Three tips to keep in mind before buying a rain jacket

There was a time when you could step out of Century 21 in New York, look up and see the twin towers in a staring match with the sky. The towers are gone but the sprawling store, popular for bargains on designer clothes, is very much in business. And it is there that some Indian men have, on occasion, hunted for a garment surprisingly hard to find – a suitable rain jacket.

But sometimes even wide international ranges of jackets do not meet the peculiar requirements of an Indian monsoon, forcing you to walk out of the store empty handed and look up at the sky that changed permanently on September 11, 2001, much like the world.

The sky, however, still has clouds. And the clouds still bring rain. The need for a jacket remains.




To understand why it is difficult to find a good rain jacket, it is important to understand the boxes that it needs to tick. First and foremost, it should keep you dry. Personal experience so far is that no affordable jacket has offered complete protection against a furious Indian deluge.

There are brands dedicated to trekking and mountaineering which may have that capacity. But most city dwellers don’t invest in them. The Indian urban warrior wants something for the challenge of his daily routine, and not for Himalayan slopes or Amazon rainforests.

That brings us to requirement number two. The jacket should be relatively light. Agreed, we are being as fussy as Indian computer engineers looking for a bride. What to do. It’s our situation, not us. Humid Indian weather and the inconveniences of our commute are not conducive to heavy jackets. A bulky jacket also necessitates a bulky bag, avoidable from the sartorial and logistical standpoints. There was a jacket that I almost settled on once. But I did not buy it because it was a bit thick. Nice as it looked in the Macy’s mirror, deep down I knew I wouldn’t be able to use it much in Mumbai. Besides, it had a slightly militaristic look and I feared I would end up looking like Michael Jackson without the moves.

There is a category of jackets that is light as air and yet stands up to rain – trail-runners. But they often cost in the region of USD 300. They are also delicate and high-maintenance.

Point number three is that the jacket should look sharp. Rubbery raincoats kept us dry in our school days but they look hideous. And like with thicker jackets, they cause perspiration. Ventilation in a rain jacket is critical. And there are times when even big brands slip on that front. A recent list of best rain jackets on an adventure portal included three affordable ($70-130) jackets from REI, Columbia and Outdoor Research. But they scored low on ventilation.

On a brighter note there are jackets from the same brands, and many others, that do tick the boxes. It’s just that by the time you find one the season may have changed.