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For more than 5 years now, we have shouldered close to 50 different rain jackets in just about every name for rain. We’ve pulled together everything from the best jackets for bumping around town to the most ultralight shells for long-distance thru-hiking and even techy rainwear for the sport-specific demands of trail running, cycling, and climbing. Senior Editor Nick Belcaster leads our efforts and never lets a good rain shower go to waste.
During our testing, we aimed for the worst weather windows to challenge the waterproofing, livability, and rough-and-tumble durability of these jackets. We paid close attention to performance over entire seasons, and if the weather failed to materialize, we weren’t above busting out the garden hose. Every jacket was backpacked in, worn hard, and put away wet.
Whether you’re after an easy get-it-done option like the REI Co-op Rainier or want something that’ll really shoulder the rain with ease, like our best overall pick, the Outdoor Research Foray 3L, there are options here for most everyone. Read on to find a shell that’ll have your back.
Editor’s Note: We updated our Rain Jackets guide on January 30, 2025, to add the Outdoor Research Foray 3L, a newly updated version of our previous Best Overall pick that only got better. We also added the run-ready Patagonia Storm Racer and the Black Diamond Fineline climbing shell.
Read Review: OR’s Most Eco-Friendly Shell Has a Trick Up Its Sleeve: Outdoor Research Aspire II Jacket Review
Newly revamped in a big way, the Outdoor Research Foray 3L ($249) gets a major upgrade in the membrane department, moving from 2-layer GORE-TEX Paclite to OR’s proven 3-layer AscentShell Dry. This update eliminates the issues we had with wetting out in the previous version, and while it’s a bit heavier (and has a slightly higher price tag), we think this jacket is better in almost every way.
Outdoor Research’s AscentShell Dry technology is part of a wave of new air-permeable waterproof membranes, which pass moisture freely compared to older styles. This means far less piled-up perspiration inside your jacket, and comparing the new jacket with the old, there’s a definite difference.
Couple the built-in breathability of the hem-to-pits zippers, which can be opened up fully for a poncho-like fit, and the Foray (and the women’s equivalent Aspire) is particularly versatile to different weather conditions. In our testing through the winter months of the Pacific Northwest, we found this jacket to perform better than most. Long-term waterproofing isn’t quite as impressive as true hardshells like the Arc’teryx Beta AR, but we found it great for weekend-long use.
The updated jacket is $24 more expensive than the previous, and while it’s not quite the cheapest 3-layer jacket on the market (look to the $179 Patagonia Torrentshell), it’s dang near, and the value is impressive. The jacket did gain a few ounces to update the fabric, but we think the 13.7-ounce weight for a medium is still well within reason.
Rounding out the Foray 3L is a three-way adjustable hood with buried cord locks, YKK Aquaguard zippers (further guarded by storm flaps), and two torso pockets large enough to stuff the jacket into for storage. There is also a left-hand pocket on the chest and an elastic drawcord hem. For most folks, this is the rain jacket to snag.
The Co-op continues to make the grade with its in-house line-up, and the recently updated REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket ($100) takes no detour. Sporting a brand new HydroWall 2.5L membrane and more features than it rightfully should have for the price, the value needle is pinned on this budget rain jacket. It’s no fortress, but even after braving an exceptionally rainy Pacific Northwest spring, we were impressed with the chutzpah on this shell.
REI hasn’t published any waterproofing or breathability specs for its new HydroWall membrane. But after using it, we’re comfortable placing it at about the same level as other polyurethane membranes, such as Marmot NanoPro or North Face Hyvent. That means that rainy-day hikes, blustery commutes, and graybird camping trips are all on the menu. When the cadence kicks up, twin pit zips help to vent excess heat (though they are a bit on the small side).
In terms of fit, we found the Rainier to be fairly spacious and accommodating, easily allowing layers underneath it. The hood isn’t very technical, but a set of drawcords do allow you to adjust the periphery. As a surprise, one of our favorite features on this jacket ended up being the pockets, as the exterior pockets are sewn into the interior in a way that creates two additional drop-in pockets on the interior. Two for one!
These pockets are all a soft mesh material, meaning your pockets do double-duty in working to whisk away excess moisture — smart. The entire jacket also packs up into one of these pockets, and while not a super small package, does keep the shell all in one place for stashing it away. True to REI, this jacket doesn’t miss when it comes to sustainability, either. The DWR finish is non-fluorinated and protects the recycled nylon shell from light precip. The whole jacket is also created from Bluesign-approved materials, and sewn in a Fair Trade Certified factory.
At an approachable price, we’re impressed at the number of “gotta-have-it” rain jacket features that REI has been able to shoehorn into the Rainier Rain Jacket. As a 2.5L jacket, there will be a breathability ceiling that, when you hit it — you’ll know. But at $100, it’s an easy issue to sidestep with proper use of those pit zips and mesh pockets. For anyone looking for their first proper rain jacket, or just a daily driver to beat around, the Rainier is high on our list of suggestions.
Read Review: A Classic Shell Jacket Gets New Tech: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket Review
At a price just north of most budget rain jackets, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket ($179) makes a strong case for opening your wallet just a bit wider to gain a good bit more protection. Updated in recent years to a full 3-layer version of the brand’s in-house H2No waterproof membrane, the Torrentshell performs better than 2 and 2.5-layer shells in the breathability department.
It’s that interior wicking liner that makes all the difference here, and when tested side-by-side with a previous version of the jacket, the updated Torrentshell was noticeably less clammy-feeling. Waterproofing is also in no short supply, holding back precip in our shower testing on par with other 20K-specced jackets, such as the Outdoor Research Helium and Mountain Hardware Premonition UL Anorak.
Many will also appreciate the number of sustainable choices Patagonia made when creating the new Torrentshell, such as the 100% recycled nylon ripstop face fabric, the Fair Trade sewing, and a PU membrane that employs 13% biobased content. For the price, you’d be hard-pressed to find another rain jacket that provides the same level of performance.
While we previously deducted a few points from the Torrentshell for sporting a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish that still contained PFCs, Patagonia has made good on its promise to continue to cut the forever chemicals out of the rain jacket mix, and now produces the Torrentshell with a full PFC-free build. We did find the face fabric to be a bit crinkly and bulky, something we attribute to working out the kinks in using recycled nylon, but it did soften some with use.
For those looking for the most vis-à-vis comparisons to the Torrentshell, the Marmot Precip Pro is a close match — with a 3-layer construction, a similar feature set, and a price of $160. We did find that the Torrentshell was able to hold out longer during our shower tests, however, and as such, is worth the extra $19. For those who place a high value on stretch, however, the Precip Pro is certainly a shell to check out.
