If you're after a stylish rain jacket that's perfect for casual use around town, commuting to work, or short hikes with friends, we highly recommend Patagonia's Outdoor Everyday Rain Jacket. Its longer hemline and oversized fit are flattering, easy to layer with, and also create additional water-resistant coverage through the 2-layer proprietary H2No construction. It lacks technical features such as pit vents and a lightweight design, and it doesn't stow into its own pocket, but if you're just wearing your rain jacket in an urban environment, you likely don't need these features. This is a great jacket for throwing on when heading to class or for a dog walk in the rain — anywhere in your daily life where you need a little wet-weather protection.
The Outdoor Everyday features a 100% post-consumer recycled nylon shell along with a 2-layer proprietary H2N0 membrane with a DWR finish. We were impressed by how well this jacket shed moisture. The main zipper is not watertight, but there is a snap-front storm flap that was effective at keeping water from reaching the zipper (or the clothing underneath it). The jacket material also effectively pooled water in our pour tests without absorbing it.
Patagonia's DWR treatment is made without PFAS, a better choice for humans and the planet. But we must admit that this design doesn't feature nearly the waterproof performance of the pricier, more technically focused designs in our lineup that include Gore-Tex. However, for average outings around town, a jacket of that caliber isn't necessary, and the Outdoor Everyday fills that use case nicely. We do wish the hood were slightly larger, but we found the wrist cuffs adequate. If you're after a stylish, everyday design that will keep you dry, the Outdoor Everyday jacket doesn't disappoint.
While the fabric itself isn't super breathable, we love the jacket's internal mesh lining, which prevents it from sticking to our skin on high-humidity days and helps wick moisture. The hood and sleeves have adjustments that can also be utilized to increase airflow (or be tightened when it's cold and wet around town).
This jacket isn't really designed for technical performance during high-energy outdoor excursions like huffing miles uphill while wearing a heavy backpack, so we didn't really miss the pit vents. Since we don't really plan on working up a sweat in this jacket, we think it has more style points by not including vents. That said, during our objective uphill tests, the internal mesh did a great job, and we opened up the main zipper a bit for better airflow. While not the most breathable, we think that's okay since this jacket is just designed for moderate protection from rain and precip during casual, everyday outings.
Our testers love wearing the Outdoor Everyday thanks to its oversized fit, soft mesh interior, and malleable material. The mesh liner was moisture wicking and didn't stick to our skin like the typical plasticky interior of many rain jackets. We love that the roomy cut made it easy to layer a puffy jacket or sweater underneath. We were able to stretch without any restrictions, although the sleeves don't cover our wrists when we extend our arms fully overhead. We love the longer hemline for style as well as better coverage and water resistance, while the fabric is flexible and quiet enough that we don't want to take it off as soon as the rain stops.
The zippered hand pockets are large enough to hold essentials like gloves, smartphones, and earbuds, and will keep them dry in an unexpected storm. There's also an internal chest pocket for even more secure storage. While Patagonia suggests sizing down to achieve a slimmer fit, our tester wondered whether or not the sleeves would reach to her wrists if she went down an entire size, as they sit just right. The adjustable hood is enough to cover the head, but we wish it extended further over our face for more protection, and the chin interface could be a bit more comfortable. But overall, we find this jacket easy to wear and very comfy for everyday casual use.
This parka-style rain jacket isn't lightweight, but it still only weighs 19.6 ounces for a women's size small. Generally, we are only concerned with weight if we plan to pack our jacket along on a backcountry excursion, or maybe a long vacation where we are schlepping our bags around a lot. It still packs down fairly small, so the weight doesn't really cause an issue for us. The longer hemline, internal mesh liner, zippered hand and chest pockets, and oversized fit increase the overall weight, but we think that's a worthy tradeoff for a stylish jacket that's perfect for running errands around town in rainy weather.
While it doesn't stow into its own pocket, nor does it feel light as a feather, the Outdoor Everyday is perfect for those seeking casual everyday use rather than a super lightweight and technical design built for the backcountry.
The Everyday includes a premium construction quality that we think will last for many seasons ahead. Patagonia is known for its quality and sustainable construction, as well as its great warranty. The bluesign approved 100% post-consumer recycled Nylon shell gives us confidence in casual, around-town performance. The 2-layer construction impressed our team during the water resistance testing, while the jacket showed no major signs of wear after our testing period.
The velcro on the sleeves is wide and long enough to function, while the large hand and chest pockets are the perfect size for stowing essentials and keeping your hands dry if you forget your gloves. We love that the DWR treatment is PFA-free and that Patagonia had the vision to recycle fishing line into the jacket's nylon shell to reduce ocean pollution. Although the main zipper isn't sealed, we found the wide placket functional for keeping our upper body dry, even in high winds and blowing rain. Although this isn't the most durable design that we tested, its great for casual, everyday use in stormy weather.
The Patagonia Outdoor Everyday Rain Jacket is perfect for those seeking an oversized and stylish rain jacket for everyday use. The relaxed fit and supple fabric make it easy to wear, while there are just enough performance features to keep us comfy and dry throughout the day. Along with everything else we love about this jacket, the bluesign-approved fabrics, PFC-free DWR treatments, and fair trade-certified construction also make it easy for us to support Patagonia, and we recommend this as our favorite casual, everyday design.
If you're looking for something a bit less pricey, the Helly Hansen Moss is an affordable rain slicker style desigh with higher water resistance, if you plan to be out in the elements for an extended period of time. Another jacket that features a longer fit is the Mountain Hardwear Threshold. Its 3-layer construction is high quality and packable, but the main zipper on the model we tested was a little sticky. We're continually impressed by the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L due to its affordable design that performs in some of the worst conditions.
| Awards |  Our Favorite Rain Jacket for Everyday Wear |
|---|---|
| Price | $259 List Check Price at Evo |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |
| Bottom Line | A stylish and flattering design that's perfect for everyday wear |
| Pros | Oversized fit for better coverage and easy layering, stylish, adjustable hood and wrist cuffs, mesh liner for increased airflow, PFC-free DWR treatment, recycled fabrics for sustainability, fair-trade certified |
| Cons | Limited 2-layer water resistance, pricey, lacks versatility for technical performance |
| Rating Categories | Patagonia Outdoor Ev... |
| Water Resistance (45%) | |
| Breathability (20%) | |
| Comfort and Mobility (15%) | |
| Weight (10%) | |
| Construction Quality (10%) | |
| Specifications | Patagonia Outdoor Ev... |
| Number of Fabric Layers | 2 |
| Material and Waterproof Membrane | NetPlus recycled nylon faille with a PFC-free DWR finish, H2No waterproof/breathable protection |
| Measured Weight (Size Small) | 19.6 oz |
| Pockets | 2 zippered hand, 1 interior chest |
| Pit Zips | No |
| Pit Zip Length | No |
| Stows into Pocket | No |
| Carabiner Loop in Stow Pocket | No |
| Helmet Compatible Hood | No |
| Hipbelt Friendly Hand Pockets | No |
| Additional Features | Adjustable hood, PFC-free DWR treatment, Center-front VISLON zipper with snap-front placket, long hemline |
