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Is a storm brewing? Whether you're running out the door to catch a bus or braving the elements over longer stretches while tackling outdoor chores or backcountry adventures, high-quality water-protective gear is a wardrobe necessity. Yet, different tools may best suit different jobs.
We've been testing rain jackets since 2010 and have hands-on experience wearing over 70 of the best rain jackets designed for men. This review features 17 of the market's top contenders pitted against each other in rigorous real-world testing. We wore each model in heavy downpours, snow, sleet, and even in the shower, ensuring we were as thorough as possible. We've identified the pros and cons of each jacket and offer honest recommendations to help you narrow the list down to the right rain jacket for you and your specific needs.
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is our top recommendation. It offers excellent water resistance and construction quality at half the cost of other high-end models.
If the Torrentshell's price tag is too steep, check out the Helly Hansen Loke. Helly Hansen's proprietary 2.5-layer membrane keeps the cost down while still delivering decent weather protection. We also like the Columbia Hikebound II as a
Editor's Note: Our men's rain jacket review was updated on October 20, 2025, after testing new jackets from Columbia, Outdoor Research, and REI.
The top-performing Patagonia Torrentshell 3L proves you don't have to spend a high premium to get high-quality weather protection. Zach Lovell, our main reviewer, shared, “I had to triple-check the price tag on the Torrentshell since its scores competed easily with jackets twice as expensive.” This rain jacket is constructed from Patagonia's proprietary, three-layer H2No fabric, which is dependable in a range of weather conditions, from afternoon downpours to fierce snowstorms. By using a proprietary material, Patagonia can more easily make a water-resistant layer affordable without a substantial compromise in performance. The expensive Arc'teryx Beta SL did outperform the Torrentshell in some areas, but only slightly. The Torrentshell is significantly more affordable and offers a robust construction. This is the jacket we recommend to most people.
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight (Men's Small)
12.7 oz
Number of Fabric Layers
3
Waterproof Fabric Material
3-layer H2No Performance Standard 50D ECONYL (proprietary material) with a PFC-free DWR finish
Pockets
2 zippered hand
Pit Zips
Yes
When storms began to blow sideways, the Torrentshell 3L was easy to adjust for a tight seal. Our testing team commented, “This jacket really kept the elements out of the sleeve, hem, and hood areas and kept me dry, even when the weather got nasty.” However, during prolonged cardio outings, testers were less thrilled as they began to get wet from the inside out due to limited breathability (although there are pit zips to help release some heat). Options like the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic offer excellent ventilation and have incredibly supple fabric construction, especially compared to the Torrentshell's potato chip bag feel. Besides these few considerations, this staple from Patagonia's weather protection line is an incredibly well-made jacket suited for a wide variety of stormy day activities.
The Helly Hansen Loke is a bargain raincoat that punches above its price tag. Made of 2.5-layer Helly Tech with a PFC-free DWR finish, it offers decent storm protection in average conditions, and the inclusion of pit zips with loose mesh pockets makes for a reasonably breathable fit. One tester said, “A rain jacket like this is all most people really need — and the price is right, too.” The Loke is lightweight, weighing only 8.4 ounces, and packs down small into its own pocket for easy and convenient carrying when the sun is shining. The hood and waist toggles provide enough adjustability to get a solid seal; a combination of elastic and Velcro offers the same protection around the wrists.
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight (Men's Small)
8.4 oz
Number of Fabric Layers
2.5
Waterproof Fabric Material
2.5-layer Helly Tech Polyamide (proprietary material) with a PFC-free DWR finish
Pockets
2 zippered hand
Pit Zips
Yes
Despite how much we love the value, the Loke and other top-performing rain jackets are noticeably different. For example, the zipper is not waterproof, relying instead on a Velcro front placket/storm flap that sits over the top of the zipper to keep moisture out. It manages to accomplish this when it's not raining too hard or for too long, but the design isn't equipped for extensive downpours. Its construction quality also leaves something to be desired, with hard-to-close pit zips and Velcro that snags on the mesh pockets. Overall, the Loke unquestionably stretches your dollar really far, especially if you just need a rain jacket for casual use. If you just don't have this much to spend on a rain jacket, check out the Columbia Hikebound II or the Columbia Glennaker Lake II.
After putting the Helly Hansen Loke through the wringer, we found it to be reasonably comfortable, wonderfully breathable, and sufficiently water resistant, so much so that it became one of our favorite low-cost jackets.
