I'm going to be sailing in SE Asia soon, and have been told to bring a good rain jacket. Anyone know where to get a decent one in Kunming? Don't have a huge budget either. All advice is appreciated, but especially if you have experience sailing in stormy tropical weather!

COAT
If you'll be SAILING and you're on a budget, you'll need marine gear, not cheap flimsy plastic stuff - the rubber stuff with a hood and with/without a liner and a solid zipper or buttons with an overlapping flap (to keep the water out of the zipper).

PANTS
You'll want something rubber and easy to slide into for the pants also. Check out what atlantic or pacific fishermen wear...assuming you want to go semi-professional. And of course - taobao has everything you want for about 30-50% the price of western online stores.

If you're worried about authenticity - try tmall.com - an allegedly pseudo-semi-maybe genuine branded version of taobao (operated of course, by taobao).

Best place to look, since you're in KM - taobao.com.

Most hiking raingear isn't appropriate for maritime use cuz of the driving rain, which also splashes UP.

Good luck - and make sure you're securely tethered when the deck's wet. It's EASY to get washed overboard. I'd suggest tethering a waterproof high-powered laser pen to yourself...just in case...you can also pick up some VERY nasty pen-sized lasers for a few hundred CNY on taobao (I mistakenly picked up a 2 watt laser to use for lectures - so damned bright can't use it anywhere).

PS - typhoon season's coming...

taobao.com