ADAM HARVEYchecks out the best gadgets for the wet season
Wellington bootsfor Irish customers? The staff at the Lisboa Boutique in Cork must be off their heads. What's next? Raincoats? We're a country in denial: you might need Divemaster accreditation to get to work, but wet-weather gear is for tourists. As for waterproof boots, don't be ridiculous! Porous sheepskin slippers are just so much more savage (€79, lisboa.ie).
Still, there's always a slim chance we'll be able to damp-proof the next generation. Hippychick all-in-one outfitsare waterproof, windproof and breathable, made from Teflon-coated nylon and with reflective piping. Will fit children aged one to four (€29.99, babytravelshop.ie).
The down-filled Mountain Equipment Annapurna jacketis the kind of classic wet-weather gear that'll keep you alive at the top of the mountain or alone on the top deck of the bus – there's no room for anyone to sit beside you if you're wearing one of these babies, thanks to all the feathers, Drilite, synthetic wadding, box-wall construction and internal pockets for storing water bladders and gloves. The jacket also features articulated elbows, a neck baffle and a drop tail (€315 greatoutdoors.ie).