If you're in need of a rain jacket but are shopping on a skinny wallet, the Columbia Hikebound II is a model that's worth looking into. It's comfortable and offers decent weather protection, with a 2-layer polyester construction and mesh inner. “I polled my friends and family on the looks of this jacket, and everyone was in agreement that it was surprisingly aesthetic for a budget garment,” one of our primary testers shared. Compared to other budget layers, the Hikebound II kept us considerably more dry and was great for casual walks or hikes in the rain.
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight (Men's Small)
12.7 oz
Number of Fabric Layers
2
Waterproof Fabric Material
2-layer Omni-Tech (proprietary material) with mesh liner
Pockets
2 zippered hand
Pit Zips
No
The Hikebound II utilizes a fairly heavy-duty construction that makes it very durable but also quite heavy. At 18 ounces, this isn't going to win any featherweight competitions, but take a look at the Columbia Glennaker Lake II, which costs even less and is a fraction of the weight. “Between these two budget models from Columbia, I'd steer people towards the Hikebound II if they need a more dependable rain jacket and the Glennaker Lake II if only needing a windbreaker that can repel light rain,” our head tester commented. For the price, it's hard to beat the Hikebound as long as you take a hard look at your intended rain jacket uses.
Updated Beta Models
This Beta SL jacket used to be known as the Beta LT. For this review, we examined the latest and greatest update to the Arc'teryx Beta line.
If you need the best rain jacket for weather protection under torrential conditions, look no further than the new Arc'teryx Beta SL. The Beta series from Arc'teryx is a well-established jacket line that has been a classic go-to for guides, avalanche workers, search and rescue teams, and serious recreationalists. The “SL” stands for “super light,” as this is the lightest version yet of the Beta jacket. One of our gear experts, Zach Lovell, shared, “This is a high-end option that could be classified as more of a hardshell jacket; I am able to easily use it as a winter skiing shell as much as a summertime rain layer.” In contrast, we also tested the Arc'teryx Beta, a less expensive model from the same line that weighs a bit more, lacks pit zips, and delivers slightly reduced water resistance. Both scored well across all metrics, but the SL stood out on top if price is no object.
The Beta SL utilizes a new three-layer Gore-Tex material made with a thinner ePE membrane, which stands for expanded polyethylene. This new construction is more environmentally friendly, less harmful for its wearer, and keeps the jacket lighter. With a thinner membrane at play, the manufacturer could thicken the jacket's face fabric, making that layer more robust. The most substantial setback of the Beta SL is its very high price. We'd also recommend sizing the Beta SL for your intended activities. If you'll be using it for year-round outdoor adventures and need to fit insulation underneath, consider sizing up to leave space for a performance fleece or puffy. At the end of the day, this jacket is a no-brainer if you want the very best and you don't mind paying the price.
The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic's claim to fame is its exceptional breathability and mobility. This layer feels more like a softshell than a crinkly rain jacket. Our lead tester, Zach Lovell, reported, “The Ozonic is a genre-bending layer that I could wear all day, whether it was raining or not.” At 9.6 ounces, this layer can easily be carried with you. When things got stormy, the Ozonic was adequate for lighter-intensity squalls, but when faced with particularly nasty weather, something like the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is a more appropriate choice to keep you dry.
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight (Men's Small)
9.6 oz
Number of Fabric Layers
2.5
Waterproof Fabric Material
2.5-layer 50D Dry.Q (proprietary material)
Pockets
2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest
Pit Zips
Yes
We were delighted to wear the Stretch Ozonic for any outdoor activity, whether climbing or skiing, thanks to its unmatched stretch and breathability. Due to the 2.5-layer Dry.Q 50D Stretch Ripstop construction, this option was substantially more comfortable than the typical nylon models, even if its zippers did snag frequently. Others like the lightweight Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Shell or even less expensive Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch are worth checking out as an alternative rain jacket that prioritizes freedom of movement and comes with smoother zippers. Even so, the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic is an excellent choice for those prioritizing mobility and on-the-go comfort over a high degree of weather protection.
The Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Shell, which used to be called the Stormline, is a mold-breaking rain jacket with decent performance relative to its modest weight. Typically, a weather-protective garment that's on the lighter side makes compromises to keep the weight down, but at 9.4 ounces, the Fineline kept us dry in many scenarios. Our review team concluded, “The Fineline strikes the ideal balance of weight to performance for many outdoors enthusiasts. It's got just enough protection for longer trips, depending on the forecast, but won't slow you down”. As long as you're not voyaging into more intense storms, this layer will likely offer plenty of water resistance and even has some stretch to its BD.dry 2.5L fabric to accommodate a range of activities on the go.
