Rainbird Journal

Not all raincoats are alike and not all raincoats you will like, but there is a solution….With winter upon us the need for apparel that will protect us from the elements becomes something that most of us consider at some point. Often it’s after we’ve been caught out and have ended up wet & cold. We’re often asked about what you need to know to make sure the raincoat you’re purchasing will do the job of protecting you from the elements. A little knowledge, as always, makes it a lot easier to know what to look for. Here’s our list of the 6 key things to look for to keep you dry & toasty this winter! At last, 6 easy tips to finding your perfect Raincoat!  Waterproof Fabric  Look for ratings on the jackets you are considering.  A minimum of 2,000mm (Millimetres) for light showers. The higher the number the better although the ratings game is not a level playing field (which is a whole other post) – don’t get too bogged down with this. A rating is better than none. Typically this is either a membrane or coating on the inside of the fabric which you generally don’t see. Taped Seams This is where the inside seams have what looks like sticky tape placed over the seams to prevent leakage through the sewing needle holes which is essential to keeping you dry. This is also known as Seam Sealing and can be on all seams which is known as Fully Seam Sealed, or just the seams where it is most likely to be an issue such as the shoulders or neck seams – this is known as Critical Seam Sealing. Fully Seam Sealed is always best! Breathable Fabric This is probably the least understood yet most important elements of a raincoat. If moisture vapour (your hot sweaty steam) cannot escape through the fabric it creates condensation on the inside of the jacket. This can result in finding yourself unpleasantly wet and cold on the inside of the jacket! To avoid this look for ratings above 2,000mvp (Moisture Vapour Permeability) to remain dry and comfortable. The breathability factor is typically achieved by either a membrane or a coating on the inside of the fabric which you can’t usually see. Durable Waterproof Repellent Finish This is a finish applied to the surface of the fabric which causes the rain to bead and run off the surface. This feature aids the membrane or coating on the inside of the fabric which provides the waterproof and breathable function to the fabric to perform at its best.Technical design features to keep you dry. Here are a few essentials:Adjustable hoods that are deep enough to cover your head and can be cinched in around your face if needed. Because who knows what direction the elements are going to be coming from!Storm flaps to cover zips from the sneaky wet and windy weather – either in front or behind the zip.Pockets that are well placed and are weather resistant with zips or flaps to stop your pockets filling up with rain water!Sleeves that are long enough to reach and openings that can be closed to protect water creeping in.Elasticated Draw cords at the hem or waist – this allows you to comfortably cocoon yourself in your jacket and hoard the heat! Beautiful Design Fashion with Function is possible! A technical jacket doesn’t necessarily need to look only technical.Everyday aesthetic will mean that you don’t need to keep a single use jacket with you – just in case the weather turns. A weather-proofed jacket can be worn whatever the weather.Fit & Comfort are essential – make sure that your jacket can be layered up or down with to provide the perfect protection from the elements. You’ll need to wear your jacket day in day out – so make sure it fits in the right places and is comfortable so your range of movement isn’t affected.Colour options – just as the seasons change so do our moods for different colours in our apparel. Colourful rainwear will bring a good mood to bad weather.Style – a statement piece that reflects your individual style and equally goes with all of your wardrobe.Packable – a bonus that means you have compact convenience to take your rainwear with you.Quality fabric – choosing quality will mean that you won’t be in need of buying a new jacket every winter, so spend your dollars well!Quiet fabric is another element that shouldn’t be overlooked as this adds to the wearing experience and a noisy jacket isn’t enjoyable for anyone. Is it possible to achieve all of this in one garment? Absolutely!We’ve been working hard on bridging the gap between technical outerwear and recreational apparel. You can get yourself weather-proofed without foregoing style OR function.

