Despite claims of being waterproof and breathable, many rain jackets are just plain stuffy. Take these factors into account, and choose wisely. CNN has a fairly detailed article on many rain jackets it tested recently. It can be tempting to think of a rain jacket as a rugged piece of gear-it gets you through a lot of rugged weather, after all-but even rugged gear needs love and care. Three of our five picks have armpit zips (we decided to split the difference with the name), which are great for keeping you cool in warmer weather. Our tester in the Outdoor Research Helium II rain jacket. It balances frontcountry and backcountry usefulness. Features like a helmet-compatible hood, stuff pocket, and pit zips give the StormLine a clear performance slant, but the large fit isnt ideal for the backcountry. When looking for a rain jacket, youre essentially asking for a jacket that will keep out rain but let out your sweat. If you want to save some money and be protected in most wet weather conditions, this is a good pick. Waterproofing: 2L Gore-Tex with Paclite Plus & 3-layer Gore-Tex with C-Knit. (Dont believe us? Category: PerformanceWeight: 12.7 oz.Waterproofing: 3L BD.dryWhat we like: A stretchy and light performance shell at a good price.What we dont: Less bombproof and versatile than a Gore-Tex design. Best Performance Balance: Marmot Minimalist Rain Jacket. You may notice a waterproof rating listed on some outdoor gear websites, represented by a number from 0 to 20,000mm or more. After taking into account 14 professional reviews, our list included 80 different rain jackets, as opposed to the 20-or-so models we usually see. Professional reviewers raved about the REI XeroDry GTX. The Torrentshell 3L tops our list with its impressively balanced design, but for a step up in performance its worth checking out the Calcite here. The newest version has a 3L construction, which provides a step up from the previous 2L and 2.5L models . To create a waterproof rain jacket that resists moisture from entering yet also lets sweat and hot air vent out requires a combination of fabric layers. Marmot Minimalist Jacket. Photo by Mike Unger. And (no surprise), 2.5-layer jackets are a heckuva lot more lightweight and affordable than most full 3-layer jackets. However, there are a few key differences in the two companies. For how to do that, read our tricks and tips section, or watch this video from Canadian outdoor store Mountain Equipment Co-op (full disclosure: we did not consider any of their jackets). Sport. After washing, follow the manufacturers drying instructions, whether youre on that air dry or tumble dry low train. Hand pockets are a convenient place to warm your hands up when rain mittens are out of the question. Your jacket isn't as waterproof or breathable as it should be. And once your jacket is nice and clean again, you can further refresh the DWR with sprays meant for the purpose. Almost all rain jackets have hoods included, but some are cut big enough to fit over a bike or climbing helmet and the style of the cinch varies significantly. Weight: 10.3 oz (mens), 8.7 oz (womens), What we liked: fits into pocket, budget-friendly, good "just-in-case" rain jacket to always have in your car or day hiking pack, inclusive sizing, The Marmot Precip is a classic rain jacket. Youll feel damp, clammy, and likely a little peeved at your rain jacket. Joining the budget-oriented Rainier above, the performance-minded XeroDry GTX is our second and final pick from REIs rain jacket collection. So perhaps it will be more breathable however it will wet out much faster than the Torrentshell 3L. Cotopaxi gives it a 10K waterproof rating, which generally correlates to only light protection against moisture. Performance Some rain jackets offer pit zips and/or full side vents, while basic models do not (as well as taped seams on more expensive rain jackets for extra protection from the elements). After reviewing 80 lightweight breathable rain jackets, we tested the most promising from the rainy Pacific Northwest to the Appalachian Trail to find the best lightweight rain jackets for most hikers, runners, travelers, and commuters. A waterproof jacket without DWR wont breathe as well in heavy rain because the water will pool up and soak into the exterior fabric layer. One downside is that the interior fabric isn't as soft to the touch as a true 3-layer (some consider it slippery or plasticky), but we've seen improvements with recent models. Both jackets have large fits (sizing down is recommended unless you want room for layering), stuff away into a pocket, and weigh about the same (the REI is 1.2 oz. 2. Black Diamond makes another model, the men's and women's Highline Stretch, that is a little bit heavier because it's a 3-layer jacket. Hardshell jackets, in contrast to the hiking rain jackets weve listed above, are made for truly extreme conditions. Marmot Minimalist: 189: 388: . Category: Performance/hikingWeight: 13.9 oz.Waterproofing: 3L Gore-TexWhat we like: Strong combination of weight-savings, protection, and performance-oriented features.What we dont: The priciest rain jacket on our list at $450. Established more than a decade before Arc'teryx, in 1974, Marmot is one of the leading brands in the US, catering to the market of outdoor clothing and gear enthusiasts. In general, a stretchy rain jacket will cost more than a standard shell (for example, the BD StormLine is $170 compared with the $100 Marmot PreCip Eco), but its a nice upgrade that comes with plenty of tangible benefits. The benefit of this interior finish is that the mesh found in 2-layer jackets is no longer necessary. The climbing community loves Montbell and for good reason: The company offers well-thought-out technical pieces that come in cheaper than brands like Arcteryx and Patagonia. You can read more about how waterproofing and breathability ratings work here. lct321 . What We Like: Great Features, Lightweight. We prefer the toggle style for adjusting the back of the hood over a rip-and-stick Velcro tab for its improved performance. Weight: 13.9 oz. A dirty rain jacket is less waterproof, not to mention stinkier. It also enjoys the title of being the trailblazer in the US in collaborating with Gore-Tex to manufacture weather-protection products that are lighter in weight but stronger . Performance & security by Cloudflare. Thats a hybrid of a 2-layer and 3-layer construction. BEST RAIN JACKET OVERALL. Lets start with layers, what they do, and why they matter. Photo by John Carr. Whats not to like with the Beta LT? It can be difficult to tell which of these jackets one should purchase without having a closer look. You can take note of the number when its available, as it will often correlate with other characteristics like fabric thickness and durability, but dont base your buying decision on that alone. Constant downpours in the forecast for the seven days of your trip? While our personal experiences are mostly backpacking experiences, were confident that these rain jackets will weather wet weather, whether youre hiking, traveling, mountain biking, trail running, fishing, or commuting. With a substantial 5.8-ounce savings, the Storm10 is a performance rain jacket at its finest: Its impressively waterproof, decently breathable despite the lack of pit zips (the thin 20D shell fabric helps), and packs down very small into its chest pocket. Jackets in this category include the Arc'teryx Beta LT, which impressed us with its performance during a wet and slushy winter in the PNW. reasonable 3L jkt with a softer . An affordable women's raincoat: Columbia Women's Arcadia II Rain Jacket. Despite the sizing complaints, we think the Black Diamond Stormline Stretch is a rain jacket thatll suit most folks for most of their rainy day needs. Men's Climbing. Plus, the 2023 version has some of the most inclusive sizing of any rain jacket we considered. of reviewers. The Marmot Precip rain jacket features a brim along its hood. The Marmot PreCip Eco is rated at 10,000 mm and the Outdoor Research Helium is rated at 15,000 mm. This compromised performance makes the $145 price tag a bit hard to swallow, especially when Columbias Watertight above costs about half as much. Misha at Saks Fifth Avenue. One thing that threw us off is The North Face doesn't run the usual Hydrostatic Test for waterproofing. One thing to note about Montbell is that sizing can run small. You may not see Layer 2most jackets on the market are 2.5-layer and feature a thin layer between Layer 2 and your skinbut its there, doing its job. BLACK-DIAMOND: Extra 20% off Outlet with coupon code "OUTLET20". When the wind is blowing, you want a hood that conforms to your head, while retaining enough structure around the sides and the bill that you can still see out. When comparing the Marmot vs Patagonia rain jacket models, the fit is the same. Bergfreunde.eu online Buy Men's jacket Waterproof Patagonia Light Storm Jacket - Travel Switchback Review Jacket Patagonia Storm10 YouTube - Jacket Storm Puff Patagonia Men's Micro Patagonia Storm Jacket naijium.ng Climb Ski Countryside Jacket Patagonia - Storm aveclumiere.com - 49% SAVE Sale, Patagonia Jacket Brown Hot Jacket Waterproof Storm10 Patagonia Men's Alpinetrek.co.uk . If you're looking for a more casual look, but don't want to skimp on the waterproofing, the Paclite Jacket from 686 will do the trick. If you're in the market to find that perfect rain . The treatment is thinner than the sprayed-on coating of a 2.5-layer jacket (more on this below), so we consider the Calcite a 2-layer piece. The men's and women's Black Diamond Stormline Stretch is our winner for Best Stretchy Rain Jacket. Three names, two zippers, one delightful function: keeping you just a little cooler. Photo by Mike Unger. No matter what your objective, the right jacket will help you stay out and stay dry, longer. Explore the Patagonia Men's Torrentshell 3L Jacket: https://www.patagonia.com/product/mens-torrentshell-3l-rain-jacket/85240.html?utm_source=youtube&utm_medi. The 2-layer Paclite build resembles Outdoor Researchs Foray above, but with a smooth and clean exteriorincluding fabric flaps over the center zipper and hand pockets and a nice array of subdued colorwaysthe Minimalist is fully at home around town. That said, its important to manage your expectations when it comes to a rain jackets breathability and ventilation options. The downsides our tester shared were pretty technical. When Layer 1 is saturated with water, its called wetting out or soaking through. Youll know your jacket has wetted out when the face fabric is so wet that it clings to your skin. We found that the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L managed to earn a rating of 9.2 from divein.com, whereas . Firstly, Patagonia is more focused on the environment than North Face. But wed love if Marmot brought back the high-quality look and feel of the old Minimalist Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's Marmot Minimalist See the Women's Marmot Minimalist. If youve ever had a lightweight rain jacket stick to your skin while wearing short sleeves, you know that it not only feels kind of gross, but it actually makes you colder. We recommend buying the Stormline from REI or another retailer where returns are easy and return shipping is free. Overlay - 3 Column; Overlay - 4 Column; Default - 2 Column As such, we give the edge to the burlier Beta LT for year-long use (plus, the Beta's larger hood makes it fully functional as a backcountry ski jacket). The 3L design has also improved the jacket's breathability compared to previous . The Venture 2 Hooded Jacket is one of The North Face's most popular waterproof jackets, for good reason. Rain jacket layer technology works by using thermal gradients to move warm moisture vapor from inside your jacket to cooler air outside your jacket. The zippers are waterproof and all of them have storm flaps that protect them from the weather. REI.COM: Up to 40% Off Clearance REI Co-op Brand Winter Clothing.Shop and Save! We're big fans of the men's and women's Montbell Versalite and think it's the Best Ultralight Rain Jacket for Thru-hiking. The North Face says the lab tests they commissioned from UL, an independent lab, rates it at 100% waterproof and included dumping 200 gallons of water per hour on the material. And when youre working hard, it can quickly become a necessity to dump some of that hot air rather quickly. What changed? The most notable update was the inclusion of Pertexs Diamond Fuse fabric, which boosts durability and tear resistance without a weight penalty.