When you consider that Patagonia has the Torrentshell 3L Jacket priced under $180, you’ve got a budget- and resource-friendly rainwear option that’s just as at home on the trail as it is kicking around town. If you’ve got a bit more pocket change and want more protection than the Rainier Rain Jacket can offer, the Torrentshell is our suggested upgrade.
If you need the ultimate in waterproof performance, an alpine-ready hardshell like the Arc’teryx Beta AR ($600) ought to be on your shortlist. The Beta AR isn’t the most full-tilt hardshell that the legendary Canadian mountain-wear brand makes, making it far more approachable for outdoor endeavors where you need top-tier protection but aren’t planning on bivying on the side of a mountain.
Combining an industry-leading GORE-TEX Pro Most Rugged membrane with a generous cut for layering, the Beta AR is primed for long trips under unfriendly conditions. The Pro version of GORE-TEX stacks multiple layers of the ePTFE membrane atop one another, creating a supremely waterproof barrier, and eliminating the need for a polyurethane lining — instead adding a Micro-Grid backer.
All this is to say, this jacket isn’t afraid of a little rain — or a lot. Our testing has taken this shell everywhere from deep into the Alaskan bush to skiing in the Cascade concrete of Washington State, and all without fail.
Generous pit zips aid in dumping heat when the mercury begins to rise, and while other hardshell jackets lean further into the spartan alpine climber trim, the Beta AR is a more well-rounded shell. The handwarmer pockets on the chest are roomy. On the interior, a small accessory pocket aids in wrangling your keys or phone.
Up in the cockpit, a 2.5-inch collar made for one of our favorite features. It was perfect to duck behind when the wind blew up and provided a secondary option for protection without going full batten-down-the-hatches and pulling the hood up. The trade for all this protection, obviously, comes in cost. At $600, you could easily buy a couple of the cheaper jackets on this list for the same price. But none of the other shells will keep up in terms of protection for as long as the Beta AR can hang.
While Arc’teryx recently released an heir to the uber-popular Beta LT in the Beta Lightweight, our choice to suggest the AR variant comes down to pure storm-proofing. The new Lightweight uses the new GORE-TEX ePE membrane and an FC0 DWR, and while we quite like the improved PFC-free membrane, we found some kinks still need to be worked out in the DWR finish.
Primed for weather of any stripe, the Beta AR is well and truly up for it. For locales such as the icefields of Patagonia, the peaks of New Zealand, or the highlands of Iceland, this is the shell you’ll find us in nine times out of ten.
At a claimed 6.2 ounces (and even less on our own scales), Montbell certainly had weight on the brain when they crafted the Versalite Jacket ($260). Part of the brand’s UL Hiking selection, the Versalite impressed us during testing not only with the weight it lacked, but also the features it’s studded with.
While GORE-TEX INFINIUM WINDSTOPPER isn’t marketed as being a fully waterproof membrane, by incorporating fully taped seams and a DWR-finished face fabric, Montbell has been able to whip up a rain shell that sports water resistance that keeps up with the best and puts up breathability numbers that knock many out of the running.
In the wilds, our initial fears over using a “windshell” material were quickly salved. Make no mistake, the Versalite can hang in a good rain. During our shower testing, this shell staved off soaking through for the entire 10-minute testing period, impressing all our in-house skeptics. And the benefit to using GORE INFINIUM shows when the grade steepens or a thick mist rolls in: this jacket breathes like it’s got a set of lungs stashed away somewhere, and you don’t have to be knocking out 30-mile days to appreciate that.
For the weight, the Versalite is simply feature-packed. Compared to other jackets of the same, or even more weight, the Versalite boasts the full complement: a three-way adjustable hood that rolls up and stows away, two zippered hand pockets with ample space, and 16.5-inch pit zips for easy venting.
As with any specialized piece, the tech-heavy styling isn’t going to win you any awards, and at 10-denier the face fabric will require more care than your average knock-around rain jacket. But put to the task, the Versalite excels in its lane, jamming in many extra features that jackets of the same ilk can’t claim.
Read Review: This Jacket Is Your Next Take-Everywhere Layer: Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket Review
Running rain jackets are tough to pin down, as they have to be uber-breathable and waterproof enough to keep cold water off you. The Patagonia Storm Racer ($299) is about as good as we’ve seen, and it sits between tough windshells and more rugged (and heavy) rain jackets.
At a certain level of running output, you’re going to be wet from perspiration anyway, so the Storm Racer aims to be waterproof enough and thin so it does not build up extra heat while you’re trying to move moisture through it. This feels a little antithetical to the idea of a rain jacket, but when you’re cranking out significant warmth, the equation changes.
The 3-layer Patagonia H2No membrane is a proven one, and it’s the same that’s used in the popular Torrentshell. The difference is the thinner 20-denier 100% recycled nylon face fabric the Storm Racer uses, as opposed to the 50D in the more all-around Torrentshell. This not only helps out breathability (it’s easier to blow through tissue than paper), but it makes the Storm Racer compact enough for race day — packing into its own chest pocket.
We sent this shell to New Zealand for a few months of running and adventuring, and while it didn’t conquer everything, the Storm Racer was the choice for any day with high RPMs. Where other rain jackets might have been stuffy, this jacket kept a level head while running through temperate rainforests.
The Storm Racer isn’t quite as lightweight as the Rab Phantom, but we think the added value of going with a 3-layer shell is worth the handful of ounces. The pocket also isn’t anything to write home about and doesn’t fit many modern phones all that well. That said, it’s rare we’d want to carry much there anyways while running.
You might also consider The North Face Superior for a running shell. Its air-permeable FUTURELIGHT membrane is more breathable than the Storm Racer, but also feels a bit more fragile and is more expensive. For a solid balance of all the running rain jacket concerns, however, we think the Storm Racer is the choice to make.
Rab has been producing high-quality outdoor gear out of Britain for decades now, and the Kinetic Alpine 2.0 Jacket ($310) is no exception. With an unrivaled stretch and impressive breathability numbers, this shell feels more like a softshell than a rain jacket.
Designed for use in the alpine while mountaineering or rock climbing, the Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is one of the comfiest rain jackets we’ve ever had the pleasure of wearing. With the feel of a softshell, Rab’s proprietary ProFlex fabric manages to be both breathable and durable.
A 2-way YKK Aquaguard front zip provides easy access to your harness and equipment, adjustable Velcro cuffs accommodate gloves of all sizes, and the hood is helmet-compatible without feeling too bulky.
The Kinetic Alpine 2.0 shines in environments where you’d want your waterproof layer to double as a wind jacket, and where durability would be key. During a stormy ridge scramble in Arizona, we managed to stick ourselves with two jumping cholla cactus pods, and were surprised at the end of the day to not be able to find where the needles penetrated the fabric!
On the flipside, the 10,000mm hydrostatic waterproof rating is one of the lowest in our rain jacket buyer’s guide, so we wouldn’t recommend this jacket for multi-day downpours or heavy snow like we would with the Arc’teryx Beta or the Outdoor Research Foray II. We were also disappointed that there are no pit zips, so mechanical ventilation is limited to the front 2-way zipper.
Overall, the Kinetic Alpine 2.0 makes a great addition to the closet for the desert hiker, mountaineer, or climber looking for a 2-in-1 waterproof layer that feels and acts like a softshell.
The seven rain jackets above will cover you in just about any conditions you’ll face, but there are plenty of other options we think are well worth the space in your closet. Check out the nine shells below for excellent alternatives we’ve tested and think deserve some consideration.
Blurring the line between rain jacket and their more climbing-oriented cousins, the Norrøna Falketind Paclite Rain Jacket ($349) is a hardshell jacket in everything but the membrane, meaning you get all of the mountain-ready cut and features, with a lighter packed weight and compressed size — perfect for taking with you anywhere.
The 2.5-layer GORE-TEX Paclite Plus membrane used is a notch above the typical Paclite, in that it incorporates a less slick backer and printed dots on the interior to better move moisture out of the jacket. The breathability will still be on the lesser side when compared to other GORE-TEX membranes at 15,000 g/m², but the waterproofing is just as strong at 28,000 mm.
In lieu of typical under-arm pit zips, Norrøna went with a novel solution that we haven’t seen before, and that’s zippered front chest ventilation. This zipper (separate from the full closure zipper) runs a full 12 inches and opens up the jacket to fresh air, all without splitting the jacket entirely and leading to a floppy shell. During testing, our reviewers found that this moved air nicely through the jacket.
With a technical fit, this jacket doesn’t flap about in strong winds, and retains much of the technical articulation needed to pull off any move necessary — be it on the glacier or on the trail. The hood is sized to accommodate a climbing helmet, and adjusts with a single pull on the back of the head.
Compared to the Arc’teryx Beta, the Falketind Paclite does have a few advantages. For one, the Falketind implements mechanical ventilation into the build, which is something the Beta is missing out on. The Falketind also slides in $50 cheaper, though it does miss out on the twin hand pockets, and better 3-layer GORE-TEX membrane that the Beta has.
If you’re looking for a jacket that will stand up to the rough stuff, but is still packable enough to make it into your bag on every outing, the Falketind Paclite puts up the good fight.
You’re looking at the crest of a new wave here: Making use of the new GORE-TEX ePE membrane, the Mountain Hardwear Trailverse GORE-TEX Jacket ($420) is one of the first through-and-through rain jackets to adopt the entirely PFC-free membrane, and as such is the culmination of almost a decade of advances toward a more sustainable rain jacket future.
We anticipate that by next year, many GORE-TEX rain jackets will be some blend of ePE and as such, we wanted to get to know the new recipe better. Rest assured — those 10 years of development weren’t for nothing.
Whereas traditional GORE-TEX is an expanded PTFE material (the F stands for “fluoro”), GORE’s new membrane instead pivots its expansion technology to polyethylene, and in doing so strips out the PFCs from within the membrane.
So, the verdict? If you hadn’t told us it was a new blend, we wouldn’t have been much the wiser. The classic 28,000 mm waterproofing is still as stout as always, and while the breathability is a bit on the lower end (at a RET of <13), it feels similar to the classic 3L GORE in practice.
Hiking uphill, you’ll still want to leverage mechanical ventilation to keep moisture moving, but in fit, form, and function, it’s nice to see ePE living up to the name.
The jacket itself is well-deserving of the membrane as well, with a more full-featured design that includes a dual-direction front zipper, side torso ventilation vents, and waterproofed chest pockets. A tall collar also helps to bolster the weatherproofing and allows us to tuck away in windy conditions without needing to pull up the full hood.
If you’re looking to get into the new GORE-TEX at a lower price point, Mountain Hardwear also rolled out the LandSky Jacket ($250), a shell with a slightly lesser feature set and thinner 50D material. We find the less-lifestyle cut of the Trailverse to be more amenable to backpacking, and we’re excited to continue testing to see the long-term performance of this new waterproof-breathable technology. If initial impressions hold, ePE looks like a winner.
From your morning commute to a coastal deluge, the Arc’teryx Beta Jacket ($400) ticks the boxes for our needs when it comes to a rain jacket that can simply do it all. And freshly updated, the Beta follows in the footsteps of the Beta Lightweight shell and adopts the GORE-TEX ePE membrane — which incorporates zero forever chemicals in its construction.
Arc’teryx’s Beta line of jackets are made for all-around activities, and we can confirm that this jacket will just about do most of it. Utilizing a high-power GORE-TEX 3-layer ePE membrane and a durable face fabric, this is the shell for serious outdoors folk who need absolute protection, no matter the price. Our own testing has taken the Arc’teryx Beta to places that other rain jackets shudder to dream of. Through it all, this jacket came out ready for more.
The Beta certainly isn’t cheap. At its premium price point, it’s better thought of as a long-term investment piece that’ll be around far into the future. But at a 28,000mm waterproof rating, know that you’ll be protected from the rain for the long haul.
During testing around British Columbia’s Squamish, we came to greatly appreciate this heightened waterproofing, as well as the trim fit that worked equally well cutting through downtown as it did getting up close and personal with a few waterfalls.
One downside of the über-waterproof fabric is the distinct crinkle of fabric on fabric, which can become a drone on repetitious missions like ski touring. And since this is the lower end of the Beta line, this jacket does without pit-zips. If some added mechanical ventilation is high on your list, check out the Beta AR ($600).
One benefit of the buy-once-cry-once ethos is getting access to brands that are pushing innovation. Arc’teryx works closely with GORE-TEX to produce leading-edge fabric technologies, and if the leading edge is where you spend most of your time, the Beta is up to the task. It’s probably one of the best rain jackets money can buy today, without stepping up to something more mountain-savvy like a hardshell jacket.
Read Review: Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 Jacket Review: A Versatile Shell That’s Ready for All 50 Names for Rain
They say you can’t have your cake and eat it too, but the Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 Jacket ($180) sure does get close. Combining an admirable balance of waterproofness/breathability, features, and price, this Rab rain jacket strikes a near-perfect balance across the spectrum and is easily among the better in our testing.
The Pertex Shield 2.5-layer waterproof membrane sports what we believe is just about the perfect balance of waterproofing to breathability: 20,000 mm to 20,000 g/m², and generous pit zips help to avoid perspiration when the difficulty really ramps up. There are certainly other rain jackets that fill special niches better than the Downpour, but few tick more boxes across the range.
In our own testing, we were consistently impressed by the well-thought-out features that round out this shell. During a trail ride on Washington state’s Galbraith mountain, we battled on-again, off-again showers with the Downpour, and were keen on the roll-away hood, which easily tucked away for the rip down, as well as the drawstring hem, which kept mud from going where the sun don’t shine.
There are a few stumbles: such as the sometimes difficult-to-manage left-hand zipper, and the need to mechanically vent to avoid interior slickness typical of 2.5-layer waterproof membranes — but we’re willing to look past these minor flaws for the sheer utility the Downpour provides.
The Downpour Plus 2.0 is one of the most well-rounded rain jackets we’ve tested, and at the price (less than $200), it’s an easy go-to for anyone looking for a shell to do almost everything.
The anorak doesn’t get much love in the U.S., but we think that should change. The Mountain Hardwear Premonition UL Anorak ($400) is a highly functional piece of rainwear, and, dare we say — stylish? Without going too gorpcore, the Premonition UL does have a certain je ne sais quoi that we can’t deny.
Made to be pulled over your head and worn like a smock, this jacket is a minimal design that is easier to don/take off than you would imagine. We wore it through a wet transition from fall into winter in the Pacific Northwest — as well as a few volcano summits — and greatly enjoyed it on hikes through dripping old growth and into the alpine alike.
While Pertex Shield is made in 2, 2.5, and 3-layer variations, we don’t often see the 3L, and we’re not sure why. The added backer greatly relieves the damp feeling that can occur in unlined versions and aids in wicking moisture into the membrane to be drawn out of the jacket. We also didn’t note any ding to breathability between the 2.5-layer jackets we’ve tested and this one.
The feature set is light on the Premonition, but it’s got it where it counts. The front chest pocket is surprisingly spacious and doubles as a storage pocket for the jacket itself. It also sports an elastic band on the inside — a feature many other alpine shells from Mountain Hardwear have — that we found great for holding our radios in the upright position.
Two interior drop pockets round out the storage options. Instead of multiple corded adjustments, the jacket goes with an elastic binding around the hem and sides of the hood to keep things snug. There is a single corded adjustment to pull the crown back from your eyes, however.
Downsides appear when faced with taking the jacket on and off frequently, but since this is rare, we didn’t ding the jacket too much for this.
With a super-light 3-layer construction, the Premonition UL Anorak could easily slot into a climber’s “low-probability, high-consequence” kit, alongside similar jackets like the Patagonia Storm Runner and Outdoor Research Helium. And no, we’re still not over the hip anorak look. Just look at it.
Having now gone through a number of revisions over 12 years, it’s easy to say that not only does the Outdoor Research Helium Jacket ($170) have staying power, but it also continues to get better. This weight-conscious shell tips the scales at a scant 6.3 ounces, and still manages to not leave too many features on the cutting room floor.
While our use of the previous generation of Helium is extensive (we’ve carried it on over 2,000+ miles of thru-hiking), the newest iteration pushes the needle even further with the addition of a new version of Pertex Shield membrane with Diamond Fuse technology. Instead of increasing the denier for strength, this weave utilizes diamond-shaped yarns that interlock with one another to bulk up the tear resistance.
OR claims this adds up to a 5x more tear-resistant jacket over its predecessor, and while we haven’t dove into the brambles to prove it, a strong tug across the fabric does yield a more confidence-inspiring feel. During a recent trip to Joshua Tree National Park, the Helium jacket performed admirably when pressed against the sharp granite boulders of the desert.
Other improvements come in the form of the single Napoleon pocket on the left chest, which has been enlarged for easier stuffing of the jacket into itself. There is also a hidden key clip to keep your keys close at hand, and YKK water-resistant zips on both the main and pocket zips.
When compared to its contemporaries, the Outdoor Research Helium exists in sort of a middle-ground between the Zpacks Vertice and the Montbell Versalite, where the former offers higher breathability (and higher price), and the latter boasts more features and better livability, all at the same weight.
As with many Pertex Shield jackets, we did find that breathability wasn’t quite what we’d like to see, and that the slick interior can feel clammy once you’ve pushed the jacket past the brink.
Choosing between the three will mean weighing your goals and going with the best fit, but for any discerning thru-hiker, alpine climber, or trail runner, the Helium rain jacket can easily makes the grade.
The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Jacket ($230) takes the phrase moves with you to heart, incorporating a four-way stretch across the entire jacket that not only makes pulling the move easier, but it also does so quietly and with a super soft hand.
Billed as a front-to-backcountry do-it-all shell, this jacket oozes movement and adds a nice amount of stretch to Mountain Hardwear’s 2.5L Dry.Q waterproof membrane. The membrane itself specs out at a respectable 10,000 mm waterproofing and 10,000 g/m² breathability, and in a live-fire environment, we found the Stretch Ozonic to be ideal for lighter precip environments where motion is king, such as trail running, scrambling, or bumping around the city.
Taken to the bench, the Stretch Ozonic did wilt a bit faster than jackets with higher waterproofing counts, and in our shower tests, while wearing a backpack, the areas beneath the pack straps began to wet out before the time was up. This is a known issue for stretch shells and is why the jacket finds itself below the fold in our recommendations.
As a surprise, one of our favorite features of this jacket is hidden away: mesh-lined pockets. In terms of easy methods to add physical venting to a jacket, mesh is high on our lists (we’re surprised more jackets don’t incorporate this). There will be a slight durability ding with using a lighter material, but we’ve yet to see it pan out that way in our experience.
The hood of the Stretch Ozonic is fairly standard, with a single drawcord adjustment at the rear of the head to keep it out of your eyes. No wire-stiffened brim here, but we did enjoy the soft microfleece chin guard for when the rain really let loose and we had to retreat inside the hood.
As with many stretch-infused jackets, you’ll need to keep up on the DWR treatments, as this is an area of tradeoff for the impressive flexibility of the membrane. But for when the occasional storm brews up, this jacket certainly will make the cut for folks who want a shell that will flow with them.
From the minds of thru-hiking gurus, the Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket ($249) aims to be in the company of the “lightest possible choices,” and at 7 ounces it certainly lands among them. It also recently became $50 cheaper than it has been previously, increasing the UL value.
The standout headline of the Vertice is Zpacks’ proprietary membrane, which boasts an impressive claimed 56,000 g/m² breathability rating that stacks up strongly against the new wave of hyper-breathable membranes, such as The North Face’s FUTURELIGHT membrane.
This jacket is no slouch when it comes to waterproofing either at 20,000 mm, which typically will suffer when seeking out high breathability numbers. Compared to the lab numbers, we found during testing that we stayed dry for multiple hours of Pacific Northwest rainfall.