Written by guest blogger Lauren Korstrom.It is certainly no secret the beauty that Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park holds on the south island of New Zealand. Home to the tallest mountain in the country, the area is a playground of mountains full of glacial lakes and epic views.There is so much adventure and exploring to be had in the area especially hiking. Luckily, you do not have to be a mountaineer or even seasoned hiker to experience it. There are a variety of tracks to walk and hike with different levels of difficulties which means, there is something for everyone! Here are 5 awesome hikes in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Tasman Lake The Tasman Lake tracks are the easiest walks to do in the park and offer epic views over the lake and the Tasman Glacier. From the carpark there are a few different tracks you can take. My favourite is heading down to the river mouth. This path is a quick 20 minutes and leads to a lookout or a relatively easy small rock pile you can climb over to get to the water’s edge. This is a great spot to see icebergs up close.You can also head up the other path which takes about 25 minutes to get more of a view from above. This lookout really brings to light the size of the glacier, especially if there are any boats in the water. It’s incredible to see just how big the glacier is.I highly suggest walking both of the tracks as they each give a different perspective of the incredible lake. Signs to get to the car park are well marked as you come into the park and there are facilities there. Hooker Valley Track This is probably the most popular track in the park. It is not particularly hard as it’s quite flat but does take a bit longer being a 10 km return track taking between 2 and 3 hours round trip. The Hooker Valley track is the best one to walk if you want to see Mt Cook up close and personal. See if you can see his grumpy face in the snow! The beautiful Hooker lake is just below the mountain and often has big icebergs floating in it.If you head out in summertime, I suggest starting as earlier as you can to avoid the heat, the crowds and hopefully catch some lake reflections. Kea Point If you are looking to gain a little bit of elevation but not puff to hard, Kea point is a great track to hike. It starts from the Whitehorse hill campground and gradually climbs for 200 meters to a lookout over Mueller Glacial Lake and out to Mt Cook. The walks is about a 1 hour round trip and once you get to the lookout, it is not uncommon to see Kea’s here either. Sealy Tarns For anyone who wants a good leg workout, Sealy Tarns is the hike to do! With 2200 steps to tackle to the ridge, it is a good challenge but certainly worth every bit of effort. The scenery is stunning with alarge portion of the park in view. There is also a tarn on the ridge which makes for fantastic photographs especially if there is no wind. Sealy Tarns is the half way point to going up to Mueller Hut so if you’re not quite ready for a longer hike, this is a great option. Muller Hut Now this one isn’t exactly for the faint of heart but getting to that iconic red hut in the end will have you forgetting about the climb up. As mentioned the first part of the climb is up a lot of stairs and the second is a steep rocky ascent up the mountain. Be sure to give yourself lots of time to get up to the hut, it’s an 8.5km and 7-8 hour round trip and although it can be done in a day, the real magic comes when the sky changes colour at night and in the morning. You do need to book with DOC’s booking system to stay over and it does tend to fill up quickly in summertime. Getting There Aoraki/Mt Cook village is at the end of Highway 80 off the main road Hwy 8. The closest towns are Tekapo, 105km away to the north and Twizel, 65 km to the south. The road going into the village is a one road out highway and takes about 45 minutes from the highway. A Few Things to Note Before you head out for your hiking trip to Mt Cook National Park there are a few things to note especially because the village is quite small and has a limited amount of amenities. There are a few places to stay ranging from dorm and private rooms, to units and studios. You’ll want to make sure you book in advanced as it’s quite common in the peak times that there are no rooms available. There is also a campground, the Whitehorse hill campground that has 60 unpowered sites. There are facilities nearby and a large communal kitchen with bench space.The village also has a few cafes and restaurants to eat at, as well as a small convenience store for essentials. It is a good idea to pre pack some food and snacks before you head down. Depending which direction you come from there are larger grocery stores in Twizel and Tekapo. You’ll want to fill up with fuel in one of these spots as well. There is a small credit card only fuel station in the Mt Cook village but it is quite pricey.Also, take note that the weather in this area can change very quickly. If you’re camping, be sure to pack for all seasons and take enough warm bedding especially if you’re staying in the winter. If you’re hiking, be sure to take a few different layers with you in a backpack like a rain jacket, fleece and puffer. I always take a beanie with me and put my stowaway jacket in my pack to put on as I climb higher—even in the summertime. Remember this is an alpine area so take caution to what the weather is doing.Other attractions nearby include:– Lake Pukaki visitor center for amazing views down the lake– Peter’s lookout for another view of Lake Pukaki and Mt Cook– Alpine Lavender farm which is open to the public in the summertime when the flowers are in bloom.