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight (Men's Small)
9.4 oz
Number of Fabric Layers
2.5
Waterproof Fabric Material
2.5-layer BD.dry PFC-free DWR finish
Pockets
2 zippered hand
Pit Zips
Yes
Depending on the intended use, sizing the Fineline Stretch Shell may be slightly difficult. When in between sizes, we suggest leaning towards the larger size, knowing that if we are recreating in cooler weather, we'll need that extra space for adding insulating layers underneath. If you want to go super light and don't require as much weather protection, look at the Outdoor Research Helium, which is featherlight even compared to the Fineline. In a market flooded with a wide variety of rain jackets for men, this latest offering from Black Diamond is worth considering for those in need of an ultralight garment that strikes the rare balance between performance and weight.
The Outdoor Research Helium is a staggeringly lightweight jacket ideal for shoppers prioritizing weight above all else. At 5.8 ounces for a men's small, you'll hardly even notice this layer in your backpack or clipped to your harness, making it a garment you can keep with you always for “just in case” showers. A jacket this light does have its setbacks, as it isn't ideal for true storms. Our head tester noted, “If you're going to buy the Helium, you really need to consider it more of a windbreaker but with a slightly improved shell fabric for moisture protection — I wouldn't rely on it as a true rain layer.” If you need a layer with a bit higher level of weather protection, look at the Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Shell, which weighs 3.6 ounces more but is still remarkably lightweight overall and will be more dependable.
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight (Men's Small)
5.8 oz
Number of Fabric Layers
2.5
Waterproof Fabric Material
2.5-layer Pertex Shield Diamond Fuse
Pockets
1 zippered chest
Pit Zips
No
Considering its compact and light nature, the Outdoor Research Helium offers an impressive feature set. The chest pocket doubles as a storage sack, and it includes a carabiner loop for clipping to your climbing harness or the hip belt of your backpack. It also features an adjustable hood and hem with drawstrings. In terms of water protection offered, some may argue that the Helium is somewhat expensive, so we suggest also checking out the windbreaker-style Columbia Glennaker Lake II, which features a low, highly packable weight at less than a third of the price. The Helium is a viable option if your main priority is a simple, protective layer to break the wind and handle a brief drizzle when you are traveling with as little as possible.
The Outdoor Research Foray 3L is a well-made jacket that stood out to us for its great cut: it's both slim fitting and mobile. Many of the coats we tested with great mobility were on the baggier side, but the Foray is closer fitting, which was ideal for climbing, scrambling, and hiking with a backpack on. “In addition to the fit, I was a big fan of its weather protection, which was better than much of the lineup (but not quite a frontrunner),” tester Zach Lovell shared. If you like the cut of this layer but want a jacket with a higher weather resistance score, consider the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L or the pricey Arc'teryx Beta.
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight (Men's Small)
11.8 oz
Number of Fabric Layers
3
Waterproof Fabric Material
AscentShell Dry 3L 100% Recycled Nylon 40D
Pockets
2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest
Pit Zips
Yes
The Foray 3L has a unique pit zip called TorsoFlo, which runs all the way from the armpit to the hip, making it a very breathable layer. With the TorsoFlo unzipped all the way, the jacket flapped around much more, but some might not mind it in the name of dumping as much heat as possible. If you're hunting for something even more breathable, consider the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Jacket, which almost feels like a softshell jacket. “I love the Foray for its technical fit for climbing or adventuring,” our head tester shared. “And with unique pit zips, this is a jacket I could keep wearing in a storm.”
Adjustable hood and hem, Velcro cuffs, removeable and helmet compatible hood
Adjustable hood, chin guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem
Hood can be stowed in collar, adjustable drawcord hem, adjustable drawcord hood
We've collectively spent hundreds of hours testing rain jackets to offer you a review you can trust.
Credit: Zach Lovell
How We Tested
This review results from over 400 field hours of hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, and camping in wet weather. Our testing process ranged from objective evaluation under a shower head to months of real-world testing in the field. Every single finding, big or small, was documented and carefully considered before distilling scores into a digestible format. Our testing team drug these rain layers across the planet, from the monsoons of the Himalayas to the steady and dependable drizzle of the Pacific Northwest, all in the name of offering you as dependable and as solid a review as possible.
We rate rain jackets using five performance metrics:
Water Resistance (45% of overall score weighting)
Breathability (20% weighting)
Comfort and Mobility (15% weighting)
Weight (10% weighting)
Durability (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
This review is headed by Zach Lovell, Ian Nicholson, and Ben Applebaum-Bauch. Zach is an IFMGA Mountain Guide, guiding climbing and skiing in many mountain ranges across the planet. He has relied on a rain jacket for hundreds of days throughout his career, from stormy glaciated mountains in the Pacific Northwest to moody hikes, climbs, and skis in the European Alps.
Ian is also a professional internationally licensed IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide who has spent over 2,000 days guiding in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, the Andes, the European Alps, and beyond. Ian estimates he has worn a rain jacket over 800 days over the last two decades because he guides and lives in the rainy and wet Pacific Northwest.
Ben spent over a decade in blustery northern New England. He has guided backpacking, cycling, and canoeing trips throughout the region and maritime Canada. He is also an avid thru-hiker, completing treks of some of America's most iconic long trails, including the Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Long Trail, Colorado Trail, and others. Having spent more than 500 nights in the backcountry, Ben knows the value of a reliable waterproof rain jacket.
Our team of gear experts is made up of a diverse group of people, from mountain guides to Forest Service workers.
Analysis and Test Results
Our selection involves a wide range of products, from budget-friendly to the most high-tech and stormworthy. We also select models that excel at specific applications or have particular attributes, from the lightest and most highly packable options to the stretchiest and most mobile jackets on the market. Each is evaluated across several important metrics to determine which are the best overall and which are best for specific applications or types of users.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
The answer to the question, “Is this piece of gear worth the money?” is rarely crystal clear. Much depends on the user. To quantify value as best we can, we compare a jacket's overall score to its retail price. We're always on the lookout for products with disproportionately high scores relative to their price.
The Helly Hansen Loke is a great budget rain jacket with features that will likely suit the average user, but it's not as ideal for prolonged storms. Though it's not dirt cheap, we think the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L offers incredible performance for a reasonable price. These jackets retail for substantially less than the premium rain jackets we tested.
One of our favorite budget picks is the Columbia Hikebound II, which is a bit of an upgrade from the Watertight II in aesthetics and build quality. Stretchier rain jackets typically cost a pretty penny, but models like the REI Co-op XeroCloud 3L are a great way to get into this niche of rain jacket without damaging the checking account too much, and is has a three-layer construction.
The stretch of the XeroCloud 3L was much appreciated by our review team, when jackets like this typically cost much more.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Bargain-priced jackets like the OTU Lightweight Hooded or the Columbia Glennaker II don't post the best scores in our test metrics, but some shoppers might just be looking for a little bit of weather protection and don't need to spend big bucks.
While the Columbia Glennaker II doesn't offer the best water resistance, it's incredibly inexpensive and offers some handy features, such as a roll-up hood that hides in the collar.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Water Resistance
A rain jacket's primary job is to keep you dry in wet weather. With that in mind, we extensively tested each contender in the rain, wind, sleet, and snow, as well as in controlled environments to assess zippers and other openings (e.g., cuffs) to see how long they take to wet out.
All of the products that we tested meet the technical requirements for waterproofing. However, this doesn't mean they all perform at the same level. These jackets feature a seam-taped waterproof fabric to create a complete seal. What differentiates the performance of each is how well and how long they keep out water. This results from several factors but generally refers to design specifics such as the number of layers of fabric, type of membrane, hood style, cuffs, pockets, front/primary zipper, pit zips, and other vents.
Our testers deliberately went out in storms to see how each jacket's weather protection performed in the real world.
Credit: Zach Lovell
A jacket's ability to keep its wearer dry has much to do with the makeup and construction of its waterproof insert (more frequently called a membrane) and its DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment. This treatment is factory-applied to the fabric's exterior, causing water to bead up on the jacket's surface, allowing it to roll off. Even though both nylon and polyester are hydrophobic, if they aren't treated with a DWR, they will become covered with a thin but continuous film of water and frequently appear wet — this is referred to as “wetting out.” Therefore, we consider the longevity of the DWR coating and its ability to resist wetting out after extended periods.
