Storm jacket - popular tourist jacket

The word "storm" immediately conjures up pictures of incredible adventures, long journeys and the riot of the elements. Such things are worn by people whose lifestyle is associated with extreme hobbies, hiking, staying in adverse weather conditions. Shtormovka is the clothing of tourists and travelers, as well as fans of sports and active lifestyles.

Many people perceive the storm jacket as a unisex wardrobe item: the main thing is that it protects from the weather, and its appearance is of secondary importance.

However, girls tend to care about how they look even in extreme conditions. Therefore, for a long time, manufacturers of sportswear have been producing women's models of such jackets. We will talk about them in today's article.

Traditionally, the word "storm jacket" is used to describe an elongated jacket with a hood, made of waterproof, dense material, designed to protect against rain, hail and snow.

Previously, windbreakers were made exclusively from tarpaulin, but today modern synthetic fabrics have come to replace this rather heavy material, which are in no way inferior to it in terms of protective properties.

The storm jacket has a loose fit, since it is assumed that it is worn over warm clothing. It should not hinder movement, therefore the wind jacket is always very spacious, it does not fit the figure. This jacket is designed to protect the upper body: head, neck, arms, back, chest and abdomen.

Usually, it is slightly longer at the back than in the front - this is made for comfort of movement, additional protection of the area below the back and ease of fixing the harness.

The wind jacket's hood has a high neckline and a small visor that protects from wind and precipitation. On some models, the hood covers part of the face. Most windbreakers have a very voluminous hood, which is pulled with special puffs - in case you need to wear a helmet or helmet under it.

Puffs are also available on the sleeves and on the hem of the storm jacket for maximum protection from cold and wind.

There are usually not many pockets on a storm jacket, but they are all large enough to make it easier to climb into them with gloves or mittens.

The pockets are equipped with zippers with protective pads to keep moisture out of the contents. These zippers are provided on all parts of the jacket. In addition to zippers, Velcro is also used - they are much more comfortable than buttons or buttons.

Another obligatory element of the wind jacket is a kind of "ventilation holes" protected by a net. They are needed so that the body can breathe in a dense, airtight material.

• waterproof material;
• ability to protect from wind and precipitation;
• the ability to keep warm well;
• non-marking, but bright color;
• free style that does not restrict movement;
• convenient fasteners and pockets;
• the presence of ventilation.

The largest group of people who wear storm jackets are not professional athletes, rescuers, etc. (so they usually have special uniforms), but ordinary tourists. Those who are fond of hiking in the mountains, forest, river rafting, fishing and hunting, choose storm jackets as their "outfit".

Hiking clothes should be lightweight and versatile so you don't have to take a whole bunch of clothes with you for different occasions. In addition, it must be weatherproof, comfortable and durable. All these requirements are ideally matched by the storm jacket, which is why it is so popular with tourists.

Above, we have already said that modern wind jackets are not sewn from tarpaulin (although such models can be easily found on sale), but from dense synthetic material. This material is called "membrane" and has several varieties. The key characteristics of the storm jacket, including its price, depend on the type of membrane.

The membrane is characterized by the following main criteria:

• chemical composition - all membranes are made on a polymer basis, but the types of polymers differ from different manufacturers;
• structure - the membrane can be applied to the base fabric as a liquid coating or a thin film;
• water resistance - this parameter indicates what height of the water column the membrane can withstand without letting water through;
• vapor permeability - this indicator indicates how much water vapor 1 m can pass² membrane tissue.

Consider several popular types of membranes that are used to make storm jackets:

• Gore-tex - the very first membrane invented by an American company in the late 70s of the last century; the membrane is a microporous fabric based on polytetrafluoroethylene.
• Dermizax-MP- Japanese membrane fabric designed for extreme sports; the manufacturer promises to preserve the protective properties of the membrane even after many washes.
• Entrant-HB - the latest material, which has a fundamentally different structure, which is a cross between microscopic pores and a laminated coating without pores.
• eVent - the membrane of this company is very close in composition and properties to the fabric from Gore, but it is endowed with additional protection against dirt; in addition, this membrane absorbs and removes excess moisture very well.
• Sympatex - one of the few membranes that has a non-porous structure, which provides a high level of protection against strong wind and rain; since this membrane is very elastic, the windshield will retain its properties even in places where it is folded.
• Dry Factor - this type includes several types of membranes, which differ in the degree of moisture resistance and vapor permeability; all fabrics are made of micro-pores and have a water-repellent coating.

• The length of the storm jacket should be chosen depending on the type of activity.When hiking, a jacket that covers the hips, but does not restrict movement, will be appropriate. If you are planning to do rock climbing, then you need to choose a shortened version of the wind jacket (but make sure that your lower back does not expose when raising your hands).
• The hood is the most important element of the wind jacket. Extreme athletes choose a hood that can be worn over a protective helmet. Ideally, the hood should have a visor to protect the eyes from the sun, dust and prickly snow. Removing, putting on and adjusting the hood should be comfortable with gloves.
• It is also easy, without removing gloves, it should be convenient to fasten and unfasten the wind jacket, tighten the elastic drawstrings, adjust the cuffs, climb into the pockets, etc. Try all of these steps in the store before buying a jacket. The fittings should be as comfortable and durable as possible.
• The ventilation holes on the storm jacket play a very important role, because the fabric itself, from which such clothes are made, can hardly "breathe". Ventilation can be in the armpits (this is the most common option) or on the body of the wind jacket itself.
• If you plan to wear a wind jacket often and for a long time, then pay attention to the models in which parts prone to wear are "reinforced" by inserts made of a more durable material. Additional protection is usually needed on the shoulders, hips and areas that come into contact with the equipment.
• There are not many pockets on storm jackets, since it is assumed that the tourist carries everything necessary in a backpack. But a couple of pockets are required. For ease of use, the pockets should be located at the top of the jacket. In addition, they must reliably protect the contents from moisture, so it is recommended to give preference to models with protective flaps and waterproof fasteners.

If you are thinking about purchasing a storm jacket, then most likely you are planning a long trip to nature, an exciting adventure or are going to master a new sport. In this case, in addition to a wind jacket, you must purchase special shoes (for example, trekking boots), thermal underwear and suitable pants. In a pair with a jacket, storm trousers are usually bought, made of the same material.

If you just need a wind jacket to protect you from the weather in an urban environment, you can wear it with your usual clothes - sweaters, jeans or insulated pants, rubber boots or high "military" boots.

Accessories in a sporty style are perfect for her - bright hats, scarves and gloves.