Keep a close eye on features and try to match them to your intended use and budget.Pockets If you plan to climb in your rain jacket, look for one with a helmet-compatible hood. After analyzing more than a dozen outdoor magazine gear reviews and hundreds of customer reviews, we purchased the most promising rain jackets. For fast-and-light alpine trips when the forecast looks favorable, the Highline certainly can do the trick. All of our rain jackets have hand pockets save one: the Outdoor Research Helium, again, likely to save on weight. Category: Hiking/performanceWeight: 13.2 oz.Waterproofing: 2.5-layer Pertex ShieldWhat we like: Hardwearing Pertex Shield and weather-resistant zippers at a low price point.What we dont: No chest pocket; left-hand zipper takes some getting used to. The Marmot PreCip Eco is rated at 10,000 mm and the Outdoor Research Helium is rated at 15,000 mm. But dont just throw it away and buy a new one if its well used and soaking through! Three names, two zippers, one delightful function: keeping you just a little cooler. (Of course, you can always put it in a stuffsack or ziplock bag to get a similar effect). Arc'teryx has used its extensive knowledge in waterproofing technology to create a lightweight and feature-packed rain jacket. For example, we often rely on customer reviews to understand how these jackets fit a diversity of bodies beyond the body type of our own testers. 9 Best Waterproof Rain Jackets of 2021 - Mountain Weekly News Take time out of your adventures to adequately dry your rain jacket after it gets wet, when you can. Velcro adjustable cuffs can be made wider than your wrist, allowing most of that rain to drip onto the ground instead of your hands. For comparison's sake, our top-ranked Patagonia Torrentshell 3L weighs 12.4 ounces and is about 1.5 times the size of the Norrna when packed into its pocket. Weight: 6.3 oz (mens) / 5.6 oz (womens). Patagonia shook up the rain jacket market with the release of its Torrentshell 3L a few years ago. Tack on REIs excellent warranty and a wide range of colorways and available sizes, and you get a quality rain shell for anything from city commutes to summer hiking and backpacking trips. We expect every pocket (at least on the outside) to be a zippered pocket so rain cant find its way in. 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. the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L, was one of the less expensive ones at $149. But it's $400 MSRPwell above our price limit for this piece. The best estimates we could find are external lab tests measuring it up against other brands of waterproof-breathable material at 16190 mm/24 hours. The Helium skips the pit zips to save on weight, and its the lightest jacket in our review at a scant 6.3 oz. The Foray was lightly updated last spring, and the II features a lower weight, modernized design and colorways, and availability in a wider range of sizes (S to XXXL). You also get useful backcountry features like pit zips and a stuff pocket, and its adjustable hood provides full coverage in a rainstorm. The Flight Futurelight also has more limited sizing than other jackets we consideredXS to XL. At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. One of the most sought-after features in a waterproof rain jacket is breathability: the ability for perspiration and other moisture to exit the jacket without outside water coming in. With a recent reconfiguration of their lineup, theyve moved their rain shells away from the Zeta collection into the versatile Beta series. The fabricwhich our tester raved about. As a result of the tough builds, youll see these hardshells being used for anything from mountaineering to backcountry skiing. But is the Calcite worth its $299 price tag? A jackets ability to keep you cool is greatly enhanced with the inclusion of pit zips, which we discuss further below. This is an especially great budget option because it is made . 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. If you value comfort and stretchiness in a rain jacket, its pretty ideal. Do womens models have a long enough torso for tall women or a wide enough size range for plus-size women? It might sound pretty science-y for the uncontrolled conditions youll be in, but we promise itll give you a good idea of how well a rain jacket will protect you from the elements. But the Marmot PreCip is holding its own with a lower price point and great weather protection. Marmot Minimalist. Its made of the same high-end waterproofing as other high performance jackets. The men's and women's Black Diamond Stormline Stretch is our winner for Best Stretchy Rain Jacket. 