What to choose this fall: an umbrella or a raincoat?

You can’t get used to the vagaries of autumn weather, you can only adapt! The problem of the season is how not to get caught in the rain and not get wet to the skin. The weather forecast is the leader in search queries and is actively viewed on smartphones. It depends on him whether to put an umbrella or a raincoat in your purse in the morning, indispensable attributes of autumn. By the way, what is better to take with you? What to give preference to? Let's figure it out.

Umbrellas

As soon as the sky frowns, it begins to sprinkle, and immediately pedestrians open umbrellas of various designs.

Types of umbrellas

What kind of umbrella options does the industry offer today! On the street you can see a variety of designs.

Mechanism

Some manually open over themselves and their companion mechanical And semi-automatic. To open the canopy, you have to pull the fastener, turning it into a full-fledged umbrella. The rain has stopped - reverse operation.

Others press the button automatic, and the spring opens the dome. When closing, automatic and semi-automatic devices work the same way: they “extinguish” the dome themselves.

Dimensions

There are umbrellas-canes - large dome, solid handle, strong and comfortably curved. There are folding, telescopic, which add up two, three or more times. The more folds, the smaller the umbrella will fit into a handbag.

Reference. Folding umbrellas have a straight or slightly curved handle made of plastic, wood, leather or metal with a special strap for carrying. The best option is an anatomical rubberized one.

Dome

The variety in dome materials and prints is extraordinary!

From transparent wedding ones for newlyweds to jet black, which are preferred by real gentlemen.

Between these poles there is a riot of colors, tones, designs, and decorations on women’s and children’s umbrellas. Nylon, polyester, newfangled pongee (polyester with cotton) - these materials are most often stretched onto dome spokes.

Important! One model has from 8 to 16 spokes made of steel, fiberglass or aluminum. Preference should be given to models with at least 10 spokes. They provide a convex dome shape.

Pros and cons of umbrellas

Umbrellas have become a common means of protection from the rain.

Advantages

U folding umbrellas have many advantages.

• Practicality.
• Compactness. Small, lightweight, they fit in a car glove compartment, handbag, or outerwear pocket.
• Easy to open. The machines can be quickly opened with one press of a button in strong winds, when exiting a vehicle.
• Variety of colors pleasing to the eye.

Flaws

• The cane is bulky and takes up a lot of space. You have to carry it in your hands all the time.
• Folding umbrellas have a lot of small and flimsy elements that fail even with careful and careful handling.
• Frequent breakdowns are the bane of automatic umbrellas.
• Not all models have a lock against accidental opening, so the dome may open suddenly at the most inopportune moment.
• When there are strong gusts of wind, the umbrella is torn out of your hands and the canopy bends in the opposite direction. And the knitting needles sometimes break and bend.
• The most compact models are not able to provide reliable protection from rain; they only cover the head and upper body.
• Visibility from under the dome is not very good. Colliding with another umbrella carrier on the sidewalk is common.
• Need to dry immediately after use. It is not recommended to leave it wet for a long time.

Advice. A wet umbrella should be dried in the open position, away from heat sources, in order to protect the fabric from shrinking. Dry half-opened.

• And one more nuisance - umbrellas are often lost and forgotten in a variety of places.

Raincoats

The raincoat was valued by mushroom pickers, fishermen and shepherds for its practicality and convenience. From their wardrobe, these clothes stepped onto the catwalk and gained popularity among the masses.

Kinds

A surge in fashion occurred thanks to new materials that are better in all respects than the old tarpaulin.

Reference. Nylon and polyvinyl chloride, polyester with a layer of polyurethane and polyethylene, membrane fabric were liked by fashion designers. They did not fail to include these clothes in their collections.

Disposable and reusable

Raincoats can be divided into cheap ones made of thin polyethylene, designed for one rain, and higher quality reusable ones.

A budget raincoat made of polyethylene is compact and practical. It copes well with its main function - protecting the owner from rain.

Expensive and stylish reusable models made from higher quality materials claim a prominent place in the wardrobe of fashionistas.

Styles

Raincoats come in many styles.

• Classic shaped cloak and standard length (just below the knee) with hood will protect you from the rain from head to toe. Couture models are also beautiful and fashionable.
• Jacket. It is compact, does not require much space when folded, and can be carried in your pocket. Only the upper body will be protected from rain.
• Cape-poncho with wide sleeves, hood.

• Cycling raincoat-poncho is put on over the head. Long front and rear elements protect the hands on the steering wheel, as well as the back and the backpack on it, and the legs from moisture. When folded, it fits in a small tube-tube with a carabiner that snaps onto the cyclist’s belt.

• Raincoat with short sleeves 3/4, loose silhouette.
• Voluminous cape with slits for hands

Reference. Models for children are represented by separate and one-piece raincoats-overalls of various lengths. They allow the child to actively move while walking.

Pros and cons of a raincoat

Let's objectively evaluate the capabilities of raincoats.

Advantages

• A light and compact raincoat you can quickly throw on yourself. It will reliably protect you from bad weather.
• A raincoat is warmer: it protects from the wind.
• Compact when folded. A convenient tube or small bag where the raincoat is stored rolled up takes up little space in your pocket or purse.
• In a raincoat, a person has both hands free. Therefore, it is possible to carry a bag or count out change for travel.
• Dries quickly on a hanger and does not block the aisle.

Flaws

• Cheap disposable products have fragile material. Once caught, it is easy to tear.
• Some models are not hygroscopic. They do not allow moisture to pass in both directions. So after a few hundred steps, the cape turns into a personal portable steam room.

What to choose on a rainy day

An umbrella and a raincoat have their own strengths and weaknesses. What to choose for yourself and your loved ones, everyone decides for themselves.

When choosing, you should proceed from the conditions in which you will use it.

• Are you going shopping and want to have your hands free? Of course, a raincoat!
• Are you planning to have an active rest, despite the cloudy day? Planning a bike ride? Naturally, an umbrella will be inconvenient.
• Is it not only raining outside, but also a strong wind? The umbrella will be useless!
• What if there is no wind, light rain, and you have a new leather raincoat? Why hide it under a cape? An umbrella will be a great addition to your elegant look.

In general, you already understand that you should have both items. Moreover, you can “forget” a spare raincoat in your purse in case you don’t have an umbrella with you!