Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for a rain jacket:
Lamination: A jacket being laminated means is one where the membrane is sealed to the outer part of the jacket, which in turn makes the jacket waterproof. The whole point of a rain jacket is for it to be waterproof, so if you stumble across one that isn't laminated (or doesn't have any kind of coating at all), that means it's no good for wearing in the rain.
Breathability: While rain jackets are supposed to keep you warm, it shouldn't be to the point where you are excessively hot. Your jacket should also be a perfect fit—as in neither too tight nor too large. If a jacket is too tight, that can affect breathability as well. You'll want to make sure the fit and insulation is right for you before purchasing your jacket.
Fabrics: The most important factor fabric-wise is for the jacket to have that lamination or coating we mentioned earlier as that's what protects your jacket from the rain. Aside from that, Nylon and polyester fabrics are great ones to look for in rain jackets, with nylon probably being the most durable of the two. Nylon is also quick-drying and easily packable should you want/need to take it on a trip. GORE-tex is an awesome fabric as well, but may run you too hot if you are wearing in warm weather. Rubber is also another great material rain jackets can be made from.
Care instructions: If you can't find the care instructions within the online description of the jacket you're looking at, you'll be able to find them on the inner tag once you receive. Pay close attention to the care instructions as some jackets may require a trip to the cleaners. Others may have you washing on lower settings or even air drying, so again make sure to read the instructions properly so you don't ruin your jacket.
Zippers: It's safe to say that most rain jackets come with zippers. However, there select rain jackets that consist of buttons only (or a blend of the two). If zippers are something that's important to you, make sure you have a look at the zipper material and see if there's been any complaints in the reviews about the zippers breaking easily.
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