Best Raincoats (Men) in India - Reviews and Comparison 2021

Extra-heavy rains and downpour bothering you while commuting for work? Great rainwear is your best shot to keep dry in this weather. For the same reason, raincoats are made up of water-resistant material. When packed with the right combination of water-resistant materials, the rainwear can hold the water to a certain extent. Midst all this, please note that the water will eventually seep in after the raincoat is used for a particular period.

To stop the water seepage, the outer shells of the raincoats consist of different types of membrane coatings which serve the purpose.

A thing about coats like eVent, Hyvent, GORE-TEX or Tyvek is that the raincoats are waterproof but also less breathable at the same time. In general, a raincoat is never made of a single specific material. A good raincoat is always a mixture of two or more materials to bring you the best of both worlds as all materials have their respective advantages.

Water-resistant materials: 

Nylon: 

• Nylon is the most widely used material for raincoats because of its excellent water-logging capacity. It makes the water hard to seep in due to its tight weave.

Vinyl: 

• Used for making beach bags and cosmetic bags, vinyl is an excellent waterproof material—however, it’s not known for its breathability.

Rubber: 

• Highly waterproof material but the majority of it is not known for being skin-friendly.

Cotton & Wool:

• As we all know, the water absorption capacity of cotton and wool is very high, which is not suitable for a raincoat. This material is not used much. In case they are used, they will require something extra to make them water-resistant.

Waterproofing: Waterproofing is the most critical process in the manufacturing of raincoat as the name suggests. There are rollers through which fabric is passed, post which it is dumped in a waterproofing mixture stored in a tank. To appropriately soak in the waterproofing mix, the material is allowed to sit in the tank for a certain period. After the soaking process is done successfully, the fabric is heated to enable even distribution. Before it is shipped to the manufacturer for making the final product, the fabric goes through the rollers for one last time.

This is an entirely automated process.

Feeling congested and uncomfortable inside your raincoat is not a great feeling. Talking of the breathability of rainwear, we are taking into consideration the “moisture vapour transfer”. The warm and moist air which is formed inside the rainwear is attracted to the colder air outside. To determine the breathability of a coat, the rate at which the transfer of the vapours is done is considered. The better the quality, the better the fit, the better the experience!

To talk about the new rainwear, the modern designs of these garments are better and more human friendly than the old methods. However, we don’t have a specific universally accepted criterion to measure and prove breathability yet. The best bet to achieve breathability is to buy rainwear with vents. They do not let out the heat but transfers all the extra moisture outside.

Pro Tip: 

If your rainwear requires an extra layer inside to achieve the warmth you need, then it doesn’t have good breathability.

Raincoats are something that has to be full-proofed. For this very purpose, the material is sandwiched between additional layers. The most outer layer is for absorption and repels the water, and the inner layer is for the protection of your body.

Rainwear is supposed to serve its purpose to the fullest! Keeping this in mind, various materials are sandwiched between each other. The outermost layer is a coat used that repels the water, and the innermost layer protects your body.

There are 3 types of layer constructions that you will find in rainwear. Let’s have a look.

·        2-Layer: The Quietest

To mould a single piece of material, the membrane layer is pressed inside an outer fabric. For the protection of the membrane layer, a loose hanging liner is infused on the inside. Mostly used in urban areas and travel.

·       2.5-Layer: The Lightest

Starting off the first layer with a lightweight fabric, it is followed by a polyurethane layer which happens to be applied inside the first one. The final layer being a protective layer which is infused on the second layer, it’s usually called ‘half layer ‘since it is just like a sheen or a fine print. However, it lacks breathability but is more affordable.

·       3-Layer: The Most Robust

This consists of no special coatings. The membrane layer of the raincoat is tightly pressed between a liner and the fabric. These are suitable for the heaviest of rainfalls. However, they turn out to be equally expensive.      

Tight and proper zippers are a crucial part of any rainwear. Front opening and pocket zippers being the most important. To stop the water from seeping in, a rubberized coating zipper proves to be a great purchase. However, operating laminated zippers is a struggle. Keeping in mind that zipper coatings eventually wear down.

Design is possibly the most crucial aspect alongside the material. Here are a few design aspects that you should look at:

Vents: Rainwear is supposed to have a design that makes it the right choice for extreme conditions. Hence, an adequate venting system is essential for the rainwear to be comfortable. Rainwear comes with different types of vents like mesh liners or an underarm vent. Buying one that allows the extra moisture to go out is the best decision.

Pockets: As we know, all clothes come with a requirement for pockets. However, its significance is more established in rainwear because there is no other storage option when you are out in heavy rainfall. Rainwear has waterproof zippers which increase the usability of the raincoat along with its price. Some rainwear has side pockets, which aren’t fully waterproof but still serve the purpose in moderate rainfalls.

Hood design: The best fitting is provided by a drawcord hood as it allows to entirely adjust the hood according to your needs and the level of rainfall. It protects your upper body and head area from downpours. There exist other hood fittings like Velcro. However, these aren’t best known for the fit quality and their durability in heavy rainfall and wind.

