Here in the rainy Pacific Northwest, winters are mild but wet. This past season, we framed through heavy rain without taking any time off. It was better to work through it to get the house we were framing dried in. I’m always on the lookout for rain gear that is comfortable. Last year, I reviewed the Snickers FlexiWork stretch shell and I still love that coat. It is proving to be very durable.
Mascot Workwear reached out and sent me its Advanced weatherproof shell. What is unique about this jacket is that it is four-way stretch. That means that the jacket doesn’t bind at all as I’m framing. It is windproof and waterproof with taped seams and a hood (which I wear over a baseball cap). The pockets are large enough for a “plus sized” smartphone and case. The hood is detachable and the collar is extra tall to keep the rain off your neck. The jacket is lightweight too, so it's comfortable. There are a couple of reflective stripes as well.
You can see videos I took on my Instagram account in the pouring rain. Working in the rain isn’t fun, but it's part of life here in the PNW. I strongly feel that it is worth spending good money on good gear. This jacket is the most comfortable jacket I’ve worn to date. Climbing ladders, bending over framing walls, or any other task is easy because it stretches so well. It is expensive at $225, but think of this this way: If you can keep working despite the weather, the jacket will pay for itself.
One thing I don’t care for is that it doesn’t have neoprene cuffs, which would keep water from running down your arms (easy fix, spend $3 on wrist bands and problem solved). I wore this jacket in heavy rain and it kept me dry. I also wore it shoveling snow (as the snow was falling) and sledding and I would replace my old snowboarding jacket with this coat. So it’ll do double-duty.
