What should you consider when looking at outerwear for duty or most any foul weather? First, versatility. Because quality outerwear is expensive, it needs to serve for at least three seasons out of the year. The second item to consider is whether the outer jacket is truly waterproof or just water resistant; there is nothing worse than being cold and wet. Last is the price. If the clothing breaks the bank it will cause issues.
Wet Weather Wear
BlackHawk Products Group introduced the Warrior Wear Shell Jak a couple of years back. This jacket is designed to work as either a standalone piece or layered with the company's Operations or Training Jacket, depending on weather conditions. The Shell Jak is sized to fit with or without the other jackets. Warrior Wear's Shell Jak is built to keep you dry in the roughest nor'easter. The outer zippers are waterproof, the seams are sealed, the hood and jacket have drawstrings to keep in your body heat and the wet out, and the collar is fleece-lined for comfort. To help keep you from getting wet from sweat, there are large armpit zippers which are also waterproof.
Propper's HALO I rain parka is designed to meet ANSI 2004 Class 3 certification with high-vis yellow fabric and two rows of 360-degree horizontal, reflective webbing. Halo I is a durable 100-percent polyester rain jacket with an extended drop tail for added rain protection. The seams are sealed and a super light, 3-in-1 laminate membrane (Propper's HALT barrier) provides great waterproof-breathable performance. The jacket's hood will not block your vision even when turning your head side to side, because it contours to your face and head. The hood tucks away into a drop-down, stowable pocket that lays flat into the shoulder area of the jacket.
Under Armour now has the Haw Jacket to beat the cold and wet. It's a long coat designed to keep you dry and warm, whether waiting for a tactical operation to kick off or working an access point or even a traffic checkpoint (you will need an ANSI vest). What sets this long coat apart from others is that it contains ArmourLoft and ColdGear. ArmourLoft is a lightweight insulation that will keep you warm in cold weather. When coupled with ColdGear, which promotes air flow and moisture wicking, you will not get that sticky feeling when the humidity is high and stress levels are up. The Haw is sized to be loose and is available in sizes up to 3X so you should be able to find a size to fit over you and your duty gear.
The Enforcer jacket from The Force is made from lightweight Cordura and treated with Duckback Durable Water Resistant finish so the jacket will be waterproof for years to come. To keep you warm the zip-out liner uses lightweight and warm Primaloft for insulation. If you carry lots of small stuff on duty, you will appreciate the nine pockets of various sizes and shapes to keep all your items organized. Like other modern duty jackets, drop-down high-visibility identification panels are available for the Enforcer. You can also enhance your visibility with concealed 3M Scotchlite armbands so motorists can see your arms when giving hand and/or arm signals.
The Elite Tactical Series has been making Woolrich known in the police and military community. I have been wearing pants, shirts, and shorts from Woolrich for shooting, training, and casual wear. Now the company is offering the Elite Waterproof Breathable Parka. This waterproof nylon parka offers loads of features: underarm zippers, lots of pockets, drop-down panels, concealed hood, bottom snaps to fit around your handgun, and clean lines. It looks more like a mountaineering parka than a duty jacket, but if you purchase it in coyote or olive drab it will also work for casual wear. The Woolrich Elite Waterproof Breathable Parka in black would make an ideal rain parka because it is lightweight and easily packs into a duty bag.
One of the most advanced jackets on the market is Blauer's Supershell Jacket with Crosstech. This duty coat is built with Gore's antigen/pathogen resistant Crosstech fabric and is waterproof to boot. It's ANSI/ISEA Class II Certified with two-inch Scotchlite on the arms and torso to enhance night/low-light visibility. All of the seams are sealed; the material is a "stretch" fabric so the jacket doesn't restrict movement; the material is abrasion resistant; and the fabric is ASTM F903 certified to be resistant to the five most common crash-scene chemicals. Officers with the University of Pittsburgh Police Department say it's ideal when policing the parking lots and traffic details before and after sporting events.
Fechheimer's Public Safety Jacket (PSJ) is one of its most versatile duty jackets. The PSJ is made of a Gore-Tex-lined three-layer Taslanized Nylon, which is seam sealed and is 100 percent waterproof and windproof. This waist-length jacket has numerous interior and exterior pockets to carry and keep your gear dry. To keep you warm, the PSJ has a 200-gram Th insulate zip-out liner (the sleeves themselves account for 100 grams). To keep you dry, the PSJ has a Gore-Tex-lined hood that's accessible from the collar and tucks into the back of the jacket when not in use. This jacket can also be had with optional front and back pulldowns to increase officer safety.
Elbeco's Summit II is constructed from Hiptex 3000 for the outer shell and is waterproof and windproof. The seams are sealed to ensure water doesn't migrate through. So you can be seen on those gray dark winter days and nights, the jacket can be reversed to its ANSI/ISEA Class II side. This is a bright yellow with two-inch Scotchlite by 3M on the body and sleeves. This jacket lights up like a neon sign when light hits it. The Summit II gives officers high visibility when working DUI and traffic enforcement checkpoints.
A new player in the law enforcement clothing line is Tru Spec by Atlanco; specifically the 24/7 series. The 24/7 3-in-1 is not designed to keep you dry in monsoons, but with a price point under $125, it's a heckuva buy for a three-season duty coat. Its zip-out fleece liner is soft and very comfy, which is a major plus. The jacket itself features front and back drop-down panels and a convenient front drop-down badge hanger, as well as numerous pockets. The 24/7 3-in-1 fits well over a uniform, vest, and duty belt.
5.11 Tactical offers a number of jackets for uniform and undercover work. Its 3-in-1 Reversible is one of the more versatile jackets in the line. When turned inside out, it goes from black to ANSI III rated high-visibility yellow with 3M Scotchlite so you can be seen in the darkest and foggiest of weather. 5.11's 3-in-1 is waterproof and windproof and the fleece liner can be worn as a stand-alone jacket. Locally I know several officers who wear this as their duty jacket and they are all pleased with the performance and say it will keep you dry in most downpours, save for a monsoon. It's perfect for off-duty use because it looks like any other winter coat.