But work doesn’t stop when it rains, so as a construction professional, you also need a good set of rain gear to protect from the elements, keep you comfortable and most importantly, ensure you can remain productive. You’ll know about the importance of good quality gear. It needs to keep you dry, warm, cool, comfortable, not be too heavy, but heavy enough to protect you – sometimes all at the same time. When the weather is predictable and bright, this isn’t too difficult. Key specs – Waterproofing: Durable water repellent (10,000mm); Main material: Polyamide; Weight: 317g (men’s) 281g (women’s) Every type of rain gear is designed first and foremost to be waterproof. The second core function is to make it easy for the wearer to perform whatever task is described. The Red Ledge Vinyl Poncho is that one your parents probably have in a disaster kit somewhere. It’s not fancy, it’s made of PVC (a material that’s not known for anything positive in clothing), and it has no bells and whistles. But it has a hood and covers your body, thereby protecting you from rain. It’s very cheap, very basic, and we don’t actually recommend disposing of it but keeping it around for emergencies. If it does rip you won’t be hard-pressed to grab another one. See Red Ledge Vinyl Poncho

Rainwear | Workwear | FTS Safety Rainwear | Workwear | FTS Safety

The Sea to Summit Tarp Poncho covers your body from the rain like a poncho should and also converts into a basic tarp shelter if you really need it to. Sea to Summit also offers this model in a much lighter Ultra-Sil Nano version, but we prefer this Nylon version for general travel as it’s way more durable. See Sea to Summit Nylon Tarp Poncho Good quality rain gear is designed to deal with anything from a light shower to a heavy downpour. It’s also got to be comfortable, durable and good at keeping your body at the correct temperature. Warm enough, but not too hot.We liked the generous pit-zips and the outer material, which feels really durable. The Torrentshell is flattering, too, and available in attractive colours. Plus, Patagonia’s ethical credentials are some of the best in the business, and its manufacturing process has a minimal environmental impact. Our only negative was the hood, which feels a bit too boxy and roomy. Heavy duty: If you are doing work that is abrasive then you need heavy duty rain gear for construction. 600gsm+ PVC is ideal for this as it’s strong and resilient. Pullovers are a bit lighter and because the zip doesn’t extend all the way to the bottom, there’s a touch more flexibility around the hip and waist area. This is crucial if your job involves lifting heavy stuff off of the ground. The specific terminology you’ll encounter pretty much depends on where you’re from. People in New Zealand and Australia say ‘wet weather gear’, people from America say ‘foul weather gear’. People in the UK sometimes say oilskins to refer to both. We don’t particularly love the word “disposable”, especially when it comes to a plastic product, but one can’t deny the one-use nature of ponchos for many people.

Rain Suits, Industrial Rain Slickers and More - Construction Gear Rain Suits, Industrial Rain Slickers and More - Construction Gear

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber, popular for its ability remain flexible over a wide range of temperatures. The most common application of neoprene is in making wet suits, waders and even fan belts for cars. But neoprene is also an excellent choice of material for cuffs and collars on rain gear due to its flexibility and toughness. Cotton Oilskins are designed to protect you from waves splashing over the side of a boat. But if you’re working by water and aren’t necessarily going to be doing a whole lot of moving about – for example quantity surveying or supervising – they might be a good shout. You’ll certainly stand out! Wet weather gear and foul weather gear are more generally associated with working out at sea, while rain gear more commonly refers to outdoor work on land. High-quality material: Polyester, nylon, or proprietary blends like Gore-Tex are usually the best fabrics for raincoats. This is because polyester is hydrophobic (water-resistant) and nylon is hydrophilic (water-absorbing). Often, they're also coated with waterproof treatments such as DWR. Key specs – Waterproofing: H2No Performance Standard (20,000mm); Main material: Nylon ripstop; Weight: 354gIt gets quite confusing, but the three terms – rain gear, wet weather gear and foul weather gear – are generally interchangeable. What about oilskins? The Gatewood Cape by Six Moons Design is a very unique product. It’s a rain poncho that doubles as a tarp tent. (You read that right!) It weighs just 10 ounces, has a hood for your head, and a large 360-degree coverage when worn as a poncho. Waterproof: If your rain gear isn’t waterproof, what use is it? It might have the technical details you’ve dreamed of, but if you still get sodden in a downpour, the rest of the day is going to be miserable. Construction rain gear falls under the same linguistic umbrella (pun intended) as ‘wet weather gear’ or ‘foul weather gear’. But there are key differences. Key feature – Raglan sleeves – where the sleeve material extends all the way to the collar – are important as this contributes to the weight distribution qualities you’ll need to stay mobile.