The Wednesday Wellness threads are meant to encourage users to ask for and provide advice and motivation to improve their lives. It isn't intended as a 'containment thread' and any content which could go here could instead be posted in its own thread. You could post:
-
Requests for advice and / or encouragement. On basically any topic and for any scale of problem.
-
Updates to let us know how you are doing. This provides valuable feedback on past advice / encouragement and will hopefully make people feel a little more motivated to follow through. If you want to be reminded to post your update, see the post titled 'update reminders', below.
-
Advice. This can be in response to a request for advice or just something that you think could be generally useful for many people here.
-
Encouragement. Probably best directed at specific users, but if you feel like just encouraging people in general I don't think anyone is going to object. I don't think I really need to say this, but just to be clear; encouragement should have a generally positive tone and not shame people (if people feel that shame might be an effective tool for motivating people, please discuss this so we can form a group consensus on how to use it rather than just trying it).
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
How do the mottizens buy garments for rainy climates? I'm considering a vacation to a place with a good amount of rain at that time of the year, but it won't be cold.
I haven't used a real "raincoat" in years, preferring to bring an umbrella when necessary. But I'm wondering what my options are for looking alright and being pretty much rainproof without an umbrella. I have seen some people use those see-through things on top of a not-rainproof jacket. Is that a good option?
Suggest finding out what the locals typically do, and copy that. (probably easier to buy when you get there, if you don't already own gear)
I'm from a rainy city in the Pacific Northwest where people wear their $800 Arc'teryx as fashion. Umbrellas still see play, but if you're walking around with one and not also a rain jacket, you mark yourself as "that kind of person" (not that there's anything wrong with that!).
Biggest thing with jackets, I find, is the hood design. Almost any rain jacket will keep you dry long enough for your commute. Not every rain jacket will keep rain off your face comfortably. A lot of them are designed to fit over large helmets, accommodate ski goggles, etc. etc. You probably don't want all these tradeoffs. You want something with a long brim, zips up past your chin, covers enough side-angle, and doesn't look ridiculous when cinched to fit.
More options
Context Copy link
After owning many expensive and high tech raincoats, I've concluded they are a scam. Waterproof + breatheable is simply a contradiction in terms, no matter how much fancy GoreTex you use in the construction. Better coats will last a bit longer before soaking through, but they all soak through eventually. Better coats will let your sweat out a bit better, for a bit longer, before becoming saturated and soaking you in your sweat. The single most important factor is how many vents the jacket has, and how well they work. There seems to be little correlation between price and vent quality.
If you dont want to get wet, bring an umbrella. If you dont want to get wet from rain, but dont mind getting sweaty, then a poncho or trash bag works great, as do cheap non-breatheable waterproof jackets that are basically just a solid plastic shell (like the traditional bright yellow ones).
That's the impression I'm getting.
Think I'll stick to umbrella for city locales, and some kind of shell for hiking.
More options
Context Copy link
In case anyone want's to really nerd out about waterproof-breatheable membranes.
Classic GoreTex™ was expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). It's probably more correct to say that it is waterproof OR breatheable, and this trade off is tunable. When it is dry out there can be enough of a gradient to drive some sweat through the membrane, but if the humidity is greater on the outside of the membrane (because it's raining) the gradient is usually in the other direction. The patent for ePTFE ran out some time ago, but most membranes in that style are now expanded polyethylen or polyurethane. I think, but have not seen lab data, that the performance is actually worse, but presumably the manufactures are concerned ePTFE will get designated a polyfluorinated compound of environmental concern.
That brings up the topic of durable water repellent coatings. If you expect some rain, but not extreme cold or sustained rain a "wind-shell" with a DWR coating may be enough, and will breath better. Additionally, membrane based jackets typically require a DWR coated shell for durability and to help mitigate the reverse gradient problem above. In terms of performance fluorinated DWR very likely outperforms alternatives, but are being phased out due to environmental and health concerns and the associated reputational and liability risks.
If you (1) are in the US, (2) don't care about durability and (3) don't mind looking goofy, a set of frogg toggs ulra-lite2 rain suit or poncho is a pretty effective alternative to those $1 plastic ponchos you see people wearing at various tourists traps. They do tear easily but pack down supper small, are relatively cheap in absolute terms, and breath better than a trash bag. If there is a risk of it dropping below 60°F and it raining I would pack at least that. It is possible to go hypothermic in 50°F weather if you can't move around and are wet.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
Depends. In the city, I always prefer an umbrella to a raincoat. I’ve tried some expensive brands, but even with the most “breathable” fabric a raincoat is always going to heat you up and be sweaty unless it’s truly cold outside and you aren’t moving (if you’re hiking, you’ll get hot even if it’s snowing in many raincoats, although I imagine Antarctica or whatever is in another category entirely).
If you’re hiking or outside for long periods somewhere that’s warmer than about 65f/20c, I’d accept getting rained on, get a waterproof rain hat for your eyes and deal with whatever intermittent rain you have. Honestly that’s what I’d do even if it was only 60 degrees if it was very humid. Unless you have extreme sensory issues rain isn’t too unpleasant when it’s warm, especially if you’re on vacation and not wearing a suit or something you’re trying to keep dry.
Colder than that in the 30-60 range (that’s what, maybe 0-17c?) you’ll want the lightest possible shell raincoat you can find, something you can very quickly fold away and take back out, where the water will run right off and which you can wear on top of a sweater or light outerwear of some other kind.
Yup. I'll go for umbrella for city + shell for hiking. Thanks for the reply.
More options
Context Copy link
This again depends on the type of rain we're talking about, and of course wind. 65F, windy and soaked to the bone is unpleasant no matter how good your rain hat is.
This is true, but there's still a huge difference between wearing a GoreTex membrane with open ventilation zippers and an oilskin raincoat / plastic tarp cover. If you're wearing it for days, several hours each, I would spend the money.
Personally, my choice is always an extremely compact umbrella, and a un-insulated GoreTex jacket that folds down very small, which I only put on when I need my hands free or the wind picks up.
More options
Context Copy link
This is pretty much my approach as well. I'll addend that if it's both slightly chilly and rainy, and I'm running for a decent amount of time, I'll shift over to accepting that I'll get wet and wearing a wool/tech baselayer that still keeps me warm in the rain. I skip the shell because you just get gross and hot inside it if you're putting in much effort. My favorite gear for this is Icebreaker merino wool, but it's pretty expensive.
If I was doing something like hiking in an Irish winter, I would definitely make sure to bring those wool baselayers.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link