The early spring season often requires outerwear that is both waterproof and fairly lightweight. Though it is no longer extremely cold, early spring thunderstorms often bring wind, rain and lightning. A look in my closet reveals a number of useful coats that perform well over suits, sport jackets and sweaters in this kind of weather. I have to admit a liking for a basic single breasted fly-front raincoat. For years the Burberrys' pictured above has been a workhorse of a coat.
Of course, when it comes to a field jacket, Barbour's Beaufort waxed jacket is singularly useful. Surprisingly warm over a tweed jacket, it will keep one dry all day going in and out of the wind and the rain.
The Prince of Wales has been known to favor this type of jacket. (Image: Tim Graham/Getty Images, Men's Precious 2011 Spring).
A few years ago, however, I decided to give Barbour's "Breathable and Waterproof" Beaufort jacket a try. I liked the navy one above so much that I also picked up one in stone. These are both extremely well made jackets that will keep one dry in wet weather. Slightly longer than my waxed Beaufort, these both can easily be worn over suits and jackets.
The light tan or stone color Beaufort is a good jacket for the spring due to its lighter color. The fabric of both of these jackets is a very fine weave that, in addition to being waterproof, is also surprisingly resistant to the wind.
The warmth of a waxed jacket is very welcome in the colder months, but as the weather moves towards spring, the breathability of these lighter jackets is also welcome.
The Prince of Wales also seems to favor this sort of jacket, as well. The form and function of these jackets is as timeless as tweed caps. One significant difference that these non-waxed Beauforts have with their waxed counterparts is that the non-waxed jackets do not have a rear game pocket. I'm usually in a jacket and tie when wearing these Beauforts, so I don't really miss the game pocket. (Image: HEMEDIA).
Like many guys, I've had a number of raincoats over the years. I currently have two that I use a lot in the rainy months, for example, when walking the dog. One is a yellow fleece lined L.L. Bean jacket that is a good jacket in the cold rain. Unfortunately, this jacket also came with fleece-lined sleeves, which made putting it on over a sweater or sweatshirt feel like I was trying to put on a velcro-sleeved jacket. Not the best design, really. I eventually tired of this velcro-like experience and performed the surgery of removing the fleece from the sleeves myself. It is now a much better jacket. The other raincoat is an old British classic made by Peter Storm (above). I found mine as dead stock from Peter Storm's eBay store, but I don't think that these are available anymore. This is a very simple and functional raincoat. It is perhaps proof of the maxim that "simple is best."
For years I wore an L.L. Bean Field Coat. I really liked their all cotton lightweight Upland Field Coat in ripstop cotton. This coat was lighter than the standard field coat, and was perfect for the early spring months. It was just long enough to wear over a blazer or a tweed jacket, and it had a lot of pockets, however, I wore mine out. However, several years ago when I went to purchase a replacement, I was surprised to find that L.L. Bean no longer made the Upland Field Coat in the old style. I kicked myself for not buying two, but how was I to know that L.L. Bean would stop making it?
So instead, I got the current version, and while it is a very functional jacket, it's just not the same as the old all cotton one. Sometimes L.L. Bean has a tendency to tinker too much with a good thing. However, I've gotten used to this coat and can say that it is a very hard wearing jacket and extremely wind resistant. It has a large game pocket that is easily accessible from the front, and while I don't hunt, it is great for carrying all sorts of things. I've worn this over a down vest, sweaters and fleece jackets. It is a very serviceable jacket.
Coats and jackets that perform well in the wind and rain are often well made and last a long time. Where can one go today for this kind of outerwear? I have listed several coats below that I find appealing. Though I have not tried all of these coats and jackets, they would probably function well for a long time in all sorts of circumstances.
Mackintosh Spencer Raincoat (O'Connell's). This is a great looking coat from a traditional British company. If and when my old Burberrys' wears out, I would consider this coat from Mackintosh.
Barbour Beaufort (J. Press). Very serviceable in all kinds of weather.
Trail Model Rain Jacket (L.L. Bean). A simple and classic raincoat.
Upland Field Coat (L.L. Bean). Not the same as the old classic, but hard wearing and functional.
Survivalon Classic Jacket (O'Connell's). I've been tempted to try this jacket, but have never been able to figure out how I would use it. A legendary jacket, and surprisingly, still made in the USA.
When the seasons are changing, the weather can be unpredictable. It may be sunny and cool in the morning with lightning and rain in the afternoon and evening. In the early spring with easily changeable weather, lightweight outerwear makes good sense. Layered over a tweed jacket, blazer or a sweater, this kind of outerwear will keep one dry and comfortable as one goes about daily tasks in the wind, rain and perhaps even a bit of lightning.
Another classic that I associate with spring is the couplet Lazy Lightning > Supplication. The Grateful Dead played it very well in the 1977-1979 period and I've listed three of my favorites below.
5/8/77 Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Matrix blend (Hunter Seamons matrix)
Steve Maizner master (Sony ECM-990 mic>Sony TC-152 master).
5/11/78 Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA
Moore, Maisner & Spitalny master (Nakamichi CM-700 mics> Nakamichi 550> Sony TC-152).
5/11/79 Billerica Forum, Billerica, MA
Steve Rolfe master (Nakamichi CM-700 mics>Sony TC-158 cassette master).
Keep some of these on an ipod in the pocket of a good weatherproof jacket like those above, and you'll forget all about the wind and the rain. Just stay out of the lightning.