This post is probably going to read more like a goodbye letter to a best friend than it will a review, but that’s exactly how I feel about the raincoats I have gotten from Seasalt. It should be noted up front that I am by no way affiliated or sponsored – I really just love these raincoats with all my heart.
The first year after we moved to Seattle, I realized that rain – and mostly just damp – weather was going to be a real problem. Unlike in Colorado, where my flimsy thrifted raincoat did just fine, I needed a real coat here that could really withstand cold, wet air.
After some frantic googling, I landed on the Seasalt website. Their rain section proudly exclaims,
“Fully waterproof raincoats, expertly crafted from the finest fabrics for style & performance, & tested against the Cornish elements. “
Seasalt Rain Section
The Cornish elements refers to Cornwall, England (duh) which is a lovely little coastal town that also happens to be cold and damp most of the year. On top of that, they had cute coats in multiple colors, styles, and patterns. Digging a bit deeper, I saw they worked with local artists and worked to be sustainable. Add a Black Friday sale and I couldn’t click buy fast enough.
All that was left was the waiting to see if my lovely new raincoat would live up to the extremely high standards the website had sold to me.
Spoiler: it most definitely would.
When the coat arrived, I was already elated. The shipping from UK was extremely fast – not only with this coat, but the next one I would purchase (more on that later). I expected weeks, and the whole package arrived in mere days. On top of that, the packaging is adorable – you really feel the love and care in every detail from the recyclable packaging they use, to the little card, to the tags inside the coat.
I tried it on and had a perfect fit, and I dare say it was love at first sight.
This coat went through everything – five years of near constant wear, often being drenched through.
The hood fit just right, and for the first four years, the rain just slid off. And, like I’ve said in previous years, clothing that I love takes a beating. This coat had been thrown up on, had suffered food spills galore, had been through the washer and dryer multiple times, and only in year five did I really start to see any wear and tear.
I did have complaints throughout the years – complaints so minor, however, that they were almost negligible. I always wished the pockets had snaps to keep them closed. I wished the coat was a bit longer (for those really wet, windy days). The cute front closures were super cute, but not necessarily practical.
And yet, none of these complaints could lessen my love for this coat. I had paid a tailor to replace the zipper. I had repaired the pockets. I had noticed, and then promptly ignored, growing holes in the elbows and fraying at the end of the sleeves. I wanted to believe so badly that this coat would last forever more.
Enter last Thanksgiving, when Oliver and I decided that nothing would be more fun than galumphing about in the ocean during pouring rain (otherwise known as water from every direction).
For the first time since I had purchased this coat, it had ceased to complete it’s true function – being waterproof. Mere minutes into our soaking adventure, I was wet through to my underwear. This was when I knew it would soon be the end for this lovely coat.
It did eventually dry, and trust me, it continued to be my favorite coat through the next 7 months, but I knew the end was nigh. I heard the tolling of the bells. I saw the holes in the sleeves get bigger, and the edges more frayed.
A quick note on the company itself. Seasalt doesn’t just sell raincoats, but a whole line of clothing meant to be sustainable, warm, and cozy. Everything on their website is built with chilly, rocky beaches and stormy weather in mind. They work hard to source materials locally and sustainably. They work with local artists to create all the lovely designs. They are a small company that truly cares from top to bottom – they make returns easy. They give back to their local community. The company alone is worth the buy in.
They also make their coats with the intention of them being long lasting, everyday wear pieces. This can be seen in all parts of construction, and if I were a bit more diligent about repairing clothing, I am sure I could get another three years of wear from this coat. The honest truth is I probably will still wear it in the warmer, drier months. Seasalt also makes a set of re-waterproofing washes that you use in your washing machine to keep the coat looking like new and waterproof through the years. These products are, unfortunately, not sold in the United States at this time (though perhaps, in the future? One can hope…)
Alas, I am wary of trying out any old “waterproofing system” that can be bought in the US (I am sure there are plenty of products out there that would do the same, but I decided in this instance it was not worth the effort.) I calculated my cost per wear, and decided that five years of being a year round coat was plenty of life. Plus, another saleeeeee…. And a new coat was in the mail.
These pictures do not even do proper justice to how lovely this new coat is. The pattern is a cute berry pattern that reads in real life as more of a turquoise color – check out the pictures in the link for a more true to life color.
I went into this purchase a more informed shopper – I did, after all, have complaints to be addressed, and this coat addresses all of them. The pockets have snaps! The coat is longer in the back! The front closures are a two-way zipper with snaps over it – super practical! The hood, again, fits perfect but is this time lined with the softest fleece I have ever felt for true warmth. There’s a neat inner pocket too, for my phone!
The package arrived, yet again, within the week, and was just as beautiful as it was the first time.
If any pacific northwest people are looking for a good, lasting raincoat – look no further. I can highly recommend a coat from the Seasalt rain collection. They have warmer coats and lighter coats; coats in different patterns and colors; coats of short length or long length… I wholeheartedly believe they have a coat for everyone.
I can’t wait to see what amazing adventures the new coat and I get up to.
Update – 2025
I came back to this post to edit a few things and provide an update: I’m still a firm believer in the Seasalt brand of coat! I did end up replacing the one above with a larger size (this one’s on me – I forgot how little butt room the longer styles have) but my new coat is still a staple in my wardrobe come rainy weather. A couple years ago, my Seasalt coat even came with me to Istanbul. This coat continues to be well made, reliable, and highly complimented.
And while I have branched out a bit – I thrifted a wool coat a while back that’s a staple for me when the weather is dry; when the weather is wet I find myself reaching for (and loving) this coat again and again and again.
Have you purchased something from Seasalt before? Had your own love affair with an item of clothing? Have questions? Have you tried some of their other clothing? I would love to hear about it! Post in the comments below.
Curly.Curvy.Candid 