The finish of the Vertice is decidedly cottage industry, and you can tell that an actual human went to work on this jacket. We actually became fond of this fact, and there aren’t any sewing issues that would compromise the integrity of the jacket, but this is certainly a piece for the function-forward among us. There’s a reason thru-hikers look so goofy.
The hood of this jacket, unfortunately, left something to be desired, feeling more like looking through a porthole than anything else. In our estimation, adding a few more inches to this aperture would greatly improve the liveability on days when the precip doesn’t yield. For your next thru-hike or ultralight mission, the Vertice trims the fat but maintains the protection.
A solid blend of packability, stretch, weight, and value, the Black Diamond Fineline Stretch ($180) provides a good option for traveling and daily getaways. This jacket is functionally the same as the previous StormLine Stretch, and available at below $200, it’s a reasonable option from a trusted brand.
Underarm gussets pair with four-way stretch to allow greater freedom of motion, while Black Diamond’s proprietary BD.dry membrane seals out the elements. The StormLine packs into its own pocket and has adjustable cuffs, and also has a climbing helmet-compatible hood. Plus, the jacket weighs just 11.3 ounces, which means you’ll hardly register that it’s hanging from your climbing harness or stashed away in your pack.
While this shell sits great parked on the back of a harness, it isn’t the jacket you want to spend all day camped out in. During an unexpected rain shower halfway up a wall in the Cascades, we found the Fineline to give up the ghost where it was pressed against our harnesses and the environment — something we replicated in our bench tests. It’ll still keep you warm — arguably the more important part when moving quickly — but there’ll be some wringing to do when you’re done.
While not the best suited for layering, the Fineline Stretch will do just fine as a jacket to hedge your bets against a middling forecast. The more climbing-oriented among us more often reach for the 3-layer protection of the Mountain Hardwear Premonition UL Anorak — and recommend you do, too, if you’ve got the dough.
Our rain jacket testing occurs year-round, but mostly during the wettest months of the autumn in the Pacific Northwest. Our lead tester, along with a crew of dedicated trail hounds, have been pulling on waterproofs and treading out into uncertain weather patterns for more than 5 years — collectively testing more than 50 different rain jackets now. Our testing aims to challenge these jackets and looks at waterproofing over 24-hour periods, breathability during hill climbs, and durability against dense Cascadian bushwhacks.
Beyond field testing, our scale-weighing extends further into the truly nerdy with repeatable and quantifiable bench testing. Every shell we test endures the classic shower soak — a 10-minute deluge with all hatches battened down and seams inspected for soaking through. We also complete this test a second time while wearing a weighted pack to challenge the waterproof rating even further.
Zipper waterproofing is tested by tucking away paper towels inside and soaking the exterior. Hoods are tested for visibility and mobility while looking in all directions. We even compress each shell into the same stuff sack and measure volume for a real-deal understanding of packed size. Rainwear has gotten danged good in recent years, and often our recommendations come down to minute differences in the outcomes of these tests.
Our team of testers has braved storms from the rain-drenched foothills of the Pacific Northwest to the mountains of Colorado for half a decade now to review and publish rain jacket guides for men and women. The GearJunkie crew isn’t afraid of a poor forecast, and our gathered rain jacket knowledge is pulled together here to guide your rain jacket choice. While we might be a bit wet behind the ears, it’s not for a lack of experience.
Senior Editor Nick Belcaster is no stranger to a little precip, and is the principal tester for this guide. Living and playing in the state of Washington requires either a lot of patience in waiting for the weather to change, or a lot of grit to get outside anyways. Belcaster has also thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, and has previously professionally equipped alpine climbers for whatever conditions they might encounter, including week-long deluges.
There are a lot of rain jackets on the market. And while having options is great, it can be overwhelming to choose. In this buyer’s guide, we’ll explain the most important factors to keep in mind when deciding on the best rain jacket for your needs.
It’s true; when it rains, it does always seem to pour, and if you live somewhere where it does so frequently, you’ll need a rain jacket that’s ready to take on day-after-day deluge and cover you on your commute or expedition to the mailbox.
A rain jacket meant for everyday use will prioritize ease of use over much else, which often means a casual cut meant to toss over anything you’re already wearing. Because of this, they may weigh a little more than their backpacking cousins, but make up for it in durability. Thicker denier face fabrics are often employed to up the wear factor, which also prolongs the time it takes the jacket to wet out.
Functional features such as Velcro wrist closures, hand-warming pockets, and hoods with some adjustability are all standard, though you won’t often see more sport-specific features such as helmet-compatible hoods, or two-way front zippers.
One of our favorite do-it-all jackets is the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L, a shell that doesn’t demand much for the protection and everyday use it provides, but we also lean on the REI Co-op Rainier, Rab Downpour Plus 2.0, and Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic as everyday rain jackets.
Rain jackets for hiking and backpacking take their jobs a bit more seriously, and need to contend with a rapidly filling backpack to ensure they make the cut. You’ll likely be hiking off into more remote locales for longer periods of time, and should look for a rain jacket with a waterproof membrane to match. Consider shells of 2.5- or 3-layer layups, which will stave off wetting out for longer, and often sport higher breathability numbers.
When hiking in a rain jacket, we like shells that combine mechanical and membrane breathability to continually move moisture out as we huff uphill. While their overall waterproofing numbers may be a bit lower, polyurethane membranes often move moisture at a better rate over their 2-2.5-layer GORE-TEX counterparts. Aim for a number north of 20,000 g/m² if you plan on hiking in your rain shell often. For day hikes, we often reach for the Outdoor Research Foray 3L, Patagonia Torrentshell 3L, and Mountain Hardwear Trailverse.
Packability, too, is in high demand, and certainly so for backpacking rain jackets. Here you may encounter more ultralight rain jackets, which leverage high-performance membranes, light denier face fabrics, and minimal feature sets to disappear into your backpack. The Montbell Versalite always finds its way into our thru-hiking packs, with the Zpacks Vertice and Norrøna Falketind not far behind.
This is the realm of sport-specific rainwear, and where you’ll likely find jackets that are fine-tuned for heading further into terrain that’s whipped by rain on a constant basis. Rain jackets of this ilk are more similar in many aspects to hardshell jackets, which is rainwear with extra durability baked in for treading into mountainous terrain and activities.
You’ll pay for the performance, but the tradeoff comes in tougher shell materials, highly breathable waterproof membranes, and feature sets that make them more amenable to action while wearing, rather than hiding away inside. Hoods are often much more adjustable, with multiple corded zones to dial in your fit, and may also be oversized to fit over a climbing or ski helmet.
