Ruffians Recommends - Rain Ready Gear

Plump raindrops are cascading down the window of my Thameslink commuter train as I write this, fresh on the heels of the station announcement that trains may be disrupted for the next couple of days due to high winds and - yep, you guessed it - heavy rain. 

Late September and early October may have had us fooled but, make no mistake, rainy season is upon us once more. Stealth pavement splashes and soggy socks are such hazards that come hurtling back out of our memory banks with all the eagerness of an impromptu call from the bank manager.

Fear not though, for thankfully clothing manufacturers have finally realised not only that we as a nation need rain ready gear, but also that it doesn’t have to be made solely with the latter middle-aged dog walker in mind. 

Here we take a look at a few of our favourite pieces to keep you dry in even the most inclement of conditions. 

Merrell Moab Speed GTX SE

They may sound more like the latest Honda hot hatch but in fact these are an excellent wet weather footwear option. 

Playing into the “gorp core” trend perfectly, Merrell have managed to marry practicality with aesthetics in the same way that Salomon and Nike ACG have managed before them. 

Based on their popular and much lauded hiking shoe, this iteration has more of a sneaker vibe about them. However, with the Vibram sole and Gore-Tex membrane these would be just as at home on the trails as on the way home from the pub of a rainy evening. 

The selection of colours are bang on too, with something for everyone. Simple black or white for the purist or pastel blue (“Monument” according to the colour-namers at Merrell HQ), khaki green (“Lichen”) or beige (“Coyote”) for the outfit planners amongst you. 

Rains Jacket

Unless you’ve been living under a moist rock for the past decade or so you’ll be aware of Rains coats. 

Hailing from Denmark; one of the few European countries who get more of the wet stuff than us; these guys have been producing stylish rain-ready swag since before it was cool. For this reason they have a tendency to err towards street style rather than intrepid explorer (which has subsequently become street style in the time since). 

Their headline piece and bestseller is still the excellent and simply named ‘Jacket’, originally the only item they produced. Now available in long and short, and an array of colours, these beauties really have stood the test of time. 

The unisex design has a stylish, less-is-more look which has cool details such as a vented back and fishtail hem as well as functional elements such as ultrasonically welded seams. 

And, perhaps the best part of all, its price point is still well below most of its rivals at a smidge under eighty quid. 

Nike ACG - Trail Trouser 

I’ve waxed lyrical about Nike’s explorer level sub-brand ACG (All Conditions Gear) before and I’m not about to stop anytime soon. 

They’ve made a name for themselves producing top quality garms that aim to get you outside no matter what the weather, and these slacks are no different. 

Whilst the popularity of jackets from the likes of Arc’teryx and North Face have risen like the proverbial mountain over the past few years, for some reason waterproof trousers have failed to reach the same heights. Until now. 

With a water-repellent finish and abrasion resistant design, these bad boys will keep you moving on even the most precipitous of days. They’re made of at least 75% recycled fabrics too, so you can feel as smug as your pins feel snug, win-win. 

So there you have it, now you can be covered from head to toe with all the liquid repelling properties of a Teflon pan. You’ll have no excuse not to get out and about, or head to one of our barbershops for a fresh trim, whatever glum news the BBC Weather app is dishing out.