(Sensing a trend?) 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). $59 - $179 (1) Patagonia PowSlayer Jacket Snowsport Jacket / Waterproof $346 - $699 (1) Rab Phantom Waterproof Pull-On . The only thing its missing compared to the Minimalist is a chest pocket and the Minimalist offers womens plus size options, whereas Patagonia has yet to do so. Now I know the Marmot is a GTX PacLite 2.5 which means it's very reliant on its DWR performance. There are two reasons to clean your rain jacket. This Marmot jacket might be called Minimalist, but its features are anything but that. Weve tested a number of Outdoor Researchs AscentShell models over years, and the Motive is their lightest and most affordable to date. The ultimate expression of how effective a pit zip can be is the Outdoor Research Foray II. Photo by Robert Curzon. One criterion that guided us was a commitment to finding a lightweight jacket (as compared to a raincoat) that we felt was on the more affordable end of the gear buying spectrum. On the other hand, weve seen what can happen to rain jackets after a few hard seasons of mechanical wear from scrunching. At just 6.3 ounces for the heavier mens medium, its essentially half the weight of each of our other winners. The Stormline Stretch is good not only for a downpour, but for wind as well - and its soft and comfortable to boot. Weighing just 6.4 ounces, their Versalite rain jacket is a prime example: You get impressive breathability, good comfort, and features like pit zips and hand pockets for around $250. 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. Category: Daily use/hikingWeight: 14.1 oz.Waterproofing: 3L H2No Performance StandardWhat we like: 3-layer performance, quality materials, and good looks at an excellent price.What we dont: A bit crinkly and stiff; no chest pocket. Your jacket isn't as waterproof or breathable as it should be. We mentioned that the XeroDry is a great value, and for reference, the next-most-affordable Paclite models are Marmot's Minimalist at $199 and ORs Foray II above at $225. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission, without costing you an extra cent. Youll see one side cinch on ultralights when the manufacturer is trying to cut some weight. Patagonia shook up the rain jacket market with the release of its Torrentshell 3L a few years ago. The hardwearing 3-layer build offers excellent protection and durability, you get a wide Running on varied and challenging trails is a welcome break from the monotony of pounding pavement (or even worse, the belt of atreadmill). Then we took a look at the highest review scores that these two Rain Jackets received. Despite the Gore Tex Paclite's superior breathability, that's a feature we still want. To show you only the most rave-reviewed rain jackets for your outdoor adventures, we compared reviews from Adventure Alan, Adventure Junkies, The Big Outside, Greenbelly, Clever Hiker, Gear Patrol, Outdoor Gear Lab (two separate guides), Outside Online, REI, Section Hiker, The Strategist (two separate guides), and Switchback Travel (see Sources). BLACK-DIAMOND: Extra 20% off Outlet with coupon code "OUTLET20". The fabricwhich our tester raved about. Professional reviewers raved about the REI XeroDry GTX. 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. Pockets are often way too small for most phones, which is one reason why many adventurers prefer smaller phones. One of our favorites is the Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket (click here for best deal).The Torrentshell is a very simple-looking jacket but it has some very cool features that make . Better yet, trail running is an immensely easy sport to get into. It uses a weather resistant Aqua-Text Zipper and has a 3-way adjustable hood that rolls up to prevent flapping in the wind. Bluesign works at each step in the textile supply chain to approve chemicals, processes, materials, and products that are safe for the environment, safe for workers and safe for the end customers.. 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. Hardshell jackets, in contrast to the hiking rain jackets weve listed above, are made for truly extreme conditions. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a27a6cd5b073a7f $77 - $250 (4) Arc'teryx Squamish Hoody. So for folks looking to upgrade from a Marmot Minimalist, we recommend if sizing options allow, that you look no further than the Torrentshell 3L. But while it offers all the performance most hikers need, its simplified design does make a few sacrifices. We love what Outdoor Research has done with the Foray (and womens Aspire), a do-it-all rain jacket that can even work as a lightweight shell for spring skiing. Second, the main zipper has a coil design that lacks the smooth, confidence-inspiring action of the Marmot and REI. While this is great, its doesnt necessarily mean the jacket is that packable. The North Face states that the Futurelight uses their premium waterproof-breathable technology, and we believe it. Weight: 6.3 oz (mens) / 5.6 oz (womens). After analyzing more than a dozen outdoor magazine gear reviews and hundreds of customer reviews, we purchased the most promising rain jackets. So what does it mean when your jacket is 2.5-layer? And we gotta say, it looks sleek too - yet another reason it landed as our winner. It's worth noting that nearly all premium performance jackets to make our list have a 3-layer construction. A final note related to DWR is that there has been a