Got rained on hard last Thursday while walking my dog, ruined my favorite hoodie. Figured maybe it’s time for a proper waterproof jacket, something tough but not bulky. Kept seeing ads for Tommy Green stuff – honestly thought it was just hype. Decided to hunt one down anyway.
Stumbling Around the Mall
Went to that big department store downtown. First spot only had fancy dress jackets – useless for my muddy park walks. Walked further inside, past the perfume counters, finally saw a rack labeled “Outdoor Wear.” Jackpot. They had maybe five different Tommy Green styles jammed in there. The clerk eyed me like I was gonna steal something.
- The Feeler Test: Grabbed a basic black one first. Material felt thin, kinda plasticky? Weird. Another one – grey with blue stripes – felt thicker, smoother. Pulled at the seams near the zipper. Seemed solid.
- The Try-On Drama: Found an XL in the grey one. Wrestling match getting it on over my sweater. Zipper felt sticky at first, kinda clunky. Hood is big enough to actually fit over a beanie – that’s important. Deep front pockets swallowed my phone and keys no problem.
- The Crucial Question: Asked the bored clerk, “Does this actually keep water out?” He shrugged, mumbled something about “water repellent coating” or whatever. Typical. Figured I could test it myself.
The Downpour Experiment
Bought it – hurt the wallet, not gonna lie. Next day, of course, sunny. Had to wait till Tuesday morning. Clouds rolled in dark and heavy. Perfect. Wore it out to grab coffee.
- Light drizzle first, just beaded up and rolled right off. Felt smug.
- Then the heavens opened. Full sideways rain, nasty wind. Leaned into it walking back. Water pooled on the shoulders but didn’t soak through! Held my coffee tight under the jacket. Arms stayed dry inside, front stayed dry. My jeans? Utterly destroyed.
- Unexpected Perk: That fleece stuff lining the inside? Actually warm! Way warmer than I expected for how light it felt.
The Final Verdict (After Two Weeks)
It ain’t perfect. Zipper still catches sometimes if I rush. And yeah, expensive at first. But hey:
- Waterproof: Actually legit. Survived multiple downpours. Hood works.
- Warm Enough: Good for autumn and windy spring days over a hoodie. Not a blizzard coat.
- Practical Pockets: Deep, zips, hold stuff securely.
- Style Points: Weirdly got compliments. Old lady at the bus stop yelled “Nice jacket, young man!” Felt kinda cool.
So, good? Yeah, actually surprised. It works. Keeps me dry, feels sturdy for what it is. Even that shiny dark green one I wouldn’t touch at first? Saw it on some guy yesterday and thought… “Huh, looks decent.” Maybe next time. Still smells like new, though. Gotta see how it holds up after a season of dog walks.