We drenched every rain jacket several times throughout our testing process to see how durable and consistent each model's water resistance was.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Arc'teryx Beta, Beta SL, and Patagonia Torrentshell 3L offer the group's most robust weather resistance. The combination of strong waterproof membranes and DWR treatments means these models all do an excellent job sealing precipitation in all forms. They also all have well-designed wrist cuffs and hoods that cinch down to keep the elements out.
Hands down, the most impressive results in this metric came from the Arc'teryx Beta SL and is the most ideal jacket for those demanding the best in weather protection.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Shell and Outdoor Research Foray 3L are a duo of contenders that offer reliable weather protection in average showers, even if we did notice some wetting out under more intense conditions. The Foray has been updated recently with a 3-layer construction, and its weather protection is noticeably better.
While some of the highest performing rain shells cost an arm and a leg, the Columbia Hikebound II has an approachable price point and offers enough water resistance for casual hikes or strolls around town in the rain. For these uses, all of our testing team stayed completely dry in this jacket, and we liked its look enough to wear it in social situations.
We were thoroughly impressed with the performance of such an inexpensive jacket as the Hikebound II.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Breathability
Breathability in a rain jacket is important because it helps keeps you dry from the inside by allowing sweat, moisture, and heat to escape. Though some jackets may not always feel like it, all of these multi-layered fabrics are at least somewhat breathable, allowing water vapor to wick through the material from the inside to the outside, where it can evaporate.
We also look at how effectively each model dumps heat and moisture and how effectively vents like pit zips or meshed pockets work, even if you're in a downpour. By prioritizing real-world venting functionality, our review team was able to pinpoint some of the more significant differences between models and ventilation designs.
We took each rain jacket on a series of cardio missions, from casual hikes to more rigorous days climbing or skiing in the mountains.
Credit: Mark Lovell
What's the deal with DWR?
DWR (Durable Water Repellent) is a coating applied to the outside of many rain jackets. Despite what its name implies, DWR is not meant to keep you dry (that's the job of the main waterproof membrane (usually Gore-Tex or some other proprietary fabric). Though DWR is responsible for the immensely satisfying beading that you see on the outside of a jacket, its primary role is to keep water off of the fabric surface so that it can remain breathable from the inside and effectively release sweat while keeping out precipitation.
Some jackets have air-permeable fabric. Air-permeable is a newer buzzword (and a technical term) in the outdoor industry, referring to a material that allows air to pass through at all times. It is also crucial to look at the overall construction of a jacket, including the number of layers (typically designs range from 2 to 3). We found a blend of breathable fabric construction and pit zips scored the highest in this metric.
Jackets come with a variety of liners, membranes, and shell fabrics. These nuances in construction greatly impact breathability.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Air-permeable jackets aren't technically windproof on a micro-level. That said, they feel windproof, even if they are cooler than most folks are used to once you stop moving. The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic is one such jacket. Another excellent option that feels somewhat like a softshell is the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch.
The OR Stratoburst looks and feels a lot like a softshell jacket and is one of the more breathable jackets we tested.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Effective venting options like pit zips, side zips, core vents, or other zippered ventilation designs can prove incredibly useful for users who run warmer or for variable weather. Besides a jacket's front primary zipper, pit zips are the next most effective ventilation tool for dumping heat and moving moisture, with the advantage of not letting much moisture back in. Pit zips generally allow more moisture to escape than “core vents,” a fairly generic term for mesh-lined pockets that you can leave open to let a little moisture out.
The Beta SL offers pit zips to dump some of your body heat.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Arc'teryx Beta SL (with traditional pit zips) and Helly Hansen Loke are breathable options. The minimalist Outdoor Research Helium is thinner, which aids in breathability, even if it lacks other breathability features like pit zips or mesh-lined hand pockets. The Columbia Glennaker Lake II is a similarly lightweight model, but it felt more like a trash bag in regards to breathability.
If you're a big fan of larger pit zips to aid in your ventilation, the Outdoor Research Foray 3L has TorsoFlo pit zips that run from the armpit all the way to your hip, allowing you to shed more heat than most of the competition. The REI Co-op XeroCloud 3L is another excellent model that boasts impressive breathability and is one of the latest examples from REI's clothing line that keeps up with other A-list manufacturers.
The Outdoor Research Foray has huge pit zips that run the entire length of the torso to dump heat super fast.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Comfort and Mobility
While this class of jacket isn't particularly known for being comfy, especially compared to a layer like a fleece, there were some noticeable differences between the models we tested. Mobility is another extremely important aspect of a rain jacket and must be taken into account before you make your purchasing decision. If a jacket is too restrictive, you're far less likely to wear it and can make hiking, scrambling, backpacking, climbing, or fishing much more restrictive.
