How We Tested Windbreaker Jackets for Women

wind breaker jacket womens - we tested these windbreakers in all kinds of activities, like the... — We tested these windbreakers in all kinds of activities, like the Houdini here climbing in the Sierra.
Credit: Sam Piper

We wore these windbreakers in all kinds of situations to test them side-by-side. From hiking in East Africa, the High Sierras and Utah, climbing in Yosemite, running all across the US, doing yardwork in Iowa, taking boat rides in the Caribbean, exploring coastlines in Iceland, and biking in Moab, we've taken these jackets everywhere.

A lot of our testing came from just using these jackets on our daily adventures and activities. Our testers often carried two or three windbreakers at a time to test them under identical conditions. The more we wore them, the more we found them to be an indispensable layer to our everyday activities. In addition to wearing these jackets nearly nonstop for months on end, we also subjected them to our more rigorous tests to see how they performed — or failed — at specific tasks.

wind breaker jacket womens - blustery runs in search of the ideal combination of wind protection... — Blustery runs in search of the ideal combination of wind protection and breathability.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Wind Resistance

We used high-powered fans and hair driers to objectively test how much wind is passing through each one. We also tested them side by side in windy locations, such as in the blustery Bryce National Park in Utah and the chilly winds of the cornfields of northern Iowa. We tried them with nothing but a simple T-shirt underneath, as well as over a light base layer, to see how each performed. We considered additional features that added to or detracted from each jacket's wind resistance, such as the configuration and adjustability of cuffs, hoods, hems, and necklines. We checked the zipper to see if it leaked any air as well.

wind breaker jacket womens - we field tested windbreakers across the country and internationally... — We field tested windbreakers across the country and internationally to find which ones are best at keeping you protected from the wind.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Breathability

We tested each jacket during high-output activities like running and biking to see which ones were comfortable to wear fully zipped and which built up a lot of sweat inside. We tried all the natural solutions that you would typically employ to vent yourself, such as unzipping your jacket and pushing up the sleeves. Additionally, we tested any special features a jacket may have had to aid venting and breathability, such as loosening hems or cuffs, using special snap straps to be able to unzip a jacket farther, etc.

wind breaker jacket womens - we worked up quite a sweat testing these jackets. — We worked up quite a sweat testing these jackets.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Versatility

Here we considered special features that might add to or detract from each jacket's ability to crossover between activities, such as pocket location vs. harness or hip belt location, and if hoods fit over helmets. We also considered the overall fit of each jacket — can you layer it over baselayers easily, or is it really only for warmer weather? Will it keep you protected through a wide range of movements? And let's be honest — does it look good? Is it a jacket you can wear in town and feel confident about, or is it so technical you'll look out of place in the city?

wind breaker jacket womens - for many of us, knowing if a hood can fit over a helmet or even a... — For many of us, knowing if a hood can fit over a helmet or even a beanie is important.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Packability

We weighed and compared the weight of each jacket in this review. We also packed each windbreaker up the way it was meant to be packed and compared the sizes of each resulting bundle. We also considered the compressibility of each jacket and whether that did or might affect its longevity.

wind breaker jacket womens - weight, size, and compactibility are all important factors in this... — Weight, size, and compactibility are all important factors in this metric.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Water Resistance

We field tested this metric by wearing jackets in whatever light to medium precipitation conditions we encountered. We even put some up to the harsh task of protecting testers from boat waves leaping over the side on a choppy day at sea. We also performed some more standardized tests to see how each jacket withstood standardized water exposure, by laying all the jackets out on the ground with a paper towel underneath the back and pouring water on each one. We not only noted how much water crept through, but also how long each jacket took to dry afterwards.