Umbrellas Are Overall Better Than Raincoats

Before I proceed with the bulk of my statement, I'd like to point out that two out of three parts of Pro's argument were inconsistent with his terms for the debate. Pro states in round one: "We will be using both of these items intended purpose for the debate i.e. keeping one dry in the rain." In violation of this, Pro's first and third arguments, while being factors to take into account when making a decision, were not arguments relating to how well an umbrella keeps one dry, a standard which pro confined the debate to in his terms. However, since Pro has now subconsciously influenced the stance of potential voters with these additional arguments, I feel it is necessary for me to negate them. Let's begin. AFFORDABILITY Pro declares that umbrellas are preferable to raincoats on the grounds that an umbrella of a given quality is cheaper than a raincoat of the same quality while at the same time keeping one more dry. The assertion that an umbrella keeps you more dry is false, as I will prove soon enough, which is one detriment to going for this option. However, from the purely financial standpoint that pro speaks of afterward, the umbrella is also inferior, for one key reason; cost effectiveness. Compared to a sturdy raincoat, umbrellas are delicate. They COMMONLY break [3][4]. Good quality or not, they are made of much thinner material and are more prone to tearing. The flexibility of umbrellas causes them to lose shape simply from use [1]. This likelihood is increased by the fact that umbrellas, held out above your head,are more exposed to damaging elements like tree branches and wind. Pro questions the reasoning of paying so much just to ensure dryness? While a frequently-used umbrella may last a year, a well used raincoat could last you five or more. Therefore, while it is true that raincoats are pricier, they are far more cost effective, and save you money in the long run. Point one for umbrellas has been refuted :D Now onto the meat of the debate. DRYNESS Pro claims that an umbrella's diameter prevents water from running down onto your pants, as supposedly occurs when wearing a raincoat. However, most raincoats do have a diameter larger than your average shirt or jacket, which, as anyone who has ever worn one would know, is slightly wider than one's pants. Enough at least, for the dripping water to miss. One huge drawback of umbrellas which Pro did not address is their failure to block rain coming from an angle. When it rains, other than light sprinkles, you generally are in some degree of a storm. In storms, you almost always face wind. Sometimes strong wind. The wind is usually strong enough that umbrella users experience a frustrating problem. When wind blows rain at you from an angle, it drives it underneath the umbrella [2]. Hence, your head is the only place actually protected in Pro's supposed "sphere of dryness". Even worse, in moderate to strong wind, you will inevitably tilt your umbrella back a certain degree. The result is wet pants and a half wet shirt. Putting on your generally hooded raincoat however, will guarantee you complete cover from your head down to your knees, far more than a floppy umbrella has to offer. Point two for raincoats. EASE OF USE Ease of use rivals even dryness as the area where the umbrella fails most severely. The first and most obvious reason for this is that you must HOLD an umbrella. A raincoat is a hands-free device, clearly preferable to tiring out your arm, constantly supporting your umbrella. This one-hand deal also prevents you from carrying much of a load, a must for many people. Plus, what about those of us who travel by bike? I can speak from experience that trying to hold up an umbrella on a bike, even in a non windy situation, while doable, is very very inconvenient. None of these issues exist with your trusty raincoat. Pro claims umbrellas are easy to slide into a bag/purse. Hardly the case. While obviously smaller than when open, closed up umbrellas are still quite large, often too large to fit in most mobile bags. While bulky, I would bet on fitting a rolled/ folded raincoat into my bag over an umbrella any day. Some are actually quite compact [5]. They are also very easily shaken off. Point number three for the raincoat. I have dismantled each and every one of Pro's points on why umbrellas are better overall than raincoats and given additional points on why raincoats are the superior choice. Thank you Pro, and thank you readers. SOURCES: [1] http://www.chacha.com... [2] http://www.ehow.com... [3] http://answers.yahoo.com... [4] http://answers.yahoo.com... [5] http://shop.totes-isotoner.com...