Teen ds keeping dry!

[tobee]

Teenagers are very difficult when I comes to waterproofing themselves!

My 18 year old ds is off to uni in a couple of weeks. He'll be living 10-15 mins walk from his lecture block. Can I buy him something to wear if he gets up and it's pouring? What's not embarrassing? Umbrella? Is that embarrassing? He'll probably lose it? Kagoules. Aren't they supposed to be totally a no no? Same as anoraks? If I ask he'll say "I don't know". If I buy something he'll say "thank you" but maybe to not hurt my feelings and then never wear it! I never remember to look to see what other teens are wearing when it's pelting it down.

Umbrella is total no no.

DS has a couple of very lightweight anoraks (although I have to call them jackets apparently) which he's happy to wear: one's North Face, can't remember the brand of the other one. For DS it's irritatingly all about the brand so I'd insist on paying but would let him choose if I wanted any chance of it being worn.

One that is really compact and can be balled up to a tiny lump and left in a locker, bottom of the backpack, down the side of the bed.

If I sew my DS into his coat suggest he wears on 'cos its tipping down, he removes it asap, and it'll develop its own little aroma of eau de manky teen coat.

I bought DS a waterproof from Millets or something. Functional, practical , never on his back
DS is nearly 18

It depends where he's going to Uni. If it's somewhere near the coast which has strong wind as well as rain, an umbrella is a waste of time. Can you take him to an outdoors shop and ask him to choose?

Trendy anorak (north face or super-whotzitcalled). I'm well down with the kids, me!

Errrmm I think any of those would be a massive no no. Teens don't wear coats or use umbrellas- height of uncoolness Maybe a big nice mug for a warm drink for when he gets in?!

Thanks for the replies! These have also made me laughing.

Super-dry and north face are, I believe, on trend. Alternatively, let him go without one but with the offer to buy him one. Then when he spends his day soaking wet he might decide it's worthwhile. At my uni all pretence at cool died after the first day when it pissed it down and it was all gortex jackets with hoods (and trousers!) and thick soled boots.

It's interesting that its cool to get soaked to the skin. But that's s whole other thread...

I'd let him get on with it. He'll want to keep dry by about the age of 35 - ish.

If just let him get wet and not waste my money. He's an adult now.

He's a grown-up. Let him get wet or buy his own. I would have found it extremely off-putting if my parents were trying to manage me to this extent after I'd moved out.

Super-dry and north face are, I believe, on trend.

Where we are you wouldn't see an 18yo wearing Superdry! DD is 16 and according to her and her friends it's worn by 12!year olds trying to look like the over 40's who also wear it

My DS wears a hoodie and refuses to wear anything else in spite or rain or even snow

I got this for DS3 who's 17 and going away for a couple of days. It's about as plain as I could find with no logos to offend. Whether he will actually wear it though or is just taking it to humour his mum I'm not sure

Jeez, I didn't know that giving my son a present as trying to manage my son.

I think outdoors brands are quite trendy as casual wear these days. I would look for a brand like The North Face/Rab/Marmot/Patagonia, the young ones round here like Berghaus as well.

Depending on what he likes you could get a normal waterproof coat, or if he thinks they're uncool he might tolerate a pullover jacket as it looks more like casual.

My 11 year old DS who's starting secondary School tomorrow will be wearing a black Uniqlo hoodie, enough to keep covered and stave off any drizzle.

There is a generic black waterproof anorak hanging on the banister he can wear if he chooses to if its raining when he opens the door.

Mine learned the value of good waterproofing on DofE, and doesn't give a toss about what's 'on trend'. She has something like this (they do a mens version too) <a class="break-all" href="http://www.berghaus.com/womens/womens-waterproof-jackets#www.berghaus.com/womens/womens-waterproof-jackets?srule=Price-Ascending&sz=9&start=0&sortby=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.berghaus.com/womens/womens-waterproof-jackets#www.berghaus.com/womens/womens-waterproof-jackets?srule=Price-Ascending&sz=9&start=0&sortby=true which I know she intends to take to uni. It was bought after she started appropriating mine to take to uni open days. Its got good waterproofing and very packable though not the best breathability. As she's going to be cycling I may try to persuade her to take her red goretex proper walking jacket too.