The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic, Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch, and Black Diamond Fineline Stretch offered great mobility. These options each have a uniquely freeing range of motion for a rain jackets, largely due to their stretchier material. Consider sizing up to maintain mobility when adding layers underneath.
The Stretch Ozonic felt more like a softshell than rain jacket, thanks to a stretchy fabric construction. We were happy wearing this layer all day.
Credit: Mark Lovell
The REI Co-op XeroCloud 3L also has a stretchy fabric that boasted excellent range of motion. REI did a great job keeping the XeroCloud's price down for a technical fabric that's more commonly seen in top-dollar models. The XeroCloud also has a well thought out cut, striking that rare balance we love to see: slim, but not restrictive.
The stretchier nature of the well-priced XeroCloud made our review team take notice.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Outdoor Research Foray 3L has a soft, thinner, more supple feel and moves well with the wearer. The Arc'teryx Beta SL is slightly stiff, but makes up for it with roomy yet well-fitting fabric. The Outdoor Research Helium and Helly Hansen Loke are much thinner than the average rain jacket in our lineup, offering a supple, lightweight shell that doesn't restrict movement.
The Helium has a thin construction that slightly stretches, making for a fairly mobile option.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L offers decent mobility, but its fabric is stiffer and more crinkly. Others models simply have a more relaxed fit. The OTU Lightweight Hooded has a baggy fit that bunches, but it certainly doesn't inhibit any upper body movement. Budget models like the Columbia Hikebound II also had a nice relaxed fit that had a great range of motion.
The Hikebound II utilizes Columbia's classic relaxed fit to achieve top-tier mobility, though there is some fabric bunching.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Hikebound II also had a mesh inner that made for a particularly comfy feel if we weren't wearing many underlayers. The mesh has some mixed performance considerations in breathability and weather resistance, but we loved its next-to-skin comfort.
The mesh of the Hikebound II was very supple and inviting, even against bare skin.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Features
If you're wearing your jacket around town, having room in the pockets for gloves, a warm hat, a phone, and keys can be nice. Interior pockets can offer additional peace of mind, and each jacket has a slightly different take on hoods, toggles, zippers, and cinch cords.
Hood Design
A good hood will keep your head dry without chafing the chin or limiting peripheral vision, and the effectiveness from jacket to jacket can vary wildly. Our favorite hoods are on the Arc'teryx Beta SL and Arc'teryx Beta. The OR Foray and Patagonia Torrentshell 3L also offer helmet-friendly hoods, though the fit might be a bit tighter depending on the exact helmet you're using.
We really value a well-executed hood. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L has a toggle in the back that tightens a cord around the circumference of the head, holding it securely in place.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
From beanies to baseball caps, each one of these jackets features a hood that cinches down over a range of headwear, maximizing the hood's ability to turn with the user's head — instead of turning into it — though our hands-down favorite hood is on the Arc'teryx Beta SL, which has a toggle at the back of the head that is easy to manipulate which means you get great coverage without limiting visibility. The bargain-priced Columbia Hikebound II has a hood with adjustable shock cord on both sides, allowing you to more easily cinch the hood around your head or hat. The Outdoor Research Foray 3L also had a very well designed hood that greatly aided in weather protection.
While the Foray's hood is a little tight to fit over a helmet, it was great over a hat and helped make the layer become more storm resistant.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Pockets
It is tough to understate the utility of pockets, as everyone uses them at least sometimes. They are unquestionably helpful for warming your hands, keeping track of small items, and aiding in ventilation. Not all pockets are created equal, however; their size and location can greatly impact their usefulness. For example, lower handwarmer pockets are great for around town but can be a nuisance and rendered unusable while wearing a harness or the hip belt of a heavy pack. This is where it pays off to think about where you will be using your jacket before you make final decisions on what might serve you best.
Large, high pockets are ideal for retaining accessibility with a backpack.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Chest pockets are a very important addition to several of our favorite jackets, as they are a great location for a cell phone if you want to be able to access it quickly to take photos or check the map. If a chest pocket is too small, it becomes considerably harder to use. If you're battling bigger storms on a consistent basis, you might want this chest pocket on the interior of the jacket, but many of our testers prefer an outside access pocket to prioritize speed.
