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Columbia Arcadia II - Women's Review

A decent casual rain jacket offering protection for when you have to go out in the rain, but lacks breathability for outdoor enthusiasts
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Columbia Arcadia II - Women's Review (The Colombia Arcadia II offers decent rain protection for mellow activities.)
The Colombia Arcadia II offers decent rain protection for mellow activities.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Price:  $75 List
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Manufacturer:   Columbia
By Jessica Albery ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 4, 2022
45
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#12 of 12
  • Water Resistance - 30% 5.0
  • Breathability - 25% 3.0
  • Comfort and Mobility - 20% 4.0
  • Weight - 15% 5.9
  • Durability - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Colombia Arcadia II will get the job done if you need protection from the elements for mellow activities like running errands, commuting to work, or hanging around camp. With no pit zips, it lacks breathability and ventilation, so it's not one of our top-rated women's rain jackets for the outdoor enthusiast looking to stay dry and sweat-free while hiking, biking, or kayaking. However, the price tag is reasonable for a simple, well-made rain jacket and won't break the bank.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Simplistic design
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor ventilation
Less comfortable
Editor's Note: We retested the Colombia Arcadia II for this review update, publishing our findings here on October 4, 2022.

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Bottom Line A good causal layer to keep you dry when you have to run errands in the rain, but lacks breathability for more active outdoor adventuresWith its well-rounded balance of performance and comfort, this all-around top performer is built to withstand whatever mother nature has up her sleeveA quality rain jacket offering exceptional water resistance and performance that will hold up to the wildest weatherA reliable rain jacket that offers great value for good performance at a reasonable priceAn easy-to-use rain jacket that combines functionality and value at a reasonable price point
Rating Categories Columbia Arcadia II... Outdoor Research As... Patagonia Torrentsh... Marmot PreCip Eco -... REI Rainier - Women's
Water Resistance (30%)
5.0
9.5
9.0
7.0
6.0
Breathability (25%)
3.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
5.0
Comfort and Mobility (20%)
4.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
Weight (15%)
5.9
6.4
5.2
7.3
5.8
Durability (10%)
6.0
9.5
9.0
7.0
7.0
Specs Columbia Arcadia II... Outdoor Research As... Patagonia Torrentsh... Marmot PreCip Eco -... REI Rainier - Women's
Measured Weight 11.2 oz 10.5 oz 12.2 oz 9.2 oz 11.4 oz
Waterproof Fabric Material 2-layer Omni-Tech (proprietary material) 2-layer Gore-Tex Paclite 3-layer 50D H2No Performance Standard ECONYL (propriatary material) with a PFC-free DWR finish 2.5-layer PFC-free NanoPro (proprietary material) 2.5-layer HydroWall (proprietary material) with non-PFC DWR finish
Pockets 2 zippered hand 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest 2 zippered hand 2 zippered hand 2 zippered hand, 2 interior drop-in
Pit Zips No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stows into Pocket Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Helmet Compatible Hood No No No No No
Additional Features Adjustable hood, chin guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem Adjustable cinching hood, YKK Aquaguard zippers, internal front storm flap, elastic drawcord hem, adjustable Velcro cuffs, TorsoFlo 2-way side vents, key clip Dual adjustable and stowable hood, microfleece-lined neck, external and internal zipper storm flaps, chin zipper guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, drawcord hem, carabiner clip-in loop Adjustable stowable hood, DriClime-lined chin guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem Adjustable hood, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem, brushed collar lining

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Colombia Arcadia II is a simple, minimalist rain jacket offering the essentials to keep the wearer dry in the elements. The 2-layer Omni-Tech plain weave nylon fabric offers acceptable rain protection from the elements, and the hood offers decent coverage to keep the face dry. The mesh lining and membrane did little to vent excess internal heat and moisture, and we missed pit zips to quickly dump heat.

