be. For instance, the active fit jackets are neither snug nor too baggy, and they provide enough space for you to wear another layer of clothing underneath like a fleece or softshell.
Speaking of size, a well-fitted hiking jacket hood design should completely cover your head and ears, fit you snuggly and protect your body from wind and rain. The adjusters and wire peaks will allow you to customize the fit and direct the rain away from your face.
Finally considering you are budget and how much you are willing to spend is of major importance. Whether you are a casual hiker or an avid one choosing a well-insulated waterproofed jacket is very important to keep dry and warm. As the price is mostly determined by the choice of fabric, breathability, waterproofness, and other factors we mentioned so far, picking the right design should involve most of these factors.
