It doesn't rain every single day in Ireland. Some weeks it just feels that way.
That's why good rain gear is one of the most useful things you can own. With a proper rain jacket and a pair of waterproof trousers, a shower in spring, summer or autumn – in fact at any time of year – stops being a reason to stay indoors. Our rainwear comes from brands with decades of experience in wet and windy conditions, and below you can read a little about the most popular ones.
Helly Hansen began by making clothing for Norwegian sailors, and rain gear is still at the heart of the brand – for adults and kids alike. One of the big advantages of Helly Hansen is the choice: there are models at different prices, in different designs and in different materials, from classic, fully waterproof PU rainwear to lighter, breathable shell jackets.
For men and women there are rain jackets, raincoats and waterproof trousers in both classic PU and breathable fabrics, and for kids there are hard-wearing rain suits.
2117 of Sweden makes good-quality rainwear at sharp prices. There's something for the person who wants serious protection in heavy weather and for the person who simply needs an everyday rain jacket. Many of its rain jackets come in several colours and in versions for kids.
Just as Helly Hansen started out with Norwegian sailors, Didriksons started by making clothing for Swedish sailors. Both brands were created to solve a problem in genuinely rough weather, and today we all get the benefit. From Didriksons we have everything from colourful kids' rain suits to rain jackets and long raincoats for adults.
Vaude covers the more active end of the range, with light, breathable rain jackets – including jackets made for cycling – plus waterproof trousers that pack down small. They're a good match if you cycle to work or walk at a brisk pace.
Once you've chosen a brand, the next question is what level of quality you need. The two numbers worth looking at are breathability and waterproofing (hydrostatic head).
Breathability is measured in g/m²/24h. It tells you how many grams of moisture can pass through one square metre of fabric in 24 hours, so a breathability of 10,000 means that 10,000 grams of moisture can escape per square metre per day. As a rule of thumb:
Breathability is about keeping you dry from the inside. Waterproofing is about keeping the rain out. It's measured as hydrostatic head in millimetres and tells you how high a column of water the fabric can hold back before it lets water through:
Remember that the seams matter as much as the fabric. Taped seams and water-resistant zips are what keep you dry when the rain lasts all day.
The range runs from simple, affordable rain jackets to top-end rain suits: colourful sets for the kids, the neutral black rain jacket and long raincoats in autumn colours. Browse the categories:
Washing and caring for your rainwear correctly helps it keep both its waterproofing and its breathability. Here's a quick guide that will help it last for many years:
If you're about to buy a new rain jacket or a new pair of waterproof trousers, it's worth stopping to think about a full rain suit. You know the jacket and trousers match in both style and fit, and buying a set can work out cheaper than buying the two pieces separately. It's especially handy for kids, who tend to need both every time they head out.
We know you can buy rainwear in lots of places, so here are three good reasons to buy it from us:
