Learn more. Plus, the 2023 version has some of the most inclusive sizing of any rain jacket we considered. While the manufacture of rain jackets, in general, can be harsh on the environment, Patagonia is considered the best in the outdoor industry for its practices and transparency when it comes to labor conditions and environmental responsibility. This serves to protect the jacket from dirt when you are not using it. These are the criteria we looked at when making our decision: There are two things to look at when it comes to staying dry: the layers of the jacket, and the waterproof/breathability rating a jacket has (more on the science of that below). So on a warm day, your jacket has a harder time breathing, aka moving water vapor. REIs in-house line of rain shells continues to impress us when it comes to bang for your buck, and the popular Rainier is no exception. Knowing which situation youre likely to encounter most often will help you find the best waterproof rain jacket for you. Another thing to keep in mind is in our testing, sizing ran big and sleeves ran long (though they come with adjustable cuffs). We recommend buying the Stormline from REI or another retailer where returns are easy and return shipping is free. It has a lower waterproof rating of 20,000 mm. Photo by Liz Thomas. Depending on what your jacket is made of and the care you put into its maintenance, it can last for years. The mens and womens Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is an extra-heavy-duty version of one of our former favoritesand it takes home top marks this year. As always, if you can try it on before you buy, youll likely be happier. Best Men's and Women's Rain Jackets and Raincoats Photo by Jill Duncan. Unless youre going fast and light, we like a sleeve with a velcro cuff for most situationsand even the Outdoor Research Helium features part-velcro cuffs these days. For washing, its always best to start by checking the label on your jacket as the specific instructions will vary. These downsides are enough to drop the XeroDry a bit on our list, but we still like its combination of features, Gore-Tex membrane, and price Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's REI XeroDry GTX See the Women's REI XeroDry GTX. Patagonia Calcite Waterproof Jacket: gear review | Escapism The hood on the mens Outdoor Research Helium 2. Enter the pit zip. Best rain jackets of 2023 | CNN Underscored The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is the only 3-layer jacket in our review. 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. Line drying typically is best, although weve had some eVent and Gore-Tex jackets that instruct you to put it in the dryer on warm heat to replenish the DWR finish. For those who want a well-rounded option, weve found the 9- to 16-ounce range is typically the sweet spot. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Everyday users took that last point to its logical conclusion, saying that it felt too heavy for warmer weather - but they also loved this jacket overall. Hand pockets are a convenient place to warm your hands up when rain mittens are out of the question. We had days of 35 F with steady rain-and I had no water intrusion at all. She also thought it was great at keeping out cold gusts of wind along the way. Category: Hiking/daily useWeight: 10.9 oz.Waterproofing: 3L AscentShellWhat we like: Lightweight, breathable, and a good price.What we dont: Missing some useful features like wrist cinches and hipbelt-friendly pockets. When the forecast isn't optimal but you're still ready to get out there, wear the lightweight, compressible Men's Minimalist Jacket. Patagonia is a clear leader in this realm: Their Torrentshell 3L, for example, uses a 100%-recycled face fabric, PFC-free DWR coating, PU membrane thats comprised of 13% biobased content, and is both bluesign-approved and Fair Trade Certified, indicating that the materials are safe for consumers and the environment and that workers are treated fairly. Many companies dont shell out for the Gore-Tex, but rather offer rain shells built with their own proprietary materials. Marmot Men's Minimalist GoreTex Waterproof Rain Jacket 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. Secondly, Patagonia products usually cost a little bit more than North Face products. On hikes, we stayed safe from the wind and fully dry. But Layer 2 cant do its job if Layer 1 is junked up with oil and other nasties. Your jacket will stop being able to breatheand all that moisture next to your skin is there to stay. The 2.5-layer shell is softer and more pliable than most 3-layer designs here, and Pertex Shield has a long track record for being hardwearing and weather-protective. In fact, the innovative K-MONO Cut reduces seam lines, where all rain jackets are most likely to wet-through. 2.5-Layer And if you need an even more affordable rain jacket, see our recommendation below. On a warm day, the lack of that thermal gradient means your jacket will not be able to tell that the outside air is cooler, so it wont move that moisture. Marmot Minimalist Jacket Review: Should You Buy It? - Expert World Travel 1. Youll see this referenced in every performance-oriented rain jacket on the market, typically seen as: 2L, 2.5L or 3L. Rave reviews from professionals and everyday folks alike secure this jackets spo tas a winner. First, we focused on sources that tested and rated both of them, like OutdoorGearLab, and learned that they all showed a preference for the Marmot Minimalist. Rain jacket layer technology works by using thermal gradients to move warm moisture vapor from inside your jacket to cooler air outside your jacket. But thru-hikers know they'll be living in their rain jacket at some point or another on their journey, so will appreciate choosing the Versalite. When these professional reviews overlapped, we checked Amazon, REI, and Backcountry customer reviews of those rain jackets, and compared those reviews to our own experiences testing some of these models. The zippers are waterproof and all of them have storm flaps that protect them from the weather. That said, its important to