Rain trousers

Depending on weather conditions such as a heavy downpour pushes all normal pants to their limit. If you're wearing a rain jacket, don't just keep your upper body dry. Choose waterproof pants suitable for harsh weather conditions. Indeed, in the field of professional clothing, the term "hardshell" does not only refer to rain jackets, but also to rain pants that provide permanent protection against rainy weather. If you don't know how to choose the right model, the following points will surely help you.

Rain pants: which option to choose?

When you're on Oxwork browsing through the different rain pants, you can choose between waterproof pants to wear as overtrousers or waterproof pants lined that can be worn alone.

Rain overtrousers:

Classic overtrousers are probably the most common type of waterproof pants. If you only need weather protection, you can simply wear them over your pants or shorts depending on the weather. The overtrousers are lightweight and small in size, so you can take them with you at all times. They often come with a storage bag. In terms of breathability, any waterproof material is superior to materials that are wind resistant only. Therefore, in order to maintain a comfortable body temperature, you should only wear rain pants as a tracksuit when it is raining or, to a lesser extent, as protection against extreme abrasion, as some rain pants resist friction.

Rain pants: waterproof work clothes

For winter or high mountain activities, lined rain pants, which are PPE for bad weather, are a good alternative. They combine a waterproof outer material with a light and breathable thermal lining. No more worrying about putting on warm clothes and insulating layers. Thanks to rain pants, you avoid the inconvenience of wearing underpants. The lining of this type of waterproof pants already acts as protection against the drop in temperature and the cold caused by the rain.

What are the characteristics of waterproof pants?

On Oxwork, the rain pants comply with the EN343 standard which stipulates the requirements for the design of waterproof and waterproof workwear. Depending on the manufacturer, there may be models that are usually made from a two-layer material.

The knuckles are reinforced with stitched threads with a heat-welded tape to seal everything so that you are perfectly protected from the rain. Thanks to the special coating on the inside, the fabric does not stick to your skin.

Most rain pants are wide, which makes them easy to put on, even if they are overtrousers. You might consider a three-ply model if you plan to ride in extreme conditions that require high wear resistance. Some models have a full zip along the entire length of the leg, which is practical for putting on and taking off the pants. It also makes it easier to wear your waterproof boots.

In case you are looking for rain pants for cycling or your motorcycle rides, you should make sure that they have multi-layer reinforcements at the seat and width adjustment for the bottom legs. The integrated suspenders prevent these rain pants from slipping and exposing your skin to the cold.

Rain pants designed for use in both downpour and winter weather are usually lined and have a built-in snow gusset at the ankle.

Furthermore, if you value your visibility when working in a high-risk area, high visibility rain pants are what you need. They are equipped with fluorescent and reflective strips that reflect the lights of construction machinery or cars so that you are immediately identifiable. If protection against rain is essential, so is safety!

Men's and women's rainwear: focus on the EN 343 standard

The EN 343 standard characterizes the requirements, specifications and test methods corresponding to the materials as well as the seams of clothing to protect against rain and bad weather like fog, snow and ground moisture. This therefore concerns pants, jackets, overalls and any other rain gear. In order to ensure the reliability of protection offered by these workwear, this standard defines two levels of protection , i.e. the resistance to water penetration and the evaporative resistance. The resistance to water penetration is used to identify the level of impermeability of the material. As for the evaporative resistance (resistance to water vapour), it determines the breathability of the material.

In addition, EN 343 certified clothing is recognized by the presence of a pictogram with 2 values: X which corresponds to the resistance to water penetration; and Y which corresponds to the resistance to water vapour. We can thus measure the performance of the rainwear.

In addition, the EN 343 standard can also be associated with the EN 20471 standard which ensures high visibility; or to the EN 342 standard which defines the windproof or anti-cold functionality, to offer comfort and safety to workers.