Having a chest pocket that's large enough for a cell phone is a significant plus to our review team.
Credit: Mark Lovell
Adjustability
A quality rain jacket should be adjustable so that a tighter seal can be made when the storm blows in. Typically, manufacturers use some kind of shock cord in the hood and hem. Our favorite hood designs have an easy to grab pull tab, so that you can quickly batten down the hatches while maintaining some peripheral vision. For the arms, we are big fans of a classic velcro cuff, though some models come with non-adjustable elastic cuffs that maintain a close seal to the wrist.
An adjustable rain jacket is, in our opinion, a must. Velcro cuffs like this are better if the velcro has higher hold power, since the rain can weaken the bond.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Weight
Light is right for many shoppers, and weight is a crucial consideration for almost any gear you plan to carry. All of our testers value lightweight clothing and equipment, but not at the expense of basic functionality. Weight is likely one of your primary concerns if you're thru-hiking, climbing technical terrain, or riding your bicycle from coast to coast. For burlier adventures, soggy backpacking trips, expedition-type mountaineering trips, or even daily use, you'll want to consider durability and stormworthiness equally as much as weight.
Additionally, a jacket's ability to pack compactly is beneficial when out and about. You may well carry your rain shell rather than wear it nine times out of ten. So, the smaller such a just in case item packs, the more room you have for other items.
Most of the jackets in our review weigh a pound or less. The Outdoor Research Helium weighs a featherweight 5.8 ounces in a men's small. It can also be stuffed into a built-in reversible chest pocket with a clip-in loop, a nice feature for climbers carrying it on their harness. This feature could also be useful for anyone wanting to clip their jacket to anything else, like the outside of a backpack.
The Helly Hansen Loke is one of the most affordable full-featured jackets, weighing just 8.4 ounces. The highly mobile and breathable Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic is similar at 9.6 ounces.
Essentially all of these models stuff into one of their own pockets, though some are easier to stow in their hood. In this metric, we only scored the weight of each option alone. However, we did investigate every option's packability. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L wasn't the lightest option but it proved fairly packable and offers a convenient carabiner loop to clip to your harness or backpack.
The Patagonia Torrentshell and the OR Foray won't win any awards for their weights, but we like that they pack into their own pockets.
The Outdoor Research Foray 3L leans into durability and performance rather than being ultralight, though it does still fit inside its pocket. Less pricey options like the Columbia Glennaker Lake II are incredibly light, weighing a mere 8.8 ounces, though it doesn't have much wet weather performance and is more ideal as a windbreaker that can shed light rain.
It's important to consider how much you prioritize weight if looking at budget models, such as the Columbia Hikebound II. If you need to carry your jacket for ultralight adventures, this may not be the one, since it weighs a hefty 18 ounces. However, its scores on the scale might not be a big deal if your intended uses are more urban or on the casual side.
There's no doubt the Hikebound II is a hefty jacket, but you might not even need the lightest model out there when considering its low price point.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Construction Quality
A high-quality rain jacket will stand up to the test of time. However, as materials technology continues to trend toward thinner, lighter fabrics, a tradeoff can sometimes be required, sacrificing some durability and resistance to abrasions, punctures, and longevity for the sake of lightweight, easy-to-carry weather protection. This is particularly true among the most extremely light models, which are often far less durable than products weighing just three to five ounces more.
The exterior material of nearly all the rain jackets we tested (also known as the face fabric) is either nylon or polyester. Though we like to talk about other aspects of rainshell jacket construction, this external material plays a huge role in overall durability. For the most part, the lighter the face fabric is, the easier it may tear or abrade. Most of the jackets we tested use 30-80 denier face fabric, with those at the higher end of the spectrum being notably more robust than the lower. The Columbia Watertight II is among the few models tested that isn't made of a ripstop fabric. A ripstop weave doubles up on the thread at intervals, providing a grid of strong fibers to stop tears from growing once a tear has occurred. This is a significant advantage and why many outdoor products utilize it.
The Arc'teryx Beta jackets were top performers in this metric. Their thinner ePE membrane allows Arc'teryx to use a thicker face fabric, making it more robust than previous versions of the lightweight Beta. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L uses 50D polyester ripstop face fabric with proprietary H2No Performance Standard fabric.
If the wallet is on the slimmer side, you can still find a durable jacket in the Columbia Hikebound II. This heavier jacket utilizes a 2 layer polyester construction that boasts decent abrasion resilience. If you're willing to shell out more cash, the Outdoor Research Foray 3L is an incredibly durable jacket that also boasts great scores in other crucial metrics including weather resistance.
