It’s official, walking in the rain can make us happier!

It’s true, scientists have discovered that rain can make you happier and healthier, which is music to Nikwax’s ears! We’ve long endorsed the benefits of getting outside, whatever the weather, in gear that has been primed with our reliable PFAS-free aftercare, but to have official confirmation that taking a walk on a rainy day is good for you, means our messaging has been spot on for over 45 years…

It certainly feels like the rain has been relentless over the past few months, with sunny spells interspersed with torrential downpours that seem to arrive from nowhere. So, to hear that rain can improve our mental health is the rain clouds’ silver lining.

As journalist Matt Gaw explains in Countryfile Magazine, when rain clouds burst, they release negative ions (atmospheric molecules charged with electricity) that are breathed in and transferred to our blood and brain. The result is a biochemical change that impacts positively on mental health, meaning there is no better excuse to breathe in deeply when the heavens open. These mood-boosting negative ions have also been discovered in and around waterfalls, waves in the sea and even morning dew and mist.

Staying dry, warm and comfortable in a rain shower will also have a positive effect on your mood – there is nothing worse than a wet and clingy waterproof jacket or cold, damp feet – and Nikwax’s reliable water-based aftercare products provide the perfect antidote to even the worst weather, helping you to get outside and embrace those mood-boosting negative ions.

Nikwax cleaners and waterproofers are specially designed to extend the life of your outdoor gear, restoring the water repellency and reviving the breathability of your favourite jacket or pair of walking boots. Recommended for a range of outdoor brands including Gore-Tex^®, Windstopper^®, Nikwax Analogy®, Sympatex® and eVent®, our aftercare is extremely easy to use and will save you money in the long run – another mood-boosting truth!

Did you know….?
Did you know that the earthy scent we can smell in the air after rainfall has its very own special name? It is called petrichor, from the Greek words petra, meaning “stone”, and ichor, meaning “the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods”. Petrichor includes a chemical called geosmin, which is made by a type of bacteria found in soil. Inhaling it in the air can have a calming effect – yet another reason to venture out in the rain…