Exterior pockets typically are set higher on the torso, which allows access to them while wearing a backpack hip belt or climbing harness. The interior of these jackets, too, will have a bit more of a premium feel to them, with high-quality linings that are meant to protect the membranes for longer and promote water wicking.
The Arc’teryx Beta makes a strong case for its price tag here, and the 3-layer GORE-TEX it utilizes is top-of-the-line when it comes to rainwear, but don’t count out the Zpacks Vertice or Patagonia Storm10, both jackets built with impressive tech.
Given enough time and pressure, nothing is truly waterproof. Even the yellow rubber slickers that swaddle fisherfolk will eventually yield to enough H₂O, which means a little science is needed in order to understand relative water resistance in rain jackets.
Waterproofness is measured by the amount of water that can pile up on fabric before it leaks over a period of 24 hours. The minimum standard to call something waterproof is 1,000 mm, which should generally be capable of handling everyday front country use, like walking your dog around town in a light drizzle. But for outdoor adventures with severe weather, you’ll want to find a jacket with a waterproof rating between 5,000 mm and 30,000 mm.
Pressure can also lower the waterproofness of your rain jacket, and can be introduced from backpack straps or heavy snow. It is important to note that waterproofness and breathability are two metrics pulling in opposite directions of one another, and that superior water resistance will require some concessions in the breathability department.
As humans, we tend to perspire as we run, hike, or climb in our rain jackets, so having a shell that is breathable should be highly valued. Measured most often by the Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) test, higher values in g/m² denote a better ability to allow perspiration to pass out of a jacket.
Jackets intended for high-output activities will have a breathability rating of 20,000 g/m² or more, while lesser ratings between 10,000 and 15,000 will suffice for in-town use or when packability is the primary goal.
The Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate, or MVTR, is the most commonly used test for measuring the breathability of waterproof membranes. This rate can be measured through a number of different tests, but the most common metric used is given in g/m²/24 hours. Higher values on the MVTR test give you a better idea of the jacket’s ability to pass moisture, but it isn’t the end-all, say, as other factors such as ambient humidity play a large role as well.
Budget-minded jackets like the Black Diamond Fineline Stretch sport an MVTR rating of 10,000 g/m², which isn’t quite at the standard of 20,000 g/m² rating we like to see in jackets meant to be used during high heart rate activities. At the other end of the spectrum, specialized shells like the Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 boast impressive values of 35,000 g/m².
The RET, or Resistance to Evaporation rating has been gaining steam in recent years, with high-end GORE-TEX membranes being notable adopters. This rating uses a simulated perspiration test, and values here are the inverse of the MVTR, with lower values showing a higher ability for moisture transfer.
A jacket with a RET value of <6 will really pump out perspiration and is rated as extremely breathable on the RET scale. Fabrics with a RET score of between 6 and 12, like the Norrøna Falketind Paclite Rain Jacket, land in the highly breathable camp, and ratings of >12 are only moderately breathable.
About as simple as simple gets, two-layer jackets utilize a waterproof membrane and outer face fabric to guard against scuffs and scrapes. These jackets often require hanging mesh linings to protect the waterproof membrane from abrasion, which ups the bulk and weight factor, but can also keep the cost down on entry-level pieces.
Without a full barrier protecting the interior of the jacket, the pores of the membrane can become clogged with time, and 2-layer jackets will need to be washed more often to keep them in fighting shape. The original formulation of GORE-TEX was a 2-layer layup, which boasted high breathability and waterproofing numbers but suffered in terms of durability as the membrane degraded with use. Today, all GORE membranes protect the interior of their membrane to prolong its life.
Jackets made with 2.5-layer fabrics incorporate a very thin protective lining to the inside of the waterproof membrane, which is typically laminated, screen printed, or sprayed on, and eliminates the need for a mesh lining and the bulk and weight that comes with it. These linings often increase the longevity and breathability of the jacket by decreasing the body oils and dirt that can clog the pores of the membrane.
One unfortunate drawback of these jackets is that they often feel clammy against the skin in continuous rain, and lack the moisture-wicking of three-layer jackets. Many may believe that their rain jacket has given up the ghost, when in fact it is the breathability that has been overwhelmed and caused a back-up of moisture coming from their own bodies.
By adding a third wicking textile to the interior of the membrane, three-layer jackets benefit from a significant bump in moisture management, but also typically in price. This is the realm of true all-day-deluge performance jackets, and most often use the big name-brand membranes that have come to dominate the industry, such as GORE-TEX or eVent.
This third layer also adds a good bit of durability to the jacket as it protects the waterproof membrane from abrasion, but will add some bulk over 2.5-layer jackets. Because they are more complex, 3-layer membranes often land in the performance category of rain jackets and carry higher prices to boot.
Waterproof membranes come in a number of flavors these days, but all operate on a similar principle: keep the rain out and keep perspiration from building up inside the shell. The construction of these membranes is often as mechanical as they are chemical, and the two big players today are ePTFE and polyurethane membranes, with air-permeable membranes on the rise.
Best thought of as a piece of plastic stretched very thin, ePTFE are specialty materials (polytetrafluoroethylene, to be specific) that are expanded, creating micropores that act as a filter to inhibit water penetration, but allow water vapor to be expelled.
These ePTFE membranes have over 9 billion pores per square inch, each 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, but 700 times larger than a water vapor molecule. This allows the membrane to resist water from the elements, but diffuse perspiration as it builds within the shell.
Most ePTFE waterproof membranes today also include a thin polyurethane coating or tricot backer on the inside to stop contaminants such as body oils from clogging these pores. The other majority share of waterproof membranes are made using a very thin sheet of polyurethane, which is naturally hydrophilic and maintains breathability through diffusion.
These membranes have historically been monolithic, meaning that they lack any pore structure, but new technologies are producing air-permeable membranes that pass air freely.
Because they depend on diffusion to move perspiration from the inside, PU membranes require you to work up a bit of a sweat before they’ll really start to move moisture, which can lead to a slick interior if some mechanical ventilation isn’t employed.
New to the market in recent years and somewhat of a blend of both previous technologies, air-permeable membranes take the waterproof nature of polyurethane and create a matrix that allows for gaseous vapor transfer, as opposed to pure diffusion. Opening up the membranes in this way has led to great leaps in breathability, with membranes like The North Face’s FUTURELIGHT boasting a rating of 75,000 g/m².
PACLITE is widely used in hiking and backpacking rain jackets, as it offers a high waterproofing rating, but strips out the textile backer of 3-layer membranes and applies a layer of polyurethane and carbon on the interior. This makes a hanging mesh lining unnecessary, and creates rainwear that is impressively packable. This layer is less thin than the bonded interior materials of 3-layer membranes, and as such is known as a 2.5-layer technology.