The Foray 3L is a jacket that can handle a rougher life than much of the competition, thanks to a 3 layer construction and a heavier build.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Outdoor Research Foray II is another standout model in this metric, with a hefty 3 layer design that is completely seam-taped. Its Aquaguard zippers were a bit sticky here and there, but were dependable throughout the entirety of our testing.
If you're looking to stay dry from head to toe, we've also tested rain pants and top-ranked umbrellas, as well as men's hardshell jackets if you'll be running into burlier weather or need a designated shell jacket for hitting the slopes.
How to Pick the Best Rain Jacket for You
A staggering number of rain jackets are on the market today, from penny-priced Amazon specials to high-end premium options. While this can be daunting to sift through, there are a few primary considerations to make when determining which jacket best suits your needs.
Asking yourself a few key questions before shopping can significantly streamline your buying decisions.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Rain Jacket Construction 101
A rain jacket or hardshell will typically be built with multiple layers of fabric. In each of our individual jacket reviews, you can unpack more of the specifics about a particular model. Still, it is helpful to be aware of a few generalities when considering the range of options. While shopping, you're most likely to find a jacket with 2, 2.5, or 3 layers.
2 Layer Jackets
Two-layer options typically consist of an outer face and an interior liner, which was not historically the most ideal for wet weather protection as it tended to be heavier, bulkier, and generally less comfortable than other material technologies. But in recent years, Gore-tex introduced Paclite Plus, which proved more lightweight and durable with impressive water resistance and breathability.
2.5 Layer Jackets
Jackets with 2.5 layers consist of an outer layer, a membrane, and some sort of spray treatment that serves as another layer of protection against the elements (but only “counts” as half a layer). These usually perform much better than two-layer options and can often strike a nice balance between weight and performance. Some, however, can feel rubbery.
Some half liners are not particularly comfortable against the skin or base layers.
Credit: Zach Lovell
3 Layer Jackets
Lastly, a three layer construction is frequently associated with the best performing jackets, featuring an outer layer, a membrane, and an interior liner fabric in combinations that boast top scores in weather protection and breathability.
3 layer designs typically boast top-tier performance across weather protection and breathability, though be sure to check out the specific attributes of each model.
Credit: Zach Lovell
How Much Weather Protection Do You Need?
There are storms of all shapes and sizes across our planet. In the rain jacket category, you must consider the severity and duration of a typical rainstorm in your home climate and the climates you might travel to. Some might need less rain protection if living or recreating in a drier area, such as a desert in the Western US. Those recreating in the Pacific Northwest, with mountain ranges like the Cascades consistently serving up robust rain storms, will need a more protective jacket.
What Activities Will You Be Doing in Your Rain Jacket?
After determining your primary climate, consider what activities you'll be doing. You may only be shopping for a water-resistant layer to stay dry while bopping around town, or you might be depending on your gear for multi-day protection while backpacking or alpine climbing. Consider purchasing upgraded storm protection when your prospective adventures grow and things like a lower weight or top-tier water resistance, breathability, and full mobility become more crucial. Around town, a highly functional yet versatile jacket won't hurt, but it might also not be as necessary.
What Features Do You Need?
A rain jacket typically includes key features like a zipper, pockets of varying types, and adjustable drawstring hoods and hems. Some jackets also offer pit zippers, which open underneath the armpit and can greatly improve ventilation. Also consider weight — some folks will care more than others about their jacket's weight, but that will purely depend on intended uses and personal preferences.
Adjustable hoods and hems are a staple in rain jacket features, we recommend looking for these offerings in your first, or next, jacket.
Credit: Mark Lovell
Conclusion
The right rain jacket should match your intended uses, and you'll likely find it in this review's lineup. If you live and play in the Pacific Northwest, it might be worth investing in a higher quality model that can handle a lot of rain. If you're only needing that just-in-case layer, you might be able to get away with a less expensive and lighter duty option. Wherever you fall in the use spectrum, know that there's a jacket in this lineup that's just right for you. Whether you have a higher or lower budget, we're now in an era of garment design where you don't absolutely have to drop big bucks to get a blue ribbon rain jacket, though there are plenty of premium options still available if you're needing the absolute best.
—Zach Lovell, Ben Applebaum-Bauch, Ian Nicholson and Craig D'Innocente
