5 Best Rain Jackets for 2019: Lightweight, Hiking, and More

Every time I slip on a rain jacket, I give thanks that we no longer have to wrap ourselves in smelly seal skin or bulky rubber slickers to stay dry. Advances in weatherproof textiles and apparel design mean that rain jackets today are more comfortable and watertight than ever before. But depending on the climate and your level of activity, sorting through different styles, technologies, and waterproofing ratings can be confusing.

To help, I tested about 15 different waterproof rain jackets through a long, wet Pacific Northwestern winter. I also consulted Amber Williams, a consumer science educator and lecturer in textile science and pattern making at Utah State University’s outdoor product design department, for advice on how to pick the best rain jacket possible.

Update November 2019: We added new picks, like the North Face Flight, and removed an old one.

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1. Best Lightweight Rain Jacket

Photograph: The North Face

The Flight jacket isn’t the lightest jacket I tested. It’s a three-layer jacket, as compared with the lighter two- or two and a half-layer jackets like the Marmot Bantamweight, which is still a great pick. But it’s breathable, without a ton of vents and perforations that let rain or cold air inside. The North Face’s Futurelight fabric was developed from nanospinning techniques that were originally used in water filtration systems and smartphone electronics casings. The spiderweight webs are waterproof and perfluorocarbon-free.

The Flight jacket has standard running jacket features, like an adjustable hood, stash pocket, and an elasticized waistband and cuffs. But it’s soft and flexible enough to do away with many of the darts and gussets that rain jacket manufacturers use to give the wearer more range of motion. The North Face also devised its own proprietary soft, thin seam tape to keep water out of the jacket’s vulnerable points.

The North Face Flight Jacket costs $280 at REI and Backcountry

2. Best City Rain Jacket

Photograph: Adidas

OK, so Adidas Outdoor’s Urban Climaproof jacket isn’t as durable as some of our other picks. Adidas uses Climaproof as its proprietary DWR-treated polyester, so the waterproof agent will wear off faster than some of the others that we’ve featured. But it has so many fun design details that I had to include it. If you live in a city and are frequently popping in and out of buildings, or switching from walking to riding scooters or e-bikes, this is a great pick.

It sometimes feels more like a thought experiment than a rain jacket. For example, it doesn’t have a cinched waist. Instead, you can unbutton large flaps on either side to turn it into a poncho, exposing your core and a pair of zip-up pockets. The hood can be rolled up and buttoned when not in use, and it has a grommet in the pocket for your wired headphones, if you haven’t jumped on board the Bluetooth headphone train. I particularly liked how the unbuttoned flaps protected my thighs when I hopped on my bike, the big reflective stripes at the nape of the neck, and the soft, breathable mesh lining.

The Adidas Outdoor Urban Climaproof costs $150 at Zappos and Moosejaw

3. Most Eco-friendly Rain Jacket

Marmot Eclipse Rain Jacket ($250)

Photograph: Marmot

Earlier this year, I recommended Fjällraven’s Keb Eco Shell because the company uses a proprietary PFC-free spray as a waterproofing agent. But the best rain jacket is one that you won’t have to treat or replace, and so far the Marmot Eclipse with EVODry has held up.

It rains a lot here in Portland. In between biking my kids to school, walking my dog, and waiting sullenly for sushi food carts to open, I usually wear off the DWR on a rain jacket in about a year. That isn’t the case with the Eclipse; water is still beading on the surface after months of wear. Marmot’s EVODry fabric uses a technology called AquaVent, which uses high-pressure gas to press water repellents directly into the jacket’s fibers, where it is thermally polymerized into place. In addition to being more durable, it also doesn’t produce a lot of toxic wastewater as a byproduct and it’s a lot easier to clean.

The Marmot Eclipse costs $250 at Amazon and Backcountry

4. Best Hiking Rain Jacket

Photograph: Arc’teryx

Arc’teryx started as a high-end climbing brand, designing climbing harnesses in 1989. For a few extra ounces and extra bucks, you get a very fancy technical jacket. The Zeta SL is their emergency shell, and it’s made from Gore-Tex Paclite Plus, a two-layer fabric that feels less sticky and clammy on your skin.

At 9.5 ounces, it’s a little hard to pack into a pocket. But for that extra weight, you get features like comfy microsuede on the chin guard, so you don’t scrape up your face, and a hanger loop, to let it dry and air out after use. It also has plasticized, water-resistant zippers, a laminated hood brim, and protective zipper flaps that prevent water from seeping in.

As you might expect from a climbing brand, all of Arc’teryx’s jackets are designed for full articulation in the arms and chest. While Amber Williams cautions against lots of seaming, I couldn’t help but appreciate the freedom of motion while hiking and biking. It’s also fully seam-sealed.

