It has all of the features most-often sought after in a rain jacket - including armpit zips, fully-lined hand pockets, and the ability to pack down into a pocket. 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. Most noticeably, it causes water droplets to bead up and roll off. Marmot Minimalist Jacket. If you listen to consumer reviews, nearly every rain jacket fails out of the box for some people. You can count on Patagonia to offer all this performance with 100% . Men's Climbing Jackets. Although it has a higher price tag as compared to some of the other jackets in this review, we think its the best bet if you foresee a lot of rain in your future. Photo by Trey French. For fast-and-light alpine trips when the forecast looks favorable, the Highline certainly can do the trick. 2.5L Pertex: Patagonia Torrentshell: 149: 394: 3L H2No: 4. How Waterproofing and Breathability Ratings Work. Photo by Mike Unger. When looking for a rain jacket, youre essentially asking for a jacket that will keep out rain but let out your sweat. That does mean, however, that your rain jacket will likely spend most of its time in your backpack or bag. Itll protect you from the elements better than most competitorsbut youll pay extra for the technology that helps you skip that half-layer. For more of our Outdoor Apparel recommendations, see our most popular Gear Guide stories: Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Why do we have The North Face Venture 2 ranked here? It can be difficult to tell which of these jackets one should purchase without having a closer look. And everyone wants to have their phone in easy reach to get a photo when that rainbow pops out of the clouds. Our tester in the Outdoor Research Helium II rain jacket. Category: Performance/hikingWeight: 8.3 oz.Waterproofing: 3L H2No Performance StandardWhat we like: Strong 3-layer performance in a minimalist package.What we dont: Not great for daily use and less of an all-rounder than the Beta above. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Just a light sprinkle, a fine mist, or intermittent rain? In cool weather, ventilation is less necessary for moisture management. broyhill autumn cove swivel glider assembly instructions. Youll feel damp, clammy, and likely a little peeved at your rain jacket. Photo by Naomi Hudetz. This designation includes big sellers like the entry-level Marmot PreCip Eco all the way up to the $400 Arcteryx Beta. Despite claims of being waterproof and breathable, many rain jackets are just plain stuffy. For example, the REI XeroDry GTX is a true 2-layer jacket made with Gore-Tex PacLite Plus technology. Price - $149. 100% seam taping, a DWR (Durable Water-Repellent) finish, an attached adjustable hood, and a . Patagonia has also added another zipper to their pit zips, meaning more customizable ventilation and easier zipping and unzipping. It may not be quite as light as its namesake, but the mens and womens Outdoor Research Helium ties with the Montbell Versalite for lightest rain jacket on our list. When saving weight is critical to your mission, choose the Marmot Minimalist jacket. Marmot Minimalist. Its a minor quibble, but if youre looking for easy packability, this one might not be for you. For its reasonable $179 MSRP, youll be hard-pressed to find a better-made, better-looking, or more protective shellRead in-depth reviewSee the Men's Patagonia Torrentshell 3L See the Women's Patagonia Torrentshell 3L. 2. Their Cielo is case in point: The rain jacket is built with a 100%-recycled shell with PFC-free DWR finish, and its vibrant color blocking and classy fit and finish make it fun to wear both on the trail and around town. And youll also see prices skyrocket for these performance pieces thanks to their high-end detailing. Perfect for your next rainy outdoor adventure, it features GORE-TEX Paclite technology, which offers a wind-blocking hydrophobic membrane and weight-minimizing comfort. The underarm zippers extend all the way down to the hems on either side. It's made with Gore-Tex PacLite and weighs a mere 15 oz. Daily Use Thats why we suggest a jacket with ventilation for warm weather. By opening up the jacket under the arms, you can release a lot of air without sacrificing the jackets waterproof design. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. It's worth noting that nearly all premium performance jackets to make our list have a 3-layer construction. The Cielo will get the job done in light rain, but in the end its one of the least capable jackets here. 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. 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. Youll often find them in entry-level styles, such as the $75 Columbia Watertight II above. 3-Layer 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. 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. What has it got in its pocketses?! Frogg Toggs Pilot 2 Jacket. 7.0. . The GORE . 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. Weve tested a number of Outdoor Researchs AscentShell models over years, and the Motive is their lightest and most affordable to date. A solid choice for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a waterproof lightweight jacket men will appreciate at a moderate price. 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 youre in a place where it hardly rains, but are still looking for a just-in-case jacket, the Marmot PreCip Eco (review above) or the Outdoor Research Helium (review above) will absolutely suit your needs. Hiking jackets are built to be light and packable to bring along on a backcountry trip, and their performance in heavy rain and wind is admirableparticularly the more substantial Gore-Tex Paclite models (including the Marmot Minimalist and Outdoor Research Foray II). Its made of the same high-end waterproofing as other high performance jackets. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission, without costing you an extra cent. Marmot gave the PreCip a light revamp fairly recently. Our Patagonia Men's Torrentshell 3L Jacket has a trusted reputation for providing exceptional waterproof/breathable performance, comfort and durability. Yes, there are lighter ultralight jackets out there. Further, the 3-layer Gore-Tex with C-Knit technology is impressively breathable, but you dont get much in the way of venting (no pit or core vents), which will be apparent on mild or particularly high-output days. Full unzipped, the jacket becomes a poncho. A longtime ultralight favorite, Outdoor Researchs Helium Rain Jacket, was overhauled a few seasons back. An affordable women's raincoat: Columbia Women's Arcadia II Rain Jacket. However, in saving some money, you give up some in material qualitywe found the XeroDrys shell cheaper-feeling and faster to absorb moisture in heavy rainfall. And while, sure, some fabrics and some jacket builds do better than others, its important to know that if youre exerting a lotparticularly in warm weatheryoure likely going to sweat at least a little bit. It uses a weather resistant Aqua-Text Zipper and has a 3-way adjustable hood that rolls up to prevent flapping in the wind. As a result, daily use jackets are either budget-oriented or designed with style in mind, and some of our favorites include the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L (which crosses over nicely into the hiking category below) and Marmot Minimalist. Credit Cards. The expected outside ambient air temperature is one of the biggest factors to consider when buying a rain jacket. Category: Daily use/hikingWeight: 13 oz.Waterproofing: 2L Gore-Tex PacliteWhat we like: Good-looking and solid Gore-Tex protection at a great price.What we dont: Current version feels cheaper than predecessors. Despite the Gore Tex Paclite's superior breathability, that's a feature we still want. Finally, we've had consistent issues with the jacket wetting out fairly quickly in heavy rainfall (it's also slow to dry). In addition to the waterproof membrane, another key piece of a rain jackets protection is its durable water repellent finish (commonly referred to as DWR). 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. So how do I know how waterproof a rain jacket is? burger . Youll see this referenced in every performance-oriented rain jacket on the market, typically seen as: 2L, 2.5L or 3L. If you do a lot of night running or running in low-light conditions, see our Best Reflective Running Gear List for accessories that can augment the reflective details of any of the running jackets we recommend. This jacket is more protective and durable than previous versions of the Torrentshell. Fully-lined pockets are better for cooler weather, and also wont allow any water to leak through to your torso if your pockets are open. On the other hand, weve seen what can happen to rain jackets after a few hard seasons of mechanical wear from scrunching. The North Face Lightriser Futurelight is a running jacket is the most breathable running rain jacket we found. Pockets are often way too small for most phones, which is one reason why many adventurers prefer smaller phones. Treeline editor Naomi Hudetz hiking the Elk Crest Trail section of her Blue Mountains Trail thru-hike in the Torrentshell. Best Performance Balance: Marmot Minimalist Rain Jacket. 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. And it still doesn't have pit zips. $148 AT TENTREE.COM. The rain gear field of contenders (which also includes the nebulous terms "rain shell" and "hardshell jacket"), was much broader than other gear categories weve published here at Treeline Review thus far. Plus, it features the all-important pit zips for ventilation and pockets for hand warmth. (And, if youre looking for a sale, our links reflect hours of searching for the best deals on our recommended picks and prices that include shipping and returns.). A longstanding favorite in the rain shell market, Marmots Minimalist balances classy looks with solid Gore-Tex protection. Have a larger hairstyle? A jackets ability to keep you cool is greatly enhanced with the inclusion of pit zips, which we discuss further below. Gear Patrol adds to the list of quality features, saying it repels water on par with more expensive jackets.. Our Patagonia Women's Torrentshell 3L Jacket has a trusted reputation for providing exceptional waterproof/breathable performance, comfort and durability. One notable exception is a jacket like the Patagonia Calcite that uses Gore-Texs Paclite Plus, which has a minimalist, protective treatment on the interior in place of a hanging liner to minimize weight and bulk. You may have heard about rain jackets needing to breathe. Breathability in a rain jacket means your garment takes sweat and moisture vapor from inside your jacket and moves them to the outside of Layer 1, where they ideally can evaporate. But we do appreciate Cotopaxis effort towards sustainably built outerwear, and their rain jacket is undeniably good-looking for a budget piece. Called the Hydrostatic Head Pressure test, it measures water permeability for fabrics. For years, the PreCip has been a reliable standby hiking rain jacket available in relatively inclusive sizing-and the updated Eco model reflects care for the environment, as its made of recycled materials and uses a PFC-free DWR coating (durable water repellent). How well a rain jacket packs down affects how often youll actually carry it, which in turn affects how often youll actually use it. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is the newest version of Patagonia's mega-popular and value-focused line of Torrentshell jackets. A lightweight jacket will better serve you in multiple situations from hiking through an autumn storm to tossing in a suitcase to travel. Layer 2 is the real waterproof layer. In testing, material quality has been a common theme: Everything from the thick-toothed main zipper to the pit zips and three-way adjustable hood have a solid and reliable feel. Seems a little strangenearly every place gets rain, after allbut where youre playing outside will determine what kind of jacket youre looking for. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a27a6cd5b073a7f Casual users appreciate a couple of hand pockets, and thats one of the most notable omissions in using an ultralight shell for daily use. This measurement tests both general water repellency as well as performance under pressure. This is the amount of water in a 1-inch-diameter vertical tube that the material can withstand without leaking. On the lightweight end of the spectrum are hiking-ready shells like the Arc'teryx Beta and Outdoor Research Motive (10.6 and 10.9 oz., respectively), while designs that are more feature-rich and durable for crossing over for daily wear often add a bit of weight (including the 14.1-oz.