No model can match the Zeta's exceptional across the board performance, while others might stand out for a specific niche. Approximately half of these models stuff into one of their own pockets and others can be rolled and stuffed into their hoods. Ultralight Pertex Shield fabric is also waterproof and breathable so if you’re looking for lightweight and fully featured, this is definitely a high contender. While these are fine for wearing for short periods of time, they are not very “breathable” and tend to be heavier than 2.5 or 3 layer packable jackets. The rain jackets in our review range from $100 to $250, with half of them at or below $150. Photo: Testing and comparing the breathability of different layers while making a one-day ascent of Mt. If you purchase too small of a rain jacket, it will become impossible to properly layer warm insulation under it. Especially in windy, stormy conditions. Set yourself up for success and wear the minimum layers you can get away with while using the vents to maximize the air exchange, dump heat, and allow moisture to escape. More importantly, we evaluated how much the vents could be open in the rain while hiking, trail running, and backpacking. Women’s Model: The North Face Women’s Venture 2 Jacket. That said, there’s often no choice but to go with something that doesn’t have reinforcements if you want lightweight or ultralight rain gear. By Brock Akers, Rokslide Moderator. Most hikers prefer a rain jacket that stuffs into a pocket and zips up. A 3-layered rain jacket is designed with a highly resistant waterproof face fabric or heavy-duty shell, a membrane, and an interior material or mesh lining. I’ve suffered through many wet Pacific Northwest winters without a proper day-to-day rain jacket. A well designed hood is one of the most important factors influencing how dry a rain jacket is going to keep you. These breathe best when there is a big temperature difference (which creates a pressure difference) between the user and the outside environment; for example, if you are hiking uphill and it's cold and rainy outside, these types of materials stand a chance to breathe better. The advantage of Ascentshell and other air-permeable materials is the high and steady level of breathability, regardless of user temperature or external environmental factors. Even for those of you who may not be as concerned with weight and bulk as I am, it’s a simple truth of backpacking that we only have so much space in our pack and our backs are only capable of carrying a limit of weight. Only one way to find out. My hiking rain jacket serves two purposes: keep me dry from the outside, and keep wind from cutting through my under layers. Breathability and ventilation are both significant factors in keeping the wearer dry, minimizing how wet they get from their own sweat. Range of motion is an advantage possessed by many of the stretchier models. Here, Tester Ian Nicholson tends a backcountry breakfast on a stormy morning. A majority of waterproof breathable fabrics require a pressure differential to start breathing. We swapped these jackets to our friends to get more opinions on less objective tests like comfort and fit, but Ian personally tested each jacket in our review for months in the temperate rainforests of Western Washington, and milling around Seattle, with a coffee in hand. Rain jackets normally use a 2, 2.5 or a 3 layer construction. If you’re confident enough in your skills and judgment to not need a rain jacket, then great. Introduction. "@type": "Answer", If you plan to hike while wearing your rain jacket, then pit zips are a must-have.They are a major benefit and I would argue they’re one of the best features of a good backpacking rain jacket so I’d encourage you to check them out and put it to the test!The Venture II has adjustable hood with a draw cord, Velcro adjustable cuffs and hem cinch-cord round out a solid choice with robust features that will keep you dry in any weather.With a lifetime warranty, the Venture is one of the best lightweight rain jackets you can buy.Women’s Model: The North Face Women’s Venture 2 Jacket  The North Face Venture 2 Rain Jacket at a Glance:Shell: 100% Rip Stop NylonWaterproofing: Seam-sealed DryVent™Adjustable roll-up storm hoodPit-zip venting. Often they’re made with heat bonded layers of waterproof material. But don’t tell search and rescue I recommended it. Those reinforcements are most important for technical backpacking though, like mountaineering or climbing. Rapha Core Rain Jacket – review Simple but effective emergency layer, which does a decent job of keeping the rain and wind out . We extensively tested each model in the real world; we also conducted a series of side-by-side tests to quantify performance and better understand how models compared to each other. The bottom line is when working or recreating in stormy weather, the more active your endeavors, the more significant the importance of breathability becomes. These air-permeable models were more breathable than the rest of the none-air permeable products we tested. Best Value: RAGEMALL Women ' s Raincoats Windbreaker Rain Jacket Waterproof Lightweight Outdoor Hooded Trench Coats. Category: Hiking/daily use. The breathable construction and ventilation features will keep you on the move, without heating up when it is pouring outside. Outdoor Research is a company I have long loved for hats and gloves. However, it’s sometimes not strictly necessary. Skip past the reviews and you'll find our handy buying guide at the bottom of the page. Waterproof breathable is more expensive. If you’re looking for a proven packable rain jacket with time tested reliability, this is it. "name": "Do I need a rain jacket in the summer? If you're warm before you start, and you're taking part in aerobic activity, you'll likely produce far more sweat than your jacket can handle. }, { The Drypoint is slightly less steamy inside than other high-end performers during high-energy activities and is way more breathable than models that feature coated waterproof-breathable fabrics. It’s by far the best backpacking rain jacket in my gear closet in terms of the features important to hikers. Nice features include a microfleece-lined zipper and good fitting cuffs. All waterproof backpacking rain jackets feature a shell or outer face fabric which has a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) so water beads off and is repelled. The end. We considered over 90 different rain jackets before choosing the best 16. This model is better for more aerobic activities, where a stretchy, mobility-focused design and top-tier breathability are more important than absolute storm protection. It's a great option for most who are likely to carry their rain jacket in their pack while adventuring. The new insanely light and compact Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket practically disappears in your pack like no other model can. If you know you're going to have a week of bad weather on a backcountry trip and will wear your rain jacket every day, you'll want to consider looking elsewhere. Marmot Precip Rain Jacket at a Glance:Shell: 100% Rip Stop Nylon Waterproofing: Polyurethane CoatedAdjustable roll-up storm hood 100% seam-taped BEST LIGHTWEIGHT RAIN JACKET. (Not bad when some have a $450-700 asking price.) If you're wearing your jacket around town, having room in the pockets for a pair of gloves and a warm hat or a phone and keys can be nice. it weighs in at 14 oz. It’s really up to you to determine the best combination of qualities in your next trail running, hiking or backpacking rain jacket. While it might shed some rain, it’s more prone to wear and tear by it’s lightweight design. The layers may be bonded together so it only looks like one layer. The downside is the inner liner can feel a bit clammy when you start sweating. It's practically impossible for a waterproof fabric to allow out as much sweat as a hard-working cyclist can produce, so you can get very hot and sweaty if you're going hard. Best Rain Jackets For Hiking – Expert Review (2021) Looking for the best hiking rain jacket for your next trip? As I’ve said before, however, WPB fabric is rarely my go-to fabric of choice but in this case, it just happens to make sense. One last thing to consider if you will be using the jacket for climbing and having a helmet compatible hood. Got feedback? We only make recommendations we have complete confidence in and use ourselves. "acceptedAnswer": { This is one of our favorite jackets for its overall versatility despite a couple of minor caveats. All waterproof backpacking rain jackets feature a shell or outer face fabric which has a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) so water beads off and is repelled. Each proves to be able to handle anything we could hope a backpacking oriented rain jacket could take. Some jackets add larger fabric pull tabs to the zipper rather than small pieces of cord to ease operating with cold fingers or gloves. More price pointed models use proprietary fabrics that'll do the trick but won't perform as well as a higher-end option. This product isn't as great for hanging out in camp in the rain, as it keeps breathing even when you aren't moving to result in heat loss. First, it’s important to wear a rain jacket which is sized large enough to fit any warmth layers you may be wearing underneath of it. These days I rarely even check the weather before heading out on a routine hike – it’ll rain if it wants to, I figure. It fits just above the knees and has a slim style that is lightweight and easy to store. As the lightest and most compact model in our review, it provides more than adequate storm protection while conveniently stowing away into its reversible chest pocket, packing down to roughly the size of your fist. "@context": "https://schema.org", This treatment is factory applied to the fabric's exterior and makes the water bead when it lands on the surface of the jacket, allowing it to shed it. A rain jacket needs to stand up to the demands of your activities - if it becomes ripped or shredded, no amount of features or special designs will keep you dry. 3-Layered Rain Jacket. Today there are tons of variations on waterproof breathable membranes and almost all of them are as good or better than Gore-Tex. It also goes up to a size 2X and … Made from a shell of denier ripstop nylon, this PU coated Men’s waterproof jacket is, perhaps, the most robust and durable jacket on our list. Ventilation: … Of course as rain gear they’re fantastic because they keep you dry when needed and they have large holes so you can dump heat and sweat as you hike. This means your jacket keeps breathing even after you've cooled off. Another essential component of a jacket's water resistance is its Durable Water Repellent or DWR treatment. Lastly, we evaluate the basic but essential bit about how each model felt as a whole. In the market for the perfect rain jacket? I, personally, also keep my rain layer in my outer mesh pocket and prefer to have something quite small and compressible. The sleeves run a bit longer than most jackets and the Velcro adjustable cuffs and drawcord hem allow for adjustability. A whole new wave of stretchy air-permeable models has flooded the market with the Outdoor Research Interstellar stands out. For that reason, I like to look for rain gear that has reinforced shoulders. "ratingValue": "4.75", With Velcro adjustable cuffs and hood and a drawstring hem round out the Marmot Precip and is in my opinion the best rain jacket for hiking you can buy. It's genuinely waterproof, and breathability has kept pace on middle distance commutes at a steady 16-17mph. I also find that no matter how breathable a fabric is, it never transmits perspiration fast enough to keep me from getting wet anyways. Ian estimates he has worn a rain jacket over 1,000 days over the last two decades because he guides AND lives in the rainy and wet Pacific Northwest. Often times, it's a "just in case" layer, brought along in the event of an afternoon thunderstorm, strong winds, or a drizzle that is not in the forecast. In the end, ventilation, while