Rain clothing
How do I choose the right rain gear?
The Netherlands is known as a cycling country, but also as a country where it rains a lot. During such rainy moments, rain gear offers a solution. Rain gear can be worn over regular clothing and protects you from both rain and wind. There are a number of points that good rain gear must meet.
Properties
Rain gear protects you in all weather conditions. This clothing must not only be waterproof and windproof, but also breathable and provide ventilation. If the clothing is not breathable, you will get warm while cycling and start sweating. This will still make you wet and that should be prevented.
The waterproofness of rain gear is described as a water column. In the overview below, you can see exactly what the different water column values mean.
| From 0 mm: | The rain gear is water-repellent, but not waterproof. |
| From 1,000 mm: | The rain gear repels water, but is not resistant to pressure. For example, if you sit on a wet chair, the rain gear will eventually leak. |
| From 2,000 mm: | The rain gear remains waterproof even during longer rain showers, but will still leak under pressure. |
| From 5,000 mm: | The rain gear is resistant to long and intensive weather, even under high pressure the clothing remains waterproof. With very prolonged high pressure, the product may eventually leak. |
| From 15,000 mm: | The rain gear is resistant to heavy rain showers and even underwater the clothing keeps you dry. |
When the weather is rainy, it is often gloomy and dark outside. Most rain gear therefore contains reflective elements, making you visible to other road users even on the darkest days!
Types
You can choose to buy a complete rain suit (consisting of a rain jacket and matching rain pants), or you can choose to buy a separate rain jacket and/or rain pants. This way, you can choose what you need or create a stylish combination.
Cheap vs. more expensive
Rain gear is available in different price ranges. Generally, all rain gear is windproof and waterproof. But not all rain gear is breathable and offers extra protection at the seams. Depending on your own preferences, you can determine which properties the rain gear should meet.
Tip
Make sure your rain gear dries well before storing it, but do not hang the rain gear on a warm heater or in the sun for that purpose. If the rain gear dries naturally, you can enjoy it for as long as possible!