Rain Gear has only one purpose. To protect you from the elements while working or playing. Although you want rain gear that will keep your dry and block out the wind, you don't want rain gear that inhibits mobility and causes you to sweat so much that your clothes are drenched. The ultimate goal in rain gear is to find a comfortable suit that protects you, while not restricting your mobility. With today's numerous models and styles, finding the right rain gear for you can require multiple purchases and returns if you do not have an understanding of the many options.

In today's market there are all types of rain gear ranging from offshore to light duty, with varying applications depending on the manufacturer. No matter what type of category, all rain gear is made using the same manufacturing process. The manufacturer chooses a base fabric or substrate which is then laminated or coated with one of three chemicals.

Rain Gear Materials

The most durable coating used is PVC (polyvinyl-chloride). PVC is abrasion and oil resistant, relatively light weight and inexpensive. PVC rain gear is the most waterproof type of rain gear due to its welded seems. Older PVC rain gear had a tendency to become brittle in cold weather and break. Today rain gear manufacturers like Grundens, use proprietary PVC mixtures designed to withstand the cold. The more durable PVC suits usually have multiple coatings of PVC and reinforced knees and elbows.

Some lighter rain gear use polyurethane, a rubber polymer coating. Polyurethane is lighter and more flexible than PVC but less durable. Polyurethane, unlike PVC, is normally applied on the inside of a nylon fabric or substrate. The plus side of this is that polyurethane is more breathable than PVC but at the same time it is also less water resistant. The more expensive polyurethane rain gear has multiple bonding to increase water resistance.

The last of the three basic coatings used in making rain gear is neoprene. Just like survival suits, some rain gear is made of neoprene coated over a fabric or substrate. Neoprene suits are by far the warmest and most durable of rain gear on the market, although they do rip easily if caught on sharp objects. Another problem with neoprene rain gear is their weigh. They are extremely heavy and over time their weight can impact your mobility.

Types of Rain Gear and Applications

The below table defines rain gear categories and applications, and identifies which rain gear manufactures use each category.

	Description	Applications
Ocean	Neoprene or polyurethane, high durability, but light weight, meant to be worn a long time with out hindering mobility, high collars, Velcro cuffs and when fully zipped and hood is up only eyes are exposed.	Mid Ocean Cruises, where you cannot avoid storms and returning to port is not an option. Mainly used by oceans racers and in areas of frequent high velocity storms.
Offshore	Polyurethane, durable, medium mobility, high collars, Velcro cuffs, multiple hood adjustments.	Year Round Sailing with frequent long-distance cruises.
Coastal	Polyurethane, light weight, low collar, flexible.	Weekend sailing, where ports are frequently available, and high wind velocity storms are avoidable. The best choice for weekend sailors who take the occasional week long cruise down the coast.
Light Weight Rain Gear	PVC coated, lightweight, soft, flexible with medium durability and optional polyurethane cuffs.	Mainly used by harbor or bay sailors who may endure the occasional rain storm. Also used by utility and construction workers. Not recommended for high abrasive environments.
Standard Weight, Medium Duty Rain Gear	PVC coated, medium weight with good flexibility, covered snaps, storm flap, draw cord on hood, optional pockets and polyurethane cuffs.	Commercial Fishing, logging, construction and other abrasive, stormy environments.
Professional Weight, Commercial, Heavy Duty Rain Gear	PVC coated, heavy duty fabric base, heavy weight, low flexibility, oil resistant, designed for use in cold weather, covered snaps, storm flap, draw cord on hood, reinforce knees and elbows optional polyurethane cuffs.	For use in high abrasive, high wind velocity stormy environments. Preferred rain gear for commercial fishing and northern logging.
Dinghy & One-Suit Design	Light weight, waterproof, and flexible tops and bottoms designed to be worn over wet and dry suits.	For use by dinghy sailors, and other small boat sailors who are not protected from the elements and expect to have to wade or at the very least get really wet.

No matter what type of rain gear you decide to buy, for the most water tight rain gear, you should purchase a suit that has sealed seems. When rain gear is made, needles and thread puncture the fabric at the seems. Thus the seems are prime areas for leakages and must be sealed. Seems are sealed by having hot air melt an adhesive tape on top of the seems while simultaneously being compressed to ensure no air bubbles develop between the tape and the seem. To start shopping for your Rain Gear, visit Go2Marine at www.go2marine.com or the Wet Weather Shop at www.wetweathershop.com.