All of the models tested feature a waterproof fabric that is subsequently seam-taped after sewing, creating a completely sealed envelope. As the weather can change quickly and at times unexpectedly, it's these just-in-case packing scenarios when having a light, compact rain shell is useful, and there is less of a personal debate on whether to throw it in your running vest or the bottom of your pack. All of our testers value lightweight clothing and gear, but not at the expense of basic functionality. Obviously, the waterproof material itself is important, but with nearly all manufacturers offering a material that is more than adequate, those jackets with features that kept the rain out and move moisture scored the best. There are many waterproof fabrics and treatments that manufacturers use in the various models we tested. Next in line for the best freedom of movement and mobility are the Patagonia Storm10 Outdoor Research MicroGravity, REI Stormbolt GTX, The North Face Flight Lightriser and the Arc'teryx Zeta SL. Garden hose to the face and wrists? Base layer T-shirt? It's our review team's favorite jacket, thanks to its overall versatility and performance. However, these are small differences, and this model's price is hard to beat for the performance it provides; it blows away the competition in a similar price range. In this photo, lead tester paddled over 20 miles in the Broken Islands in non-stop rain. 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. Approximately half of these models stuff into one of their own pockets and others can be rolled and stuffed into their hoods. 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 Graham McDowell tests the range of motion of the Patagonia Torrentshell while climbing the Southwest Rib of South Early Winter Spire near Washington Pass in an early season snowstorm. Without question, a rain jacket's most important job is to keep its wearer dry, whether hiking, backpacking, ski-touring, or simply taking the dog out for a walk on a rainy day. We've taken them skiing, backpacking, and even mountaineering. Read review: The North Face Flight Lightriser FUTURELIGHT. L-R top row: Helium and Minimus, Essence, Resolve, Minimalist. The zipper pinching-induced pain only compounds itself the longer the trip, so if you're planning on using your rain jacket for activities like day hiking, backpacking, or mountaineering, steer clear of models with low front handwarmer pockets. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Photo: Graham Zimmerman and Ryan O'Connell rappeling while attempting to climb a new route in the Kitchatna's AK. This model is packed full of outdoor-centric features, offering some of the best overall weather protection and breathability in our review. In the backcountry; a hood that rolls away and stows can be appreciated but is generally a lot less of a big deal. While these jackets weren't designed with sea kayaking in mind, that didn't stop our review team from utilizing a trip to the West Coast of Vancouver Island to put them to the test. Remember that nearly everyone can drench even a t-shirt if they're working hard enough. Pit zips generally allow more moisture to escape than core vents, which is a fairly generic term for mesh-lined pockets that you can leave open to let a little moisture out. No ads. We compared each jacket with our arms facing straight forward, straight up, and straight out to the sides. While any hood can be worn under a helmet, it can be more convenient (and comfortable) if it can be pulled on and off quickly by fitting over the top. All the fabrics are plenty waterproof to keep you dry out in the rain. These pocket designs are popular with the casual crowd, but are often impractical while hiking since they are nearly inaccessible while wearing a pack or harness. This result of a jacket wetting out significantly reduces breathability in that area that is wet. After almost a decade of hands-on testing, we offer you unbiased and honest recommendations to help you get the best possible option for your needs. Our favorites were the Arc'teryx Zeta SL, Rab Kinetic 2.0 and the REI Drypoint GPX, while the Outdoor Research Foray, Patagonia Storm10, and Patagonia Torrentshell scored not too far behind. It is built for layering; we don't find you need to downsize unless you are truly between sizes, but you'll want to consider that it does run roomier. The REI Co-op Stormbolt GTX is a stormworthy jacket geared toward outdoor enthusiasts. When looking at the numbers, again more than half the jackets in this review don't have a static level of breathability and the exact amount of moisture you will pass will depend on your activity and the environmental conditions. If you're thru-hiking 2,650 miles, climbing technical terrain, or riding your bicycle from coast to coast, weight may (and should) be one of your primary concerns. Low pockets are slightly more comfortable for keeping your hands warm while cruising the farmer's market on a drizzly day for less technical applications. Of the highest value options on the market today, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L and REI Co-op XeroDry GTX are two of the best. Author Ian Nicholson is a professional internationally licensed IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide who has spent over 2,000 days guiding in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, the Andes, European Alps, and beyond. Our selection involves a wide range of products, from the most storm-worthy to the most budget-friendly, while also selecting some of the best models geared for specific applications or with specific attributes like being the most lightweight and packable or facilitating the greatest freedom of movement. We hope you enjoyed the review and that it helped you make your selection, until next time GearLab is reader-supported. While it takes a little more effort than most to pack it away in this pocket, we appreciate how much it compresses. For several of our testers whose pockets that are too low; too close to our hips can be a dealbreaker. Comfort and mobility are extremely important factors that are often under-considered when purchasing a jacket. Rain is not going to penetrate the fabrics that any of these jackets are constructed