Performance Comparison


columbia arcadia ii for women - the colombia arcadia is a good basic rain jacket that can stand up...
The Colombia Arcadia is a good basic rain jacket that can stand up to light to moderate rain for passive activities.
Credit: Jessica Albery

Water Resistance


The hood of the Arcadia offers decent coverage, with a visor that overhangs the face to keep water off and a drawcord that cinches down snugly around the head. The water resistance of the nylon fabric is acceptable for short amounts of time in light to moderate rain, though this is not the rain jacket we would choose for extended periods of time in a torrential downpour.

columbia arcadia ii for women - the arcadia holds up to light to moderate percipitation.
The Arcadia holds up to light to moderate percipitation.
Credit: Jessica Albery

Breathability


The Arcadia falls short when it comes to breathability. The 2-layer Omni-Tech fabric's membrane and nylon mesh lining do little to wick internal sweat, leaving testers feeling damp and uncomfortable while hiking. This garment is lacking pit zips, and we found we rapidly got hot and sweaty on our set route test, where we hiked a mile uphill with the zippers closed. To dump any heat and get a breeze, the wearer has to unzip the front, leaving underlayers exposed to precipitation.

columbia arcadia ii for women - without pit vents, the wearer is forced to unzip the front to dump...
Without pit vents, the wearer is forced to unzip the front to dump excess heat.
Credit: Jessica Albery

Comfort and Mobility


The fit manages to be flattering while still offering a full range of motion for easy movement. The longer length offers great coverage even when reaching arms overhead or bending over. Without a chin guard, the exposed zipper at the chin was scratchy and uncomfortable. The jacket stuffs into one pocket, and for some mystifying reason this pocket is not as deep as the other one, so when both hands are in the pockets it feels bizarre to have one go deeper than the other. The last little detail that negatively affected comfort was the hood drawcord. Colombia used tiny clever lock-out beads to clock the drawcord in place, but these are on the inside of the collar and are hard to access to adjust.

columbia arcadia ii for women - the pockets are different depths, which feels bizarre with hands in...
The pockets are different depths, which feels bizarre with hands in both pockets.
Credit: Jessica Albery

Weight


The Arcadia weighs in at 11.2 ounces, on the mid-high end of the jackets in our review. Not a dealbreaker if weight is not a huge concern, but not the best option out there for those counting ounces and keeping pack weight down.

The jacket stuffs into one hand pocket, and when packed, it is a convenient rectangle with a fairly small footprint. That said, it is a tight fit and takes a bit of effort to get stuffed into its stow pocket. Not a quick turnaround time to stash this garment.

columbia arcadia ii for women - its a tight squeeze to get the arcadia into its stow pocket
Its a tight squeeze to get the Arcadia into its stow pocket
Credit: Jessica Albery

Durability


The fabric held up decently over months of testing, and most components continued to work well even after repetitive use. The center zipper tended to get stuck on the fabric of the inner zipper flap, especially when zipping in a hurry, which was irritating. Additionally, the stitching uses long stitches and does not seem as precise as that on some other models.

columbia arcadia ii for women - the zipper occasionally gets stuck on the back flap, which is...
The zipper occasionally gets stuck on the back flap, which is frustrating.
Credit: Jessica Albery

Should You Buy the Colombia Arcadia II?


Because it lacks breathability and ventilation options, the Colombia Arcadia II is best suited for those looking for protection from the elements while engaged in mellow activities such as hanging around the campsite, running errands, or commuting. However, we appreciate this jacket's flattering fit and find that it's a good option to stay dry in light to moderate rain.

What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?


The Marmot PreCip Eco offers better water resistance, breathability, and comfort at a comparable price, and it's our top recommendation for a high-performing budget rain jacket. For those looking for an emergency layer that packs down small and goes anywhere, the Outdoor Research Helium is a good option for coverage in a pinch.

columbia arcadia ii for women - the colombia arcadia ii offers a simple rain jacket that will get...
The Colombia Arcadia II offers a simple rain jacket that will get the job done.
Credit: Jessica Albery

Jessica Albery