Very crucial criteria while making rainwear is its length. Full length is best preferred in heavy downpours as they protect your whole body from head to toe. However, they have one drawback and that is they get cumbersome to carry. Short length rainwears are very easy to carry around but only preserve your upper body from the rain.

Choosing a length entirely depends on your comfort and type of use. E.g. a long length raincoat isn’t the smartest choice for a hiker.

True rainwear must be fully seam-sealed to resist rain. Thus, you won’t have to put this on a “look-out feature”. But extra information has never harmed right! Well-made rainwear is ALWAYS fully seam-sealed to resist rain. This is not an additional feature for rainwear but a necessity. Take notes!

Pay attention: A full seam-sealed jacket is not essentially a waterproof one. It just makes the wearable more water-resistant.

There are additional external adjustments that can be done to your rainwear for a better fit. A lot of rainwears come with a waist closure which allows you to adjust it at the waist according to your need. This gives a better fitting and prevents the water from seeping in. Raincoats are also provided with velcro straps or buttons on the mouth of the sleeves to keep out the water. These can be loosened to adjust the ventilation as well.

Non-bulky fabric makes it easier to take the raincoat around. Some jackets come with a “carry pouch” which you can use to put in your raincoat when not in use. The length and fabric of the rainwear are deciding factors on how easily you can take it around. A lot of raincoats come with a ‘carry pouch’. You can fold up your raincoat and store it in this pouch when not in use.

Full-length raincoats are a great choice in heavy rainfall, but not always while hiking or biking. The long length rainwear pants have a risk to get caught in the tires while driving as they have loose-fitting. Short rain jackets for hiking or biking are the best choice.

As a lot of people use raincoats for daily usage, particular raincoats are designed especially for this purpose. A rain suit which comes with a rain jacket and rain pant serves the purpose correctly for daily travellers and commuters.

For someone who stays in the city and does daily travel and commuting, a rain suit consisting of a rain jacket and pant is the best fit.

Materials like nylon, polyester and other cotton blends are used to make raincoats as these are water-resistant materials.

Read our product reviews to choose the one that fits you well!

Yes, raincoats can even keep you warm if they have an extra lining inside and they act well as wind barriers as well.

Exactly like your clothes. No compromises on the fitting. They should be adequately tight and lose to make you feel comfortable. You can check the size by aligning the shoulder lines with yours.

If the washing instructions state that you can machine wash the raincoat, then yes it can go in a dryer! You can know this by checking the washing instructions on the raincoat.

Yes! If you require specific washing instructions like hand wash or machine wash, looking into the raincoat washing instructions is the best decision as some raincoats may have some lining that can come off in the washing machine.

Storing rainwear is not rocket science! We have got for you some expert guidelines that will get you through it.

• Make sure the rainwear is completely dry before you fold it up or store it.

• If it has a carry pouch, kindly use it.

• Once the rainwear is completely dry, talcum powder can be sprinkled on it to avoid it from getting sticky.

• Drying the raincoat before folding is extremely important as it would leave a lousy stench if not dried right.

• While putting it in the dryer, use the softest possible settings.

• Avoid using hot water for washing raincoats; it may lower the material quality and loosen it.

Why?

• 100% nylon fabric makes it an excellent water-resistant coat.

• The overall look is super stylish. It’s ideal to wear for staying dry yet looking stylish!

• With high wind-resistance, you can easily use it as a winter jacket as well.

• There are various sizes and shades available to choose from. A guiding size chart is also given to you.

• It is extremely portable as it folds into minimal size and can be carried around easily.

• Cost-wise, it is on the higher end.

Why?

• Made of 100% nylon, this too carries the signature Columbia class.

• The Omni-tech shield makes it water-resistant as well as very breathable. Utter comfort is what we will spell this one out as!

• The jacket is complete with its classic cool and can be used as winter wear because of high wind-resistance!

• The hood had a velcro strap which may not always give the best fitting!

Why?

• This is a full rain suit, complete with a jacket and a pant.

• It is made up of polyester and PVC lining. This makes it more durable to use.

• It has a unique inner lining over every stitch that makes the raincoat more water-resistant.

• It has a pouch in which you can carry the raincoat when not in use.

• It is ideal to use in medium to heavy rainfall.

Why?

• This is a unisex raincoat!

• It is designed ideally for people who love to ride their bikes to places!

• It is made of polyester making it ideal for rainwear.

• The zipper has a flap-closure which reinforces its water.

• It looks stylish, as well.

Why?

• This is also a full rain suit maximizing rain protection.

• Made of high-quality polyester, it is ideal for a heavy shower.

• It has an overlap for the zipper adding to its water-resistant capacities.

• It is an excellent choice for daily commute and usage!

Why?

• Made of polyester, this is ideal for use as a rain protector!

• Although it is claimed as being great for a heavy downpour, it is not tested! So we would consider this as rainwear for a moderate amount of rainfall.

• You can use it for various outdoor activities and can be very easy to take around.

• It packs up in a compact size that you can take around effortlessly. Checkout reviews and comparison of best women's winter jacket, best running shirts for men, best hammocks, best running shirts for women, best women raincoats, best men's winter jackets, best camping chairs, best camping tents, best camping beds, best camping tables, best sleeping bags, best running shoes in India.