Columbia Hikebound II Review

The cost of a rain layer has become staggeringly high, but with much more affordable models like the Columbia Hikebound II, you can get into your next jacket without draining your bank account. It's not the highest-performing jacket in our review, but for the price, many will find its performance to work well for their needs.

Performance Comparison

Water Resistance

With only a 2-layer construction and an average polyester material, the Hikebound II is simply not going to take home any gold stars in this metric. However, it does have good enough water resistance for many uses, especially when considering its price point.

In shower testing, the Hikebound II held up surprisingly well, with 18" total surface area of wet spots while simulating a downpour. For context, this was comparable to several higher-end models that leaned more towards breathability and mobility. In field testing, the Hikebound performed similarly, though we stayed completely dry in more moderate rain showers in our backyard mountains and while spending an evening walking drizzly city streets. When wind was thrown into the mix, it was easy to cinch down the hood, cuffs, and hem to reduce the amount of water coming in at the openings. If you log days and days of rainy hikes or climbs, this isn't for you, but if you're a more fairweather outdoors person, this jacket might be just right.

Breathability

The inner layer is mesh, and the outer is a fairly thick polyester shell that made for a less comfy layer when we started huffing uphill. It's great for casual strolls or hikes in lighter rain, but if you need a rain layer for super active endeavors, you might need to look elsewhere.

As a heavyweight jacket with limited ventilation, none of our review team was surprised by the results of the Hikebound in this metric. We saw a considerable number of sweat spots in our standardized uphill circuit. In real-world testing, we further confirmed that the Hikebound simply runs hot. There are no pit zips, but its relaxed fit encourages some airflow.

Comfort and Mobility

We loved the Hikebound's relaxed fit, which let us move our upper body any which way we wanted. While the excess fabric was prone to bunching, this model still came in above average.

Columbia generally offers a nice relaxed fit in much of their clothing, and the Hikebound II is another great example of this cut. We had zero restrictions and thoroughly enjoyed wearing this layer for extended sessions, from brewery evenings to afternoon hikes. The inner mesh lining was surprisingly comfortable against our skin, even if only wearing a t-shirt underneath. When we wanted a more precise fit in the arms and hem, it was easy to use the velcro cuffs and elastic to get the Hikebound fitting just right, though it's not as ideal for climbing with a harness due to extra bunching at the waist.

Weight

This is simply not a lightweight layer. We've tested many ultralight rain jackets, and this is the opposite of that. However, if you're not lugging it up a rock face or thru hiking a long-distance trail, you're unlikely to mind these extra ounces. Smaller adventures might not warrant ultralight gear, and the Hikebound's weight won't be an issue for some.

The Hikebound II weighs a whopping 18 ounces, making it twice as heavy as some of the competition. The tradeoff is that it's durable, and we didn't notice the extra weight while wearing it. If you aren't a gram counter and don't need to carry your rain gear for miles in a backpack, the heft of the Hikebound II might not be a deal breaker.

Construction Quality

Budget garments sometimes lack quality materials, but the Hikebound II offers a robust polyester construction that held up very well throughout testing. While this model doesn't offer the best liner, it's a bargain-priced layer that held up just as well as some of the more expensive rain jackets.

While we would have loved to see 2.5 or even 3 layers, Columbia made a fairly road-tough jacket with the 2-layer Hikebound. Brushing against rock and trees while backpacking and hiking, this layer didn't even flinch, and when following the manufacturer's care instructions, we didn't see any noticeable changes in weather resistance throughout testing. After polling our friends and family, we confirmed that the Hikebound is also a fairly stylish jacket for city hangs.

The adjustability of the Hikebound was another well-loved aspect, with easy-to-use shock cord pulls that didn't break on any of our gear experts, though we always encourage being more gentle with these jacket adjustments. The pocket layout of the Hikebound was also well done, with a generous chest pocket for quick phone access and large hand pockets, though these were harder to access under the hip belt of a pack.

Should You Buy the Columbia Hikebound II?

If you need to find a casual rain jacket and are shopping on a skinny wallet, the Hikebound II should be on your shortlist. It's hard to find a budget-friendly coat that's this durable and looks this good. We wouldn't rely on it for more intense outdoor missions, because it's heavier and less water resistant than some of the premium jackets we tested, but depending on your intended uses, its weight might hardly even be noticed.

What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?