DEBRA'S ANSWER:

This is a tough one because most rain gear is made from synthetic materials.

There are, however, some synthetics that are less toxic than others. I'd stay away from PVC vinyl, which is what most inexpensive rain gear is made from.

I have a raincoat that is made from nylon, which actually has no odor at all (and I find that to be true for virtually all nylon products--I minimize my use of nylon not because it is toxic, but because it is made from nonrenewable petrochemicals and does not biodegrade). I chose an extra-large hooded men's raincoat so it would fit over anything I wanted to wear.

I typed "nylon raincoat" into a search engine and the best results were these shopping comparison sites, which gave multiple choices each. Shopzilla, Nextag, Shopping.com seemed to have the best selection. I had no problem finding one in a local mall store.

Another material to consider is oilcloth (also called "oilskin" or "wax cotton"), which was commonly used for raingear before plastics. It is extremely durable and I think even more waterproof, though not inexpensive. These coats are made by Drizibone in Australia and sold in horseback riding stores and on the internet (type "Drizibone" into your favorite search engine to find them).

The Drizibone website has a great story about the history of the coats, including how the fabric came to be invented:

The Driza-Bone coat began life on board the saling ships which plied their trade along the so-called Roaring Forties. This was the name given to the belt of latitude between 40º and 50º in the Southern Hemisphere. It was this latitude that large sailing ships were able to travel fastest on account of the strong prevailing winds which blew, unhindered by any land mass, across the Southern oceans. Hard wearing and galeproof wet weather gear was essential for the comfort, health, and ultimately the survival, of the crews of these ships. And it was onboard one of these fast moving windjammers that a thrifty and enterprising young Scot with the distinctively un-Scottish name of E. Le Roy, discovered that torn windjammer sails had another life after being rent by the elements...

He could indeed be considered an early exponent of recycling as with careful cutting and waterproofing he transformed torn sailcloth into workwear coats...

Putting into practice the scientific theory that oil and water don't mix, Le Roy waterproofed the canvas with linseed oil, beeswax and paraffin. The coats treated in this manner proved most effective when used by the sailors at sea, and when in the warmer latitudes, the same natural cotton canvass allowed the coats to breathe, thus minimising body heat condensation, and the uncomfortable, personal "greenhouse" effect well known by the wearers of the modern day marvels of PVC and plastic raincoats.

Years ago I purchased an oilcloth coat at a horseback riding supply store. I still have it and it is as good as new. It is wonderful, with a soft cotton flannel liner and a "cape" over the shoulders to give double protection where the rain falls the hardest. And I think they look really stylish in a classic way. I stopped wearing it though for several reasons: they oilcloth is very stiff, if you put it up against other fabrics (such as when hanging it in the closet or carrying it while not wearing it) the other fabrics can absorb the oil, and it was just too warm for the mild California climate. I do not find the treated cotton to have any toxic odor.

Just a clarification about the word "oilcloth." Today there is a fabric called "oilcloth" that is often used for tablecoverings. That oilcloth is made from vinyl bonded to a cotton fabric.

Debra :-)