undoubtedly important, takes the backseat to breathability for practical, real-world use, as you may be unable to open ventilation points when it's pouring rain. The higher end rain jackets like the Arc’terex Zeta have this construction. He taught Alpine skiing at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah for several seasons before transitioning into freelance writing. These multi-layered fabrics are breathable to some extent, meaning they allow water vapor to be wicked through the material from the inside to the outside, where it can subsequently evaporate. }] If you want to comment or recommend a jacket I didn’t include, please use my contact form to get in touch. }, { While we wouldn't necessarily call it an all-around jacket, it's still versatile. The jacket kept me dry and warm while frantically setting up camp and slogging my way up Tombstone Territorial Park's Glissade Pass in a rainstorm—I even wore it as my sole outer layer while hiking in the park and experienced no leakage or moisture creeping in. Whether you’re the type of lady to enjoy a summer saunter or a long winter trek, a rain jacket is a must for any hike. This 2020 update features 12 of the market's top contenders. "name": "Are rain ponchos as good as rain jackets? We love the Foray. To my point in this review’s lead paragraph: At 12 ounces, the XeroDry Jacket is a midweight among rain shells—not an ultralight—precisely because it has a fully adjustable hood, pockets, a two-layer rather than a high-performance, three-layer membrane, and other features that actually keep you drier and more comfortable when the weather gets nasty. Women’s Model: Arc’teryx Zeta LT Jacket – Women’s. In the comfort portion of this metric, we take into account the small features that made a given product more comfortable to wear (and how easy specific features were to use), as well as the interior feeling; was it more or less clammy feeling on our bare skin? A clip-in loop (for use after the jacket has been stuffed) is a nice feature that many climbers or hikers will appreciate and use at some point. Here, Mark M pushes the breathability to the max on a Marmot PreCip Jacket on a wet approach to Mt. When the weather goes sideways, you want an umbrella that... the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Top-tier storm-worthiness, mobility and range of motion, hood design, long-lasting DWR, exceptional breathability, harness and hip-belt friendly pockets, Most breathable material in our review, lightweight and compressible, stretchy fabric, top-tier hood design, extremely stormworthy, Stormworthy, versatile, durable, comfortable, high level of ventilation, Stretchy, excellent mobility, breathable, light and packable, versatile, good storm protection, Stormworthy, cost, durable, versatile, good breathability and ventilation, waterproof pockets, No ventilation options, expensive, no easy way to clip to a harness, Cut is slightly on the boxy side, not as durable as other models, Hood is a bit shallow with a helmet on, hand pockets, can feel cold if standing around in the rain for extended periods, Excelling across the board, this jacket is versatile enough for outdoor activities and is lightweight and stormworthy, Offers top-tier weather resistance and breathability, coupled with low weight and minimal packed volume, With awesome ventilation capabilities, top-tier stormworthiness, and above average durability, this model is a great all-rounder, Best for activities where its stretchy fabric, solid mobility, and top-tier breathability are key, This is an awesome do-anything piece and one of our favorites, 2-layer GORE-TEX PACLITE Plus waterproof breathable laminate, 2.5 layer Gore-tex with PacLite Technology, 40-denier ripstop (N40r) GORE-TEX PACLITE Plus, 50D w/ Gore-tex PacLite waterproof breathable membrane, 20D mechanical stretch ripstop face with 100% polyester 12D backer. I really like their attention to detail, fitment, and styling and the Helium II is one of the best packable rain jackets on the market right now. Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket and Pants Review D uring my first long-distance hike (not counting Boy Scout 50-milers and a trek around the Annapurna massif in Nepal many moons ago), I was furious when my rain jacket failed to protect my phone during a torrential downpour in the La Garita Wilderness in southern Colorado. After a waterproof garment is stitched together, adhesive tape is applied along all of the seams in the garment to ensure no water leaks in. Best Ultralight Rain Jacket. After years of hands-on testing, we offer you unbiased and honest recommendations that can help you find exactly what you're looking for. 1st March 2017. Some models have mesh-lined pockets for additional ventilation. A: This question begs the introspection of breathable vs non-breathable. A: Many lightweight hikers are going for ponchos again instead of jackets. So, no matter your needs, make sure to inspect and review your new rain jacket before purchasing because some manufacturers like to deceive us consumers about the true features and reliability of waterproof products. Let weight be the final deciding factor if you're torn between two products that meet your needs. While these three fabrics scored the best overall, there were a number of the proprietary air-permeable models and fabrics, like the Rab Kinetic Plus using Proflex and Outdoor Research Interstellar using Ascentshell, which allows for exceptional breathability. This means air can pass through the fabric itself, and on a micro-level, these models aren't technically windproof and don't require as much internal heat build-up as more traditional fabrics. Seam tape does not last forever, however, and you can expect it to eventually delaminate and then the garment will fail to be waterproof. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of gear. This Patagonia Torrentshell jacket withstood quite a bit of bushwhacking use and abuse, particularly considering its weight and price.

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