Waterproof Coats

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Waterproof coats offer the consumer essentially two perks. One – they are warm just like any coat. And two – they are waterproof, meaning they can keep you warmer during rain or snow. Even using an umbrella we all know that coats often start getting a bit damp when you wear them in the rain. This cuts down on the warmth they provide dramatically over a longer period and should be enough reason especially for people who live in wet climates to have at least one or two water proof coats in the closet.

Where To Get Waterproof Coats

You can obviously hit the stores and find waterproof coats right off the rack. Many waterproof coats in stores are made of materials that naturally repel water. Unless you want something that is not made of rubber however you will have to sacrifice true waterproofing for a bit of style.

There are some stores that specialize in high-end merchandise like REI. Other big department stores like Macy's or Sears, among many others, are usually big enough to have a few choices as well. The problem however is that your selection will naturally be far lower than all the coats in the store. This is why I recommend waterproofing your coat yourself. This will give you the selection of all the coats in the store at the expense of having to do some work yourself.

Make Your Own Waterproof Coat

Make Your Own Waterproof Coat Making your own waterproof coats is really not all that difficult. Most of the time all you have to do is use a waterproofing spray on it and let it set. The waterproofing spray does all the work. The coat will not be perfect of course and eventually the coat will lose some of it's waterproofing and will have to be redone but this is the simplest option which keeps most every coat as an option. Just make sure the material of coat is able to be waterproofed. You might not want to apply these sprays to delicate materials like fine furs for instance.

If you plan on waterproofing your coat get your spray, scotch guard is the most popular, and then make sure your coat is as clean as possible. Follow the cleaning instructions on the coat if it has been used. If it is a new coat then you may be able to skip this step.

Once you are ready hang the coat in an open area over a drop cloth or open newspapers, crack the window and get some good ventilation and spray down the entire coat paying careful attention to getting all areas. Remember that waterproofing a coat properly means getting the whole coat. It would be silly to rush this. Take your time and get all areas thoroughly. The shoulders, collar, arms, and the bottom of the coat are the most vulnerable to moisture so make sure to get these areas above all else.

No matter if you use scotch guard or some other water repellant spray you will want to let your coat hang dry for a minimum of 24 hours before you consider wearing it. The waterproofing process takes some time so just let it do it's thing. If all this seems like too much work however then just consider buying a waterproof coat from the store. It may not be as waterproof as if you enhanced it yourself but will do the job pretty good too.

Buying Waterproof Coats

If you decide to simply buy your coat already waterproofed then make sure to read the label. If the material is some sort of cloth rather than a rubberized material then you will want to look for waterproofing details on the label. Look for scotch guard references as this is the most popular product used by manufacturers in waterproofing fabric.

Many of these are simply water resistant coats because the scotch guard is often applied to the fabric well before the coat is made. Obviously every coat and manufacturing process will be different but generally buying them as is will be good for what you want but not as good as if you were to apply the waterproofing yourself after purchase.

Cost Of Waterproof Coats

If you choose to buy a waterproof coat you really shouldn't be paying too much more on average than a normal coat. Many coats have waterproofing by default and the price is no different but some coats which feature true waterproofing may be a bit more expensive. This is likely due to the material rather than any additive.

The price really depends on the quality of coats you buy and where you get them. Most respected quality coats will be in the range of at least a hundred dollars however sales can always bring this price down. The highest quality water proof coats may range up into the hundreds. The choice I up to you how high you want to go. Again, outside of buying the best quality materials and fabrics it may simply be best to buy the coat you want and waterproof it yourself at home. The best materials however will keep you drier so you will have to weigh this decision for yourself.