21 Best Waterproof Jackets of 2023 | What is Waterproof? - DIVEIN MENU MENU. For a similar concept but with a more durable, around-town-friendly build, check out TNFs Resolve 2Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's The North Face Venture 2 See the Women's The North Face Venture 2. Some cheaper rain jackets are barely breathable at all, but almost all of the fabrics used in todays models are at least somewhat breathable and promoted as such. And the upside to Gore Infinium is excellent breathability for the weight, which makes the Versatile a great option for long days of hiking (its no coincidence that its a part of Montbells thru-hiking collection). face oil for gua sha; The Beta below will save you over 3 ounces and $50, and many users will appreciate the more simplified feature set. That incredible lightness of being comes from a lack of the usual features: the Helium has no armpit zips for ventilation and no hand pockets, though there is a chest pocket that the jacket can pack down into. $159 - $160 . 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). In fact, they are both made of Gore-Tex and function in much the same way to make them waterproof. Photo by Trey French. BLACK-DIAMOND: Extra 20% off Outlet with coupon code "OUTLET20". As always, if you can try it on before you buy, youll likely be happier. Marmot vs Patagonia: {Head-to-Head Comparison in 2022} June 26, 2022. The Best Mens Lightweight Waterproof Jackets: Gear Guide - Ze Wandering Elastic cuffs arent ideal: when the rain runs down your arms, it gets wicked directly onto your hands, regardless of the length of your sleeves. We use affiliate links, and may receive a commission if you purchase a product through our links. FREE delivery Wed, Mar 8 . And last we checked, it was out of stock. $77 - $250 (4) Arc'teryx Squamish Hoody. When choosing which rain jackets made our top picks list, we made the best choices we could with our own testing and other information available. 10 Best Rain Jackets For Hiking + Backpacking In 2023 Layer 2 also cant do its job if Layer 1 is saturated with water. And we gotta say, it looks sleek too - yet another reason it landed as our winner. Men's and women's The North Face Lightriser is our winner for Best Waterproof Running Jacket for its excellent balance of weather protection and breathability. Best 2020 Rain Jackets. Category: Daily use/hikingWeight: 10.6 oz.Waterproofing: 2.5L NanoProWhat we like: Proven performance for a great price.What we dont: Feels more plasticky than many of the more modern jackets here. Specs. The Helium packs into its own chest pocket with a carabiner loop for easy transport for "just-in-case-it-rains" days on hikes or for keeping in a car for emergencies. The Highline sticks to BDs roots with a climbing helmet-compatible hood (its too small for a standard ski helmet) and includes useful features like pit zips, hand pockets, and a tall collar. That's a reason why even though this is a higher-end rain jacket, we'd give it the award for Best Plus Size Rain Jacket. It may be tempting to go with the super-budget ultralight rain jacket: men's and women's Frogg Toggs rain gear. of reviewers. People sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between things that are cold and things that are wet. The Minimalist and the Foray utilize polyester face fabrics with a much longer-lasting Gore-Tex Paclite membrane. Better yet, trail running is an immensely easy sport to get into. Patagonia Torrentshell 3L vs Marmot Minimalist Rain Jacket One downside? Having an adjustable hem at the base of your jacket lets you secure it nice and tight so it won't ride up during movement. Best Overall Rain Jacket 1. And among true ultralight designs, the Falketind is particularly well rounded: The Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket weighs just 6.3 ounces, but it lacks the Norrna's premium . We also like it when pockets are large enough to store your phone and/or snacks. And (no surprise), 2.5-layer jackets are a heckuva lot more lightweight and affordable than most full 3-layer jackets. Similarly, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is said to start at 20,000 mm-though after their Killer Wash treatment, which simulates what they presume to be years of heavy use, that degrades down to about 10,000 mm. 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. (Not bad when some have a $450-700 asking price.) In creating a waterproof jacket specifically designed to keep moisture out, there are natural restrictions on the air being held inside. Climbing. Dinesh Kumar. Be sure to bring your hands to shoulder height to test how far the sleeves ride up while youre moving. You can just roll it up into its own hood to protect the thinner fabric in your pack. Our favorite from their collection is the Downpour Plus 2.0, which offers a strong dose of performance at a very reasonable price point. 8.0. The cut of the jacket is the same as the one on the Helium IIso its not long enough to cover some puffy coatsand youll likely need to size up if you want to wear a warm layer (like a fleece jacket) underneath. 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.. BACKCOUNTRY.COM: New Customers - Take 15% Off One Full Price Item. Sport. Its a 20D 81 g/m face fabric, fully recycled polyester with a soft, tacky feel unlike most slick and swishy rain jacket fabrics. Constant downpours in the forecast for the seven days of your trip? Patagonia Torrentshell vs. Marmot PreCip: A Detailed Comparison In addition, the single side waist adjuster means the jacket feels uneven when pulled tight. Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket. Of note: OR also offers the 3-layer Helium AscentShell ($399), which combines the Heliums durable fabric with a more breathable AscentShell membrane Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's Outdoor Research Helium Rain See the Women's OR Helium Rain. But it serves the same purpose as Layer 3: protecting that layer-2 membrane from oil, dirt, and other junk. It's right at the $300 price limit we set in this piece, but is one of our favorite pieces of gear. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Plus, the proprietary BD.Dry fabric has some stretch to it, giving an already roomy jacket a little more give. Copyright 2023 Treeline Review LLC. That said, its important to manage your expectations when it comes to a rain jackets breathability and ventilation options. The Flight Lightriser Futurelight manages running in the rain and wet weather rather effectively. The hood on the mens Outdoor Research Helium 2. 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. 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. Layer 3 also helps water move from the warm inner of your jacket to the cool environment outside through the thermal gradient. To be sure, Gore-Texs Paclite Plus is one of the most premium membranes used in rain jackets, and more durable, comfortable, and breathable than standard Paclite (as seen in jackets like the Marmot Minimalist and OR Foray II above). That said, velcro adjustable cuffs weigh more, so its worth thinking about what youre using the jacket for. 4. Black Diamond took the plunge into the rain shell market with their StormLine. (Taped seams and a waterproof zipper also help you stay completely dry.) Of all the jackets the Patagonia Torrentshell is the best performer in the rain. How to Buy a Hiking Rain Jacket - SectionHiker.com The DWR coating on the outside of the jacket is stellar and holds up better than most of the other jackets in this price range. Its a close call between the two, but as long as you can get a good fit, we think the REIs modest improvements in comfort and durability give it the edge.See the Men's REI Co-op Rainier See the Women's REI Co-op Rainier. The Marmot Precip rain jacket features a brim along its hood. We are proud to be independent and reader-supported. Minimalist - Marmot Lets start with layers, what they do, and why they matter. But we think the vast majority of folks will find the Torrentshell to be a near-perfect match for everyday and light backcountry use. 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. 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. If youre thinking about your environmental impact, the Torrentshell 3L is one of the best jackets you can buy. But it does prevent some dirt, oil, and abrasion from degrading the efficacy of your jacket. Patagonia Torrentshell 3L. Both of these rain jackets have a regular fit, which means they are a bit loose, hanging . (Dont believe us? Photo by Robert Curzon. Yes: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L: $149: 12.5 oz. This jacket was one of the more breathable jackets we tested, but its pockets like many others weren't . The North Face Futurelight is the exception to the trend in rain jackets. What are the compromises in choosing the Helium Rain? So how do I know how waterproof a rain shell is? By qbcore server for sale. Whereas the Beta LT features a burly shell that's purpose-built to handle winter weather and sustained wet conditions, the Storm10 is more suitable for summer alpine environments. Since we were evaluating lightweight rain jackets in this gear review, pretty much everything was best packable rain jackets. For a reasonable $199, that adds up to a whole lot of jacket. It is lightweight, but that does not stop the jacket from performing well. 6. Click to reveal The hood is roomy and two-way adjustable, it now stows with a simple hook, and it features a fleece-lined neck for added comfort. 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. At 6.3 ozthe lightest of the jackets we considered the Versalite still has all the features we want including 2 hand pockets and pit zips. 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. Your conditions, the expected weather, and temperatures will influence your decision on which rain jacket to choose. The Patagonia Torrentshell jacket is another pullover option that combines practicality with style. Typically done with a cord and toggle, theyre very user-friendly. Your jacket will stop being able to breatheand all that moisture next to your skin is there to stay. The North Face Resolve 2 Jacket. On the other hand, weve seen what can happen to rain jackets after a few hard seasons of mechanical wear from scrunching. 80 degrees and raining on a humid East Coast hike in July will require a very different rain jacket than is useful when its 35 degrees and raining in the Canadian Rockies. Marmot Precip vs Patagonia Torrentshell Rain Jacket Comparison [2019]