The Arc’teryx Zeta SL costs $299 at REI

5. Best Affordable Rain Jacket

Photograph: REI

For less than $100, it is tough to find rain jackets that offer better value than the Rainier. It uses high-quality laminate waterproofing instead of the less expensive coating many cheaper rain jackets tend to rely on. (Read more below on laminates and layers.) Rather than bonding a waterproof, breathable membrane below the shell fabric, manufacturers will save money by just coating the inner surface with a waterproof, breathable film. It’s less pricey, but also less durable than three-layer construction.

I was finally able to test the Rainier, and it has many great features that are tough to find in rain jackets at this price point. For example, it’s made from recycled nylon and has venting pit zips. It’s also seam-taped and has a weatherproof center zip and an adjustable, packable hood. For casual day hikes and traveling, the Rainier jacket is a great choice.

Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket costs $70 at REI

Honorable Mentions

Photograph: Patagonia

Patagonia Cloud Ridge ($249) is also great for hiking: Many people choose Patagonia for its record on sustainability, and they may be disappointed by its choice to stay with a DWR that isn’t PFC-free. However, in 2016, the company switched from the DWR treatment with a longer chemical structure, or C8 PFCs, to one with a shorter molecule that is easier to break down. The Cloud Ridge includes a stuff sack, and the hood is helmet-compatible.
Janji Rainrunner ($196) is a good running jacket: Pit zips can be a conundrum for me. I get swampy while running, but cold air blasting under my arms is uncomfortable. Janji’s trail running jacket is basically a waterproof tank top layered underneath a long-sleeved crop top, with a full 360 degrees of venting around the core. The jacket’s long tail also protects my bum while I’m riding my bike.
Mission Workshop Sans ($475) is for textile nerds: You’ll also want to touch this one. It’s made from a three-layer fabric that uses a microporous membrane made exclusively for Mission Workshop by the Japanese textile company Toray for the venting layer. It performs just as well in the rain as the Bantamweight (unsurprisingly, with a 30K/30K rating), but the lining feels silky and luxurious.
I really like REI’s in-house jackets: I am continually surprised at the value for the price with REI’s line. Its casual rain jackets have plenty of nice features, work well, and cost hundreds of dollars less than many of my other picks. I’ve also seen REI try experimental fabrics like eVent, a direct-venting fabric technology in its Co-op Stormrealm Jacket ($124) that’s fantastic for alpine applications and is normally used in much pricier outerwear.

Understanding Rain Jacket Tech

The North Face Futurelight at CES 2019

Photograph: WIRED

Trying to decipher jackets’ product specs is almost as annoying as getting soaked by a sudden cloudburst on the trail.

Look for laminated layers: Most technical waterproof jackets are referred to as two- or three-layer jackets. These layers usually consist of a face fabric that has been treated with a waterproofing agent like Durable Water Repellent, or DWR, which is a thin mesh for releasing water vapor, and a protective interior lining underneath. In general, Amber Williams suggests that for greater durability, you’ll want to look for layers that have been laminated together, rather than merely coated with a waterproofing agent.

Waterproof and breathability ratings: Manufacturers usually rate each fabric based on its waterproofing and breathability. For example, a rain jacket with a waterproof rating of 20,000 means that if you had an endlessly long 1-inch square tube, you could pour 20,000 millimeters of water on top of the fabric before it would start seeping through (that’s over 65 feet!). A 20,000 breathability rating means that 20,000 grams of water vapor can pass through the fabric going the other direction. While the higher breathability rating might seem better, you might want to think twice if you’ll be out in the cold. Body heat can escape a breathable jacket almost as easily as water vapor.

Fantastic fabrics: While Gore-Tex remains the gold standard in terms of waterproofing performance, new fabrics are coming out all the time. I was particularly excited for the North Face’s Futurelight technology, which we saw at CES this year. Nanospinning allows the North Face to create a spider-weight waterproof breathable fabric, which can be adapted for all kinds of garments—a T-shirt, a dress—but will also allow designers to create garments with far fewer seams. The fewer the seams, the fewer vulnerable points which can degrade and let water seep in. Unfortunately, no North Face rain jackets will be available until Autumn 2019.

Check the seams and zippers: If you want your rain jacket to last longer than an amusement park poncho, look at the seams. Shoulders are particularly vulnerable points, as most outdoor sports require you to wear a backpack that can rub and damage them. “Design lines look really sexy, but over time, they’re not going to last as long,” said Williams. Other features to look for include plasticized, water-resistant zippers and protective zipper flaps. That’s why our rain jacket picks are so expensive—a lot of new fabric tech and a lot of design details!

Care for your jacket: You can also vastly extend the life of your jacket by caring for it properly. Hang it—don’t store it crammed in an abrasive, tiny stuff sack. If you notice grease, dirt, or sunscreen, or notice that water is no longer beading on the surface, you’ll need to wash it. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You may need a specialized detergent—many fabric detergents will leave residues that can interfere with DWR’s performance. Avoid fabric softener, bleaches, dry cleaning, or the dryer.