When even more packability is needed such as during backpacking, Gore’s PACLITE PLUS is a membrane that cuts down on bulk even further by spraying a layer of polyurethane that is much thinner than regular PACLITE to increase durability. Because of this, we regard PACLITE PLUS as a 2-layer membrane, and at >28,000 mm/24 hours of water resistance, this technology is plenty waterproof — but its breathability suffers some at 15,000 g/m².
Currently a fledgling on the market, the new ePE membrane from GORE-TEX is bound to spread into most garments that currently use the 3-layer version. Urged on by manufacturers who wanted a PFC-free version of the legacy membrane, GORE-TEX was able to strip out the fluoro from its ePTFE membranes by supplanting polyethylene in its place. The material is still expanded like the original recipe and nails the 28,000 mm water resistance rating that 3L GORE-TEX is known for.
The trade-off is in breathability, which is on the lower end of the spectrum at a RET rating of <13. This will mean that jackets made with ePE will need to lean more on mechanical ventilation to keep moisture moving throughout the jacket.
Used in higher-end hardshell jackets where maximum protection from wild conditions is needed, Gore’s three-layer Pro membrane is made of several ePTFE membranes bonded together, and uses a Micro-Grid backer that cuts down on overall bulk.
A >28,000mm water resistance and 24,000 g/m² breathability put GORE-TEX Pro jackets at the top of the heap. In recent years, multiple versions of GORE-TEX PRO have been produced, including Most Rugged, Most Breathable, and Stretch.
Because of the overall price associated with GORE-TEX Pro (hardshells begin at around $350, and rocket all the way to $900), it isn’t often that you see it utilized in rain jackets meant for everyday conditions.
The airiest of the GORE-TEX offerings, this variation of the GORE membrane boasts a higher breathability rating than other styles, making it ideal for high-exertion activities where moving water out is more important than keeping it out.
Exterior face fabrics are between 13-30 denier, and the backer is a lightweight C-Knit material, which all aids in creating less of a barrier for moisture to move through during high-exertion activities. Few companies currently use the Active textile, with Norrøna and GORE WEAR currently creating trail running and cycling jackets utilizing it.
Using a polyurethane film membrane, Pertex Shield+ is able to achieve a good balance of water resistance and breathability at 20,000 mm and 20,000 g/m², respectively. Produced as a 2, 2.5, and 3-layer fabric, jackets made with these membranes can sometimes be overwhelmed by perspiration and feel slick to the touch if they lack a backer.
These include numerous specialty textiles that are created directly for manufacturers to their specifications, which allows them to fine-tune their membranes as well as keep overhead costs down and produce more affordable rainwear. Examples include Outdoor Research’s AscentShell technology, Black Diamond’s BD.dry, and many more.
We’ve found that rain jackets made with proprietary membranes are often significantly less expensive than jackets using name-brand membranes.
The first line of defense for a rain jacket, a durable water-repellent finish (DWR) is a hydrophobic coating that gives it that “duck’s back” look of rain beading away harmlessly. This keeps water from overwhelming the waterproof membrane and prolongs its ability to stay waterproof.
DWR coatings also affect the ability of the jacket to breathe, as a wetted-out face fabric will inhibit the jacket’s ability to expel moisture. Abrasion, oils, and trail funk can all degrade the coating, so keeping your rainwear clean and re-waterproofed is the best way to ensure that your jacket continues to function at peak performance, as we discuss below.
Historically made from environmentally harmful chemicals known as perfluorocarbons (PFCs), many companies are now working on using PFC-free DWR finishes in their rain jackets. Patagonia has pledged to use a PFC-free DWR in all of its outerwear by 2024, and REI recently announced that it would soon no longer carry products from brands that continue to use the chemicals. We are happy to see this trend spreading throughout the industry.
It’s important that your rain jacket moves comfortably with you and does not overly restrict your movement. A comfortable rain jacket will keep you dry without feeling annoying or cumbersome.
A growing trend has been incorporating built-in stretch into rain jackets, which greatly increases their abilities where high mobility is needed. Jackets we reviewed like the Black Diamond Fineline Stretch and Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Jacket incorporate stretch and will move with you outdoors.
Small features usually define the overall comfort of a rain jacket. For example, a hood that fully blocks peripheral vision will not be comfortable to use. Ideally, your rain jacket will minimally limit your range of motion, and the interior lining will feel good against your skin.
Most people agree weight is an important consideration for any piece of outdoor gear. If you’re going to be carrying your rain jacket in a pack when it isn’t in use, you want it to be as light and compact as possible — without sacrificing usability. Many lightweight rain jackets, like the Montbell Versalite or Patagonia Storm10, weigh less than a pound without sacrificing durability and functionality.
Many rain shells stuff easily into their own pockets and become barely larger than a baseball. Once packed down, it’s nice to have an external clip-in loop on the stuff sack — especially for multi-pitch rock climbing or backpacking. If your rain jacket packs down conveniently, you’re more likely to bring it along and have it when it’s needed most.
It’s nice to have a well-placed pocket or two in your rain jacket. However, more pockets mean more material, and more material means increased weight and decreased packability.
Pockets also create seams that may decrease the waterproof capability of the jacket. Still, it’s nice to at least have two hand pockets to keep your hands warm and dry in a storm. Waterproof zippers on pockets and front zippers can add increased water resistance and protect your valuables inside. Also, rain jackets will often incorporate underarm zippers to increase ventilation.
Sewing together a rain jacket introduces hundreds of holes into the fabric, so most incorporate taped or bonded seams to ward off leaks. Seam tape can be added to all seams, or sometimes only essential seams, in order to save weight.
Some rain jackets have hoods that double as a convenient stuff sack. Generally, if it’s raining hard enough to warrant a rain jacket, you’ll probably also have the hood up.
A well-designed hood should be strategically designed to offer full protection without limiting peripheral vision. Adjustments can include a simple drawstring at the rear of the hood to pull the crown out of your eyes, as well as side profile adjustments for peripheral coverage, and wire-stiffened brims to keep rain from draining into the hood.
Finally, it’s also important to ensure that your hood will fit over any helmet you may be wearing. Typically seen in more sport-specific or hardshell jackets, helmet-compatible hoods provide a bit of extra internal space to accommodate your protective headwear.
Ultimately, a rain jacket’s sole purpose is to keep moisture out. However, some jackets also include some extra features that add further value.
Some jackets come with features such as handwarmer pockets, large pit zips, and a roomy cut that allows space for warm layers underneath. These can be important to consider, as often rain jackets will be tailored to a certain range of uses.
For example, a rain jacket that is crafted for city use will likely forgo pit-zips and instead provide some roomy hand pockets — while a shell meant for all-day hiking should sport an accommodating profile and adjustable hood cinches.
