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Emergency Coat or Raincoat |  |
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See the Index for more topics, information, hints and tips.
You can easily make a very light weight coat, windbreaker, or rain coat out of nothing more than a plastic trash bag. If you are smaller, a kitchen bag will work. If you are larger, try a 30 gallon trash bag.
Trash bags are readily available, inexpensive, compact, and light weight. You might want to keep one or two in your car for emergencies.
To tailor one into a coat, simply cut a slit in the middle of the bottom of the bag for your head and a slit on each side near the bottom for your arms. You can do this ahead of time neatly with scissors, or leave the bag intact and tear it open whenever you need it. If you open the bag up ahead of time to pre-cut the openings, it may not fold up as small.
These plastic bag coats are also handy to wear while you are waiting for a race to start. Whenever you warm up, simply take it off (I suggest getting off the race course and stopping). You can either stick it in a pocket or somewhere in your clothes or toss it in a trash can.
I do a lot of my running around a lake and it seems like the far side of the lake is always windier and colder, so I always stuff it into a pocket in case I need it later. And who knows, it might start raining again.
If you really get ambitious, you can reinforce the slit for your head with some good tape. Just make sure the opening is large enough for your head. You can make one as an experiment to get the sizing right.
This also makes a good emergency coat if you should happen to get injured on a run and have to walk or worse, stay put for a while. It may not be much but it will retain some of your heat and protect you from wind and rain, so it’s better than nothing.
Another option is one of those disposable ponchos. Although you have to plan ahead and purchase them, they are small, lightweight and convenient.
