A Complete Manual on Understanding the Rain Gear
If you live somewhere where rain is a normal occurrence then rain gear is essential for you. Rain gear is of different types, made with different materials. If you want to buy good quality rain gear, then it is a must that you know how to identify one.
There are various materials used for making rain gear. However, there are two types of technology used that make the rain gear capable of keeping the rain at bay.
Laminating Technology
In laminating technology, a breathable membrane is bonded to the top side of the fabric. A laminate is used in outerwear suited for extreme settings since it is a durable structure (the membrane is protected by the face fabric). Grundens rain gear uses laminating and DWR technology to make their rain gear of the best quality.
Coating Technology
Like a thin layer of paint on a wall, a waterproof/breathable film is applied to the inside surface of the shell fabric. Coated structures are lighter and less expensive than laminates, although they may have lower performance and durability.
Laminates and coatings require additional protection against abrasion and contamination from dirt due to their thinness. As a result, waterproof/breathable materials are classified as 2-layer, 2.5-layer, or 3-layer.
Durable Water Repellent Technology
The main idea of rain gear is to keep you dry when it’s pouring outside, or if you’re doing fishing or visiting Niagra Falls. Good quality rain gear companies make their products by using DWR ( Durable Water Repellent) technology. Grundens Rain jacket uses DWR technology that makes it last longer than other ordinary jackets.
How Does Durable Water Repellent Technology Work?
On the exterior fabric of a jacket, DWR finishes have small, densely crowded straight “spikes.” Water cannot spread because of the dense, spiky finish, which forces it to create rounded droplets that bead up and slip off the fabric.
The outside of the rain gear has a DWR finish. The finish performs very important functions, such as:
- The front material is protected from saturation by a DWR treatment. It accomplishes this by forcing water to bead up and roll off the outside of the garment.
- Maintaining breathability necessitates a DWR finish. A jacket’s fabric might become saturated if the DWR treatment wears off. People mistakenly perceive dampness in a soaked cloth as chilly, leading them to fear their jacket’s waterproofing has failed.
Does it Last Forever?
Even if your rainwear has a “durable” water repellent treatment, it won’t endure indefinitely. Dirt, oils, and abrasion weaken their performance over time, allowing water droplets to flatten, spread out, and infiltrate the underlying cloth. That’s why, when you detect raindrops starting to soak in instead of rolling off, you should wash and revitalize your DWR finish.
What Qualities Should A Good Rain Gear Have?
A good quality rain gear should have the following qualities:
Wear resistance
Rain gear should last long without any material loss from wearing it too much. Good rain gear such as a fishing rain jacket is wear-resistant which makes it an ideal choice of rain gear.
Weather resistance
Wind resistance is a quality that every rain gear either rain jacket or rain boots should have. Light stuffing is used between the layers of fabric to make it resistant.
Lightness and dimensional stability
No one likes to wear a garment that weighs tons. Good rain gear should be light because once soaked with water, it’s bound to become heavy.
Moisture and dirt resistance
Rain gear should be moisture and dirt-resistant because trapped dirt or moisture can reduce the life of the garments.
Good aeration
The fabric of rain gear should be breathable to allow the sweat to dry off. This quality allows the rain gear to keep rainwater away from you while also allowing the sweat to move outside.
Easy care
Caring for rain gear should be easy and minimal. No one wants to spend hours cleaning rain gear that will again get dirty once you step outside.
Stylish look
It is a must that rain gear should be stylish and trendy. No one wants to look hideous even when they are soaking wet.
How to Care for Your Rain Gear
Caring for your rain gear essentials makes it last longer and saves you money. It also saves you from the embarrassment of going out in dirty rain gear.
- Rain gear should be cleaned regularly. A rain jacket that is clean trumps one that is soiled.
- Because they rinse cleanly, use specialized cleaning agents designed exclusively for waterproof/breathable rainwear. Standard laundry detergents contain chemicals that affect the performance of rainwear.
- Always rinse completely after using any cleaning solution; conducting two rinse cycles is a smart approach to ensure that all soap residue is removed.
- Things to stay away from:
- Dryer sheets with fabric softener: Their additions reduce the waterproof/breathable properties of the product.
- Bleach with chlorine.
- Dry cleaning is an option.
- Because waterproof/breathable textiles can melt when exposed to open flames or extreme heat.