You need to be prepared for rain. Even if you have listened to your favorite weather forecasters, they can still get wrong. For outdoor enthusiasts, they should be ready for these circumstances. The best rain jackets are great for times when a storm hits unexpectedly and you need protection. They can keep you dry when you take a walk, bike, or even while you are commuting to work.
A rain jacket should become a part of your outdoor clothing system. It can shield you from the elements and everything that bad weather can throw at you.
Check the following rain jackets, as they are among the best selections that you can have for this particular amenity. For guaranteed waterproofing, you should seriously consider the options listed below.
| Shell | Fit | |
| Arc’teryx Zeta SL Rain Jacket | Ripstop Gore-Tex PACLITE Plus | Men’s |
| The North Face Journey Jacket | Recycled nylon | Women’s |
| REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket | Recycled nylon | Men’s |
| Outdoor Research Aspire GORE-TEX Jacket | Polyester | Women’s |
| Rab Kinetic 2.0 Jacket | Recycled polyester | Men’s |
| Arc'teryx Fraser Jacket | Polyester | Men’s |
| Marmot Minimalist Lightweight Waterproof Rain Jacket | Polyester | Men’s |
Clad yourself with one of the best mid-category rain jackets out there. The Arc'teryx Zeta SL Rain Jacket is a waterproof and windproof utility that can prevent you from getting wet while you are on the trail. It is both available in both men's and women's fit, so anyone can find their perfect sizes here. Moreover, it has an excellent next-to-skin feel, thanks to its PACLITE Plus fabric.
It's also compact and packable, making it ideal for backpacking trips. It has an adjustable StormHood hoodie to fully protect your head from rain and snow. Its front zipper has a seamless construction so that water will not pass through them. Meanwhile, both its cuffs and hem are adjustable, too. They can improve the insulation of the jacket and keep your body warm throughout your trip.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION:
If you don't want storms and snow to put your trip to stop, then you should try wearing The North Face Journey Jacket. This unit offers a waterproof and breathable architecture. It has been tailored from highly rugged recycled nylon, which formed its seam-sealed DryVent shell. It also has a ripstop trait that made it extra durable for multiple uses. This jacket includes an adjustable hood so that you can have extended protection in your head.
Its adjustable hook-and-loop cuff tabs guarantee that the jacket can shield your body from the rain and the elements. With its pit zips, you can shed its head once it gets