recent push to move away from traditional coatings that use perfluorocarbons, which is a chemical that has been linked to environmental and health issues. Learn more. Finally, we've had consistent issues with the jacket wetting out fairly quickly in heavy rainfall (it's also slow to dry). The Patagonia Torrentshell jacket's 3-layer construction with 50-denier ECONYL recycled nylon ripstop is sturdy and held up well through the testing process. REI Rainier - Women's. $100. Category: Hiking/performanceWeight: 10.6 oz.Waterproofing: 3L Gore-TexWhat we like: Premium weather protection alongside a casual feature set.What we dont: Relatively thin, no pit zips or helmet-compatible hood. The single cinch does mean if you really have to tighten the jacket, it will pull a bit to one side, but its often negligible and worth the weight savings. It was our previous overall winner, but given the value of the newer 3-layer more-waterproof Patagonia Torrentshell, we think it's a better choice for most folks who are ok living without the additional stretch of this Black Diamond jacket. 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. Still, it seemed to work well enough in conjunction with the superior breathability of the Gore Tex Paclite over proprietary waterproofing materials. The rain jackets in our review range from $100 to $300, with three out of four at or below $160. A standard expression of waterproofing measures the amount of liquid (water, snow, rain, sleet) in millimeters (mm/24 hours) that can be suspended on the fabric in a one-inch square tube before liquid starts to soak through over a 24-hour period. Your conditions, the expected weather, and temperatures will influence your decision on which rain jacket to choose. $148 AT TENTREE.COM. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L jacket is an iconic waterproof and breathable hardshell jacket. Weather doesnt just mean rain. At $185, the Downpour Plus 2.0 slides in between popular rain jackets like the Patagonia Torrentshell above and Marmot Minimalist below. Its just not as natural a landing spot for your hands. Most rain jackets fold down into their zippered hand warming pocket. Photo by Robert Curzon. Marmot Minimalist. 100% seam taping, a DWR (Durable Water-Repellent) finish, an attached adjustable hood, and a . Layer 2 also cant do its job if Layer 1 is saturated with water. The one complaint we have about the REI XeroDry GTX is while it has two hand pockets, it doesnt pack down into either of them. 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. Jumping to a 3-layer jacket also involves a significant increase in price (one exception is Patagonia's $179 Torrentshell 3L), and most often these are big name designs, like Gore-Tex or eVent. 3. 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. 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. All told, if youre looking for versatile rain and snow protection but dont want to spring for a full-on Gore-Tex Pro hardshell, the Beta LT is hard to beat Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's Arc'teryx Beta LT See the Women's Arc'teryx Beta LT. Category: Daily use/hikingWeight: 13 oz.Waterproofing: 2.5L PeakWhat we like: Great price for a solid all-around design; wide range of colors and sizes.What we dont: Fits very big, so we ended up sizing down. The Outdoor Research Helium does not have pit zips. You'll want an adjustable hood. Thatll leave more room for your do. It also doesn't have a women's version. Frogg Toggs Pilot 2 Jacket. Photo by John Carr. If youre noticing that the jacket isnt beading up water anymore and putting it in the dryer for a short stretch doesnt fix the problem, you may need to reapply some DWR (this is common as the coating diminishes over time). Gore-Tex fabrics often have much higher ratingsbut as the rating goes up, the price usually does, too. In our testing, we found the Black Diamond Stormline Stretch to be a packable jacket that is lightweight (11.3 oz for the heavier mens), stretchy, comfortable, and has an adjustable hood that fits a bike or climbing helmet. One downside? They share their supplier information with consumers, including the specifics of how and where the Torrentshell is made. Weighing in at 411 Grams and coated with 2.5 layers of heavy-duty Gore-Tex, weight and packability aren't the Calcite's biggest strength. The downsides our tester shared were pretty technical. The 3L design has also improved the jacket's breathability compared to previous . This jacket provides a robust defense against mother nature, pairing Gore-Texs 2.5-layer Paclite Plus with a durable 75-denier plain-weave polyester. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. . ", 42F and dumping rain, running alongside the creek and Juniper Pines in the Eastern Sierra in The North Face Lightriser. Released last year, the Arcteryx Beta offers a nice middle ground for those who want the premium weather protection of the Beta LT above alongside a more casual feature set. Its still a developing technology and key brands like Patagonia havent made the full switch yet (for more, heres Patagonias breakdown of the process), but PFC-free options are becoming more prevalent on the market. Sufficient weather protection in heavy rain in a variety of climates. Make sure you think about whats best for you before you buy. While they dont think it quite matches up to breathability of ultra-premium shells, the Stormline Stretch breathes better than other shells around its price.