with. Likely wider than any other product there is an enormous price range of rain jacket options on the market today. Nothing like starting a trip on a very, very rainy day in Washington's North Cascades to learn a lot about different models and how they compare to one another. While some may not always feel like it all of these multi-layered fabrics are all breathable (to varying extents), meaning they all allow water vapor to be wicked through the material from the inside to the outside, where it can subsequently evaporate. However, even in this newly crowded sector of the market, the stretchiest of the stretchy Rab Kinetic 2.0 still manages to stand out. This one is rigid and provides no stretch; while we never felt it inhibited our movement, we are big believers that stretchy materials provide more comfort and better performance. Here, Mark M pushes the breathability to the max on a Marmot PreCip Jacket on a wet approach to Mt. A number of models in this review, like the Outdoor Research Microgravity, are air permeable. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, We tested rain jackets from Arc'teryx, REI, Outdoor Research, Patagonia, The North Face and more to find the very best. The model with the best range of motion was the ultra-stretchy Rab Kinetic 2.0. Pit zips, side zips, core vents, or other various zippered ventilation designs all have their place. We loaned these jackets out to our friends to get more opinions on less objective tests like comfort and fit; however, Ian personally tested each jacket in our review in the Cascade Mountains and temperate rainforests of Western Washington and while milling around Seattle, with a coffee in hand. A good hood design will keep the water out while moving with you and allowing you to hang on to a good amount of your peripheral vision. While on adventures that require wearing a pack, a majority of the jacket's pocket is under a weighted hip-belt strap and is frequently uncomfortable due to the zippers being pinched under the waistbelt (or harness) and the pockets themselves unusable. While you can buy a nicer, lighter, or more stormworthy rain shell, it will be tough to buy one for less money. It is tough to argue the utility of pockets, as everyone uses them at least some of the time. This means your jacket keeps breathing even after you've cooled off. Not all pockets are created equal, and their size and location can have a huge impact on their overall usefulness, depending on the user. Which jacket has the best range of motion? The reason being, if it's rain, but particularly if it's raining hard you'll likely batten down the hatches by closing the pit zips and cinching up the hood to keep the rain out, even if it means trapping some of your body-made moisture in. The most durable models in our review are the Marmot Minimalist, The North Face Apex, Arc'teryx Zeta SL, and Outdoor Research Foray. Graham Zimmerman wearing the lightest and most compressible jacket in our review, the Outdoor Research Helium Rain. We also conducted a series of side-by-side tests to help us quantify performance and better understand why and how each model directly compared to one another. Ian Nicholson climbing "Pretty Nuts" near Kicking Horse Pass in extremely wet conditions. The Zeta is one of the more breathable models in our test, yet it doesn't feature any pit zips and only has a main front zipper to dump heat. Basically, we measured if we could use them to dump heat while it was actually raining while hiking, trail running, and backpacking or otherwise enjoying the outdoors in active ways. When talking about hoods it is worth bringing up the Rab Kinetic 2.0 is of special note because it features an internal elastic band designed to ride directly on top of the wearer's forehead, acting as an internal gasket to the main hood. We love slightly elevated pockets that remain accessible under a pack. Neither are as high quality as our top-scoring models, but both are roughly half the price of higher-end products without a massive drop in performance. 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. From beanies to baseball caps, each one of these jackets featured hoods that cinched down over a range of headwear, maximizing the hood's ability to turn with its user's head instead of turning into it though our hands-down favorite hoods were on the Arc'teryx Zeta SL and the Patagonia Storm10. For the most part, the lighter the face fabric is, the easier it tears, or the faster it is to abrade. If you plan to use your jacket off-trail or while bushwhacking, choose a model with a higher denier and ripstop face fabric, and at least consider a polyester model. The Outdoor Research Helium Rain weighs in at 6.5 ounces and can be stuffed into a built-in reversible chest pocket with a clip-in loop, which is a nice feature for climbers carrying it on their harness. Some of the testings included a four-minute shower and a spray down with the garden hose. The Stormbolt GTX's cut is less bulky than the previous Drypoint, but it is still boxer than many cuts in our review. Most of the jackets tested use between 30-50 Denier face fabric, with the 50D shells being notably more robust than the 20-30D. As one of the lightest and most compact models in our review, it provides adequate storm protection while conveniently stowing away into its reversible chest pocket and packing down to roughly the size of your fist. Even on multi-day trips with perfect or less than perfect forecasts, packed size should be high on most outdoor enthusiasts' priority list. The Xerodry vastly outperforms all less expensive options while offering very comparable performance to a number of the more expensive ones. This Patagonia Torrentshell jacket withstood quite a bit of bushwhacking use and abuse, particularly considering its weight and price. On the less expensive end are various products that use coated membrane fabrics, which generally aren't as long-lasting or as breathable as laminated membranes. "Wets" out slightly quicker than comparable models, Mesh stuff pocket leaves something to be desired, Wets out slightly faster than others in prolonged downpours. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. For a similar price, many shells we tested offer better storm protection. People are often more worried about being too cold, but in our experience, we see far more people wear way too much clothing and end up too hot even when it's "cold out". These models all do an excellent job of sealing out precipitation in all of its forms and have well-designed wrist cuffs and hoods that can be cinched down to help seal out the elements, keeping us dry. Some compress quite small but require wrestling to get them stowed; others fit comfortably into their stuff pocket. The Venture, with its 50D external face fabric, was on the tougher end of jackets we tested. Hood design is one of the most important aspects of a waterproof jacket. The jackets we evaluated that do not stuff into one of their pockets can be rolled into their hood as shown here. Our review team conducted our tests several times, comparing models with lots of ventilation options and compared and contrasted performance keeping vents completely closed, partially open, and completely open to best get a sense of how each model performed. Most of these models breathe quite well. The effectiveness of each model's hood (of keeping our heads dry while not chafing our chins or cutting off our peripheral vision) varied wildly. As crazy as this sounds, and trust us, most of our review team was skeptical, it turned out to be comfortable and effective, maintaining top-notch peripheral vision. Each proves to be able to handle anything we could hope a backpacking-oriented rain jacket could take. The REI Co-Op XeroDry GTX is a nicely-designed model featuring Gore-Tex at an unbelievable price. What is an air-permeable fabric or jacket? Related: How to Choose the Right Rain Jacket. You can have all the best features in the world and the most packable product, but if your rain jacket doesn't do an adequate job of keeping you dry, not a whole lot else matters. This jacket is designed to be worn in terrible conditions and is ever-so-slightly heavier and bulkier; however, for 3-4 extra ounces, it packs some serious storm protection. It is fine for a few hours of wet hiking or ice climbing, snowshoeing, or ski touring in the snow but hanging out in camp on a rainy day we'd rather have something else. Over the last 10 years, we've tested over 50 of the best rain jackets. Even the most breathable models have a limit on the amount of moisture they are able to pass through. This is where stretchy fabrics and specific designs really stood out. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. However, for people who are likely to stow their shell in the bottom of their pack and only break it out for a few hours every other trip, it's hard to beat. Both offer great functionality and will keep you dry in most rainy conditions. Our team focuses on each product's face fabric when assessing its overall durability, as this is the layer that has the most impact on a given product's tear and abrasion resistance, as well as how well its DWR might hold up. We did this to help find weak or potentially problematic spots and to get a feel for how long it took them to wet out. Another essential component of a jacket's water resistance is its Durable Water Repellent or DWR treatment. Range of motion is an advantage possessed by many of the stretchier models. A rain jacket needs to stand up to the demands its user places on it. While these two fabrics scored the best overall, there were several proprietary air-permeable models and fabrics, like the Rab Kinetic using Proflex and Outdoor Research MicroGravity using Ascentshell, which allows for exceptional breathability and were nearly as breathable. Rain creates three pounds per square inch of pressure being applied to the fabric; however, most waterproof breathable fabrics can withstand a lot more than that. When poorly designed, you'll face issues like obstructed peripheral vision, discomfort, and a lack of compatibility to different headwear. They are a little more expensive than the lowest-priced models in our review but provide a significant step up in performance. This is particularly true among the lightest models, which are exponentially less durable than products weighing three to five ounces more. We prefer models with higher handwarmer pockets, or at least lower-profile zippers to minimize pinching. The other advantage of most air-permeable models is how stretchy they are and the Kinetic offers excellent articulation, an athletic cut, and the stretchiest fabric we have ever seen. We feature several air-permeable models in our review; the Rab Kinetic and Outdoor Research MicroGravity being two of our favorites. Quite close in weight is the The North Face Flight Lightriser at seven ounces which while around half an ounce heavier is more breathable and stretchier while providing very comparable weather protection. We note small features, like a microfleece patch at the chin or soft fabric where the hood rests on your brow, which are appreciated touches that feel nicer. After extensive testing, we found the REI Stormbolt GTX and the Arc'teryx Zeta SL, both constructed with thinner materials and Gore-Tex and Gore-tex PacLite Plus laminates, proved to breathe the best; for those interested, the Zeta SL offers little in the way of ventilation. Compared to several higher-end models, we found the XeroDry had a slightly clammier interior and a tendency to wet out faster than spendier 3-layer models. Again it isn't that the Kinectic doesn't offer solid weather resistance; there are just a handful of burlier models that perform even better for straight-up hanging out in the rain. While we know everyone would like their rain jacket to last an eternity, in reality, many people might be better off going with a lighter weight model that they will use infrequently and carry around a good chunk of the time. We considered two main factors when awarding scores for this metric. Hood designs varied considerably between jackets. You've likely asked yourself something along the lines of "is this piece of gear really the extra money over that piece of gear? This model does have a few downsides, though these downsides are only when directly compared to more expensive models, most of which feature Gore-Tex rather than a more price-oriented, proprietary 2.5-layer coated-membrane option.