In striving to create the most waterproof membrane, the outdoor industry created a number of unsustainable practices which are slowly beginning to be rectified: using recycled materials, PFC-free DWR finishes, and ensuring sustainable practices are used during production.
Being Bluesign certified means that the fabric used in the jacket has passed an independent approval process to ensure that they are safe for the environment and consumers. A similar process is used in being Fair Trade Certified, where producers must ensure sustainable livelihoods for textile workers.
The most sustainable rain jacket in our review was the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket, which utilizes a 100% recycled face fabric, is Fair Trade Certified sewn, and is Bluesign-approved.
A rain jacket is designed to be exposed to the elements, and a good one will do its job without falling apart. As rain jackets become lighter, users should expect a dip in durability, too.
However, on this list, we’ve included rain jackets that are both lightweight and reliable. A jacket that is abrasion-resistant will have much greater overall longevity. Purchasing a shell that utilizes a higher denier face fabric, such as the Arc’teryx Beta Jacket, will greatly increase its durability over time.
Often overlooked, regular upkeep of your rain jacket is essential to keeping the waterproof membrane happy and working as it was designed. When body oils and grime clog the interior pores, the breathability suffers, and a worn-away DWR finish does little to keep a jacket from wetting out. A quick and easy way to breathe some life into your DWR is a brief cycle in the dryer on medium heat.
When a more thorough cleaning is in order, begin by washing your rain jacket with a detergent that is made for waterproof fabrics, such as Nikwax Tech Wash. We’ve found that this will cleanse the waterproof membrane and allow it to function as designed.
Rainwear can be pricey, and often rightfully so — little else has as much depending on it. Staying dry certainly has a price, but it isn’t always clear what exactly you’re getting for the money. When it comes to rain jackets, we see the breakdown as such:
Sometimes you just need a shell to get the job done — or you’ve already splurged on your big three camping kit. Either way, there are thankfully a number of great rain jackets on the market today that won’t rob your pockets too harshly and tend to slide in between $100 and $200. These shells are more often 2 or 2.5-layer jackets with in-house membranes, which are cheaper to produce, but also won’t hit as high of performance metrics.
When it comes to the best bang for your buck out there, we always circle back to the REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket ($100), which uses an REI proprietary membrane to keep its price low but still comes in flush with all of the features we’re after in a rain jacket. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L ($179) is another notable value, and bumps up the protection for a bit more out of pocket.
The meat and potatoes of rain jackets typically gain more protection over their budget counterparts, and this is where you’ll see third-party membranes such as Pertex or GORE-TEX being used. Three-layer jackets are the standard here, and you also begin to see more special use-case jackets, such as ultralight shells or burly mountain-ready jackets. Expect to pay north of $200 and up to $400 for these rain jackets.
Our go-to do-it-all jacket has been the Outdoor Research Foray 3L ($249), and we’re sticking with it. The new 3-layer membrane breathes better than the previous version, and the huge pits-to-hem zips make it highly versatile.
Ultralight shells like the Montbell Versalite ($260) and Zpacks Vertice ($299) trade some protection for weight savings, and climbing shells like the Norrøna Falketind ($349) and Mountain Hardwear Premonition UL Anorak ($400) are ready to be clipped to a harness.
Nearing the protection offered up by hardshell jackets, premium rain shells are more often than not going to be a 3-layer GORE-TEX offering, and will hold out the longest when it comes to rain protection. Look to these shells to command from $400 and on up, with additional features and extra burly materials commanding more dollar signs.
The Arc’teryx Beta AR is undoubtedly the most protective rain jacket on our list and is made from GORE-TEX Pro material, but it also asks $600 for the privilege . It’s not the only jacket from the brand to occupy this level of rainwear, either, with the more all-around Arc’teryx Beta going for $400. It’s easy to label these as overpriced, but after many seasons of use, the durability and protection of these jackets are undeniable.
You can go a step further by reapplying a fresh coat of DWR such as GEARAID Revivex Durable Water Repellent Spray, and then turning the jacket inside out and drying it on high heat to set. This is a common fix and with frequent reapplication, it will keep water beading off your jacket when it counts.
The best waterproof jacket is one that fits well, meets your needs, and provides reliable waterproofing. On this list, we have included several high-quality rain jackets.
When deciding which one to purchase, consider factors including the jacket’s waterproof rating, weight, durability, and extra features.
GORE-TEX is the gold standard for waterproof fabric. When undamaged and in good shape, GORE-TEX-treated fabrics will keep out any liquid water that lands on the surface.
However, over time, the quality of the waterproofing of GORE-TEX will degrade, and it will no longer perform like new. Most GORE-TEX materials have a waterproof rating of 28,000 mm.
It’s wise to always go into the outdoors prepared with a rain jacket. Many rain jackets are light and packable, so you’ll hardly notice them in your pack during the hike. In wet and cold conditions, a good rain jacket can keep you comfortable and safe.
Waterproof membranes in rain jackets degrade slowly, but are sensitive to becoming dirty and clogged with sweat and dirt. Often, a jacket still retains much of its original waterproof ability, and only needs to be cleaned with a waterproof fabric-safe detergent and re-waterproofed with a new DWR finish.
Wetting out occurs when the face fabric of a rain jacket becomes overwhelmed by water from the outside, saturating the outer face and limiting the ability of the waterproof membrane to do its job.
This can occur when a DWR finish has worn out, or external pressure from a heavy pack presses the moisture into the fabric. Frequent washing and re-waterproofing is the best bet to avoid wetting out.
Rain jackets are designed to keep water out while still allowing your body’s moisture to escape as vapor. Unlike a trash bag or plastic poncho, rain jackets are semipermeable and designed to keep you both cool and dry at the same time.
Still, a rain jacket is certainly less breathable than other kinds of layers, and you can expect some heat and moisture to get trapped underneath.
Strictly speaking, rain jackets are not usually designed with insulation. Most of the jackets we’ve recommended on this list are not insulated. The main job of a rain jacket is to protect you from rain, snow, wind, and other adverse weather. While rain jackets will add a little warmth, other layers such as fleece jackets and puffies provide much more and can easily be worn underneath a rain jacket.
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Austin Beck-Doss is a Staff Writer at GearJunkie. Austin has been writing about climbing, hiking, and snowsports for 6+ years. Prior to that, Austin worked as a rock climbing and wilderness guide.
Hailing from the hemlocks and hanging mosses of Washington State, Senior Editor Nick Belcaster is an adventure journalist following threads of stories across the West. Cruelly stolen from the alpine swales of rural Wisconsin at a young age, Nick made do ascending the snows and granite of the North Cascades while completing a journalism degree. A long stint on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018 codified a life bent on sleeping on minor slopes and picking devil’s club out of his shoes.
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