Parkas and jackets for inclement weather

The recent post I made about rain gear had me eventually looking for my other jackets and parka. I have two that I use when I travel abroad currently in vacuum storage. The maroon one is an EBTek parka I bought in Japan back in late 1997 when I was a student in Yokohama. The black one is a EBTek jacket I purchased in 2012 from the ROX store in BGC.

My gear for wet and cold weather is vacuum-packed to preserve them for the next use. These are quite durable (26-year old parka and 11-year old jacket), and I do take good care of these items.

Close-up of the EBTek and Eddie Bauer stitching on the parka. The parka is actually a shell and you can purchase various 'inner jackets' including the puffy kind to combine with the parka to keep you warm during winter.

Close-up of the Eddie

I have another jacket that folds into a pouch. It is thinner but also durable. I got this jacket in the summer of 1997 for the rainy season in Japan. I usually bring this along whenever I travel during the wet or rainy seasons.

SAC JAC from Eddie Bauer's EBTek line

I also have winter wear in storage at home. These are all in vacuum packs so I can optimize storage space. It also protects the clothes from insects and moisture, which can damage the clothes.

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Rain gear made in Vietnam

I have a couple of knock-offs (or are they really overruns?) that I usually wear during the wet season. They perform very well vs. heavy rains. The brand would certainly not be tarnished by the water resistance and breath-ability of the material used in these rain parkas (or jackets as we generally call them in the Philippines). I bought these in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam during a trip in 2017 where we participated in an international conference. I got a few of them for myself, my daughter and my siblings. The wife already had one she bought at an outlet store in the US.

The parka was very useful vs. the almost 2 weeks of rains we had recently. It kept me dry whenever I used it. I even used it for a walk as the weather also affected my morning exercise.

A well known brand you'll find associated with rain gear, winter wear and shoes is Gore-Tex. I assume the materials used for these parkas are the same that goes into the more expensive, branded products.

 

I took some photos of the parkas I bought for myself in Vietnam and saw the date to be September 18, 2017. Here are a couple of the photos.

The softer but water resistant and breathable parka that I usually wear over my clothes on rainy days.

My reliable back-up that I also take on trips. The fabric feels thicker, heavier. All-black means I can wear it over other material even more formal or business attire.

These are 6-year old parkas but they are in great shape even after several washings and dry cleanings over that period. In comparison, the wife's similar branded, and definitely more expensive jackets have deteriorated. It begs the question which should be considered fake when the so-called "knock-offs" are more durable.

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