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Last Updated on June 25, 2024
Staying warm and dry in all weather conditions can be an exceptionally tricky challenge. To succeed, you’ll generally need to invest in some high quality gear, but is it possible to get one jacket that can do it all? While there are limitations to taking such an approach, it’s definitely possible to give it a shot.
Here, we go through our 4 top tips to help you through the process, from identifying a good supplier to recognising the limitations of a one-size-fits-all strategy.
- Buy from a good supplier
Our first tip for buying a jacket that’ll perform well in all weathers is to buy from a reputable supplier. This is perhaps especially important if you’ll be out in harsh weather conditions for a considerable period of time – it’s imperative that the jacket you go with is up to the task, and you don’t want to be sold something that malfunctions when you need it most.
Suppliers such as Stormline stock a wide range of tried and tested jackets that can perform in even the harshest of conditions. Sites such as this are a great place to start your search, no matter what you end up buying.
- Think about your specific needs
The kinds of weather you might face won’t be the only variable you need to consider. You also need to think about what you’ll be doing while you’re out and about; for example, if you’re going to be taking measurements, standing around for prolonged periods of time, you’ll need a very different jacket compared to if you’re planning on running up and down mountains with hardly a minute’s rest. Think about what you’ll be using the jacket for, trying to imagine all the different scenarios you might need it to keep you dry in.
- The importance of layering
If you’re going to buy a single jacket that can protect you in all weathers, you’ll likely need to adopt a layering approach. Your outer shell will be the jacket that goes on top of everything else, keeping you dry in even the wettest of conditions.
However, depending on the kind of activity you’re doing and how warm it is outside, you can then add thermal layers underneath that jacket. This approach should remain versatile in even the toughest of conditions, keeping you warm and comfortable, rain or shine.
- Be aware of limitations
While you can take the above points into consideration and do your absolute best to find the right jacket, it’s important to recognise the limitations of this kind of approach. There are so many different kinds of weather conditions that it will be practically impossible to get a single jacket that covers literally all of them. That being said, by adopting an approach based on layering, you can maximise the chances that you’ll manage to get it right.
Buying one jacket that can do it all is a tricky process, but it’s not entirely impossible. By focusing on the points outlined above – especially the importance of layering – you should be able to come up with a strategy that’ll have you covered when you need it the most.
