Raincoat

For the 2004 Hindi film, see Raincoat (film). For The Raincoats, see The Raincoats (disambiguation).

Raincoat containing a bullet-proof vest liner, worn by Gerald Ford in public after two assassination attempts in 1975

Child wearing yellow raincoat with hood

A raincoat or slicker is a waterproof or water-resistant coat worn to protect the body from rain. The term rain jacket is sometimes used to refer to raincoats that are waist length. A rain jacket may be combined with a pair of rain pants to make a rain suit.

Modern raincoats are often constructed of breathable, waterproof fabrics such as Gore-Tex or Tyvek and coated nylons. These fabrics allow some air to pass through, allowing the garment to 'breathe' so that sweat vapour can escape. The amount of pouring rain a raincoat can handle is sometimes meassured in the unit millimeters, water gauge.

History

The K-way has been created in 1965 in Paris by Léon Duhamel.

Styles

Important styles of raincoat include:

• Anorak, derived from traditional Inuit designs
• Cagoule, also Cagoul, Kagoule, Kagool
• Driza-Bone, Australian oiled cotton
• Gannex
• Inverness cape
• Mackintosh, rubberised cloth
• Poncho
• Sou'wester
• Trench coat
• Waxed jacket