manage your expectations when it comes to a rain jackets breathability and ventilation options. This adds a bit of bulk than a comparable 2.5 layer, but increases durability and further improves moisture wicking and next-to-skin feel. Its versatility in a number of conditions--rain, wind, and hanging out--make it a smart choice if you only own one rain jacket. In theory, we agree with them, but in practice, that might be a different story. What We Don't: Price. The Marmot Minimalist jacket caught my eye late last year. Over the past few years, there have been a growing number of waterproof rain jackets featuring built-in stretch. We expect every pocket (at least on the outside) to be a zippered pocket so rain cant find its way in. That comfort meant our tester got double use out of itshe thinks its perfect as a wind shell, too, making it a constant companion on her hikes, no matter the weather. Additionally, they have waterproof taping along the seams on the interior of the jacket. Warranty Related Issues: 1-888-311-2900, Mon-Fri, 12PM - 4PM EST Despite claims of being waterproof and breathable, many rain jackets are just plain stuffy. Higher numbers mean a more water-resistant fabric. Cotopaxi gives it a 10K waterproof rating, which generally correlates to only light protection against moisture. The Patagonia Torrentshell is one of the most popular jackets out there, and for good reason. Then we tested them in in Pacific Northwest such as the Oregon Coast Trail all the way to the Appalachian Trail, and in conditions from drizzly daily commutes to mountaintop downpours. I used the Torrentshell 3L on my Blue Mountains Trail thru-hike in September, Naomi mentioned. Perfect for your next rainy outdoor adventure, it features GORE-TEX Paclite technology, which offers a wind-blocking hydrophobic membrane and weight-minimizing comfort. Photo by Mike Unger. Read more about us. MSRP: $179 WEIGHT: 14.1 oz. Plus, Marmot makes sure you get a full range of motion without moving the hem above your waistline. Weight: 13.9 oz (mens), 12.5 oz (womens), What we liked: 3-layer waterproof jacket for a reasonable price, eco-friendly, lifetime warranty, well-featured with pockets, pit zips, versatility for town and trail, What we didn't like: heavier than many rain jackets. You might also like: The Best Rain Jackets Under $50 Material and Other Details. 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. A jackets ability to keep you cool is greatly enhanced with the inclusion of pit zips, which we discuss further below. We loved the mens and womens Marmot Minimalist in earlier rain jacket reviews and our own years of testing make us think this is still a great jacket. Category: HikingWeight: 6.3 oz.Waterproofing: 2.5L Pertex Shield Diamond FuseWhat we like: Ultralight yet reasonably tough.What we dont: Too streamlined for around-town use; doesnt breathe very well. On the outside of Layer 1 is a Durable Water Repellent coating (DWR)literally water repellent that is durable, so you dont have to reapply it every time you go outand unless youve got an ultralight jacket made directly of waterproof fabric, youve got durable water repellent on the shell. In that respect, the lightweight Arc'teryx Beta would still be considered quite packable," despite lacking a stuff pocket. All told, the XeroDry is a nice option for anything from daily commuting to extended hiking trips. 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. After analyzing more than a dozen outdoor magazine gear reviews and hundreds of customer reviews, we purchased the most promising rain jackets. BLACK-DIAMOND: Extra 20% off Outlet with coupon code "OUTLET20". 7. You also get pit zips for dumping heat and a higher-quality hood with better adjustability, which are worthwhile upgrades for most hikers. Like the Marmot PreCip Eco and REI Co-op Rainier above, the TNF features a 2.5-layer construction (in this case, their in-house DryVent design), pit zips for ventilation, and an adjustable hood. Photo courtesy Tiffany Searsdodd. A few rain jackets on this list cross into the lighter end of the hardshell category, including the Outdoor Research Motive, Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0, and Arc'teryx Beta LT. A rain jackets waterproofing relies on a combination of factors: durable water repellent (DWR) coating that beads up water, and clean fabric layers on either side of the waterproof and breathable membrane to allow air vapor to pass through. The hood on the womens Outdoor Research Helium 2. . The cord wraps around the sides of your head and pins the fabric down in a uniform way when cinched, which keeps the hood on your head even in really windy conditions. Layer 2 is the real waterproof layer. How well a rain jacket packs down affects how often youll actually carry it, which in turn affects how often youll actually use it. Performance Some manufacturers succeed better than others at this concept. A utilitarian men's rain jacket: Columbia Men's . Weve tested a number of Outdoor Researchs AscentShell models over years, and the Motive is their lightest and most affordable to date. Photo by Robert Curzon. All told, the REI Rainier above edges it out slightly in comfort and value (it's often found on sale), and those wanting a high-end performance piece thats stretchy and breathable should look elsewhere, but the PreCip remains a classic choice for mixed every day and hiking use Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's Marmot PreCip Eco See the Women's Marmot PreCip Eco. Weight: 11.3 oz (mens)/ 9.5 oz (womens), What we liked: mobility, sleek look, ventilation, pockets, packability, What we didn't like: not as waterproof or breathable as other jackets. Many of the jackets in our review pack down into one of their pockets-and each of them can stow down into their hoods, as shown in this video from Wilderness Supply. And for those who dabble in climbing or mountain sports, the shell is well equipped thanks to a helmet-compatible hood, hand pockets that are accessible over a harness or hipbelt, and a slim fit. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we know a thing or two about rain.