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No doubt thanks to lockdown meaning we could not fully enjoy it, the country has experienced its sunniest spring since records began in 1929. Only nine springs on record have topped 500 hours of sun, but this year we blew through this mark, clocking up more than 570 hours. And this week we've had 30-degree heat. So what the Dickens do we need wet-weather clothing for?
Well, because this is the UK! And we can fool ourselves while there's blue skies above, but we all know the sun won't be shining for long. Indeed, rain is forecast this very weekend. So get prepared with this edit of water-themed wearables.
Musto LPX GORE-TEX Smock
Bold asymmetrical tailoring meets three layers of GORE-TEX and an adjustable PU-coated drysuit style collar and cuff to create a serious sailing jacket for the worst possible conditions. Designed specifically for inshore racing, the warm, breathable fabric shrugs off rain and sea spray with consummate ease, and the neoprene hem delivers a watertight seal, especially when worn with the matching LPX GORE-TEX Salopette.
adidas Terrex Free Hiker Parley
WIRED has long admired adidas’s forward-thinking approach to recycled materials and, impressively, their collaborative efforts with Parley for the Oceans means there’s now 174 products available – from sneakers to gym kit and swimwear – made wholly or in part using reworked ocean plastics. Their latest footwear drop is an update of the impressive Terrex Free Hiker, a supremely comfortable mid-height crossover walking boot with Boost cushioning, trainer-like fit and mountain-goat levels of grip thanks to the Continental rubber sole. The water-resistant Primeknit upper is breathable, and the elasticated ankle loop gives just enough support for uneven trails, without it feeling as restrictive as a full-height boot.
Pas Normal Studios Shield Jacket
The Shield is the Danish uber brand's year-round, wet-conditions, well, shield. Constructed in Scholler’s biomimetic c_change fabric, the polymer structure of the jacket’s membrane reacts to intense temperature and moisture changes. In wet and warm conditions the membrane opens (think 'pine cone') releasing excess moisture and heat (condensation and sweat). Perfect when you’re riding hard. When things cool down again and the temperature drops (maybe you’re fixing a flat at the side of the road) the polymer structure contracts, blocking out the elements and sealing in that essential warmth. Clever clobber indeed.
Price: £159 | Pas Normal
On Running Anorak
Instantly recognisable thanks to the CloudTec cushioning on their running and walking shoes, over the past few seasons On Running has branched out to create some of the most technical and desirable clothing collections. The super-light 216g waterproof Anorak – in mustard or navy – is made using a premium PTFE-free three-layer membrane that ensures it keeps water and wind out, but allows plenty of breathability, both through the material itself and the carefully positioned venting. They’ve also added hydrophilic elements to the lining, which pull moisture away from the body, so the harder you work, the cooler and more breathable the jacket should be.
Price: £320 | On Running
Ponch x Lief Podhajský cap
Working in collaboration with print design Studio Leif Podhajský, Ponch has created a range of waterproofs made using recycled post-consumer plastic bottles. The bold print, titled 111-111, adorns a classic poncho, rain jacket and this six-panel packable mesh-lined cap. Each item has a waterproof rating of 15,000mm and breathability rating of 15,000g, plus taped seams to help maintain the fabric’s integrity, even when things get seriously soggy.
Price: £40 | Ponch
Roux R1-CF Gloss Carbon helmet
Not strictly wet weather, this one - but water crucially comes into play in this innovative motorbike accessory as a Pininfarina design for Roux Helmets features CoolX, a water cooling system that pumps 11°C water around the helmet to keep the driver comfortable in all conditions. A host of race-specific models are available, for GT, F1 and F4 racing - there’s a removable aerodynamic spoiler for the open cockpit designs - and they all have Bluetooth helmet comms, built-in hydration, noise-canceling capabilities and a quick-release system that allows emergency services to remove the helmet without putting undue stress on the driver's head and neck.
Price: From $1,400 | Roux
Picture Dome 3/2 front wetsuit
Wetsuit neoprene is flexible, incredibly insulating – and terrible for the planet, being both non-renewable and fossil-fuel based. Picture is trying to right these wrongs with Eicoprene, a non-petroleum-based synthetic foam made using a tasty mix of old tyres and limestone, all laminated together using Aqua-A solvent-free, water-based glue. This 3/2 front-zip wetsuit design offers super stretch where it’s needed, plus added warmth thanks to a recycled Polyamid liner that traps air between each loop.
Price: €320 | Picture
Matador Droplet XL
Practical, portable protection from the water, and perfect for stashing wet clothing inside, this palm-sized droplet contains a generous 15D waterproof ripstop nylon 20-litre drybag with sealed seams (33x50.8cm) that weighs just 100g. It’s big enough to stash a day’s worth of dry clothes as you paddle – or to keep that Picture wetsuit from soggying up everything else in the boot of the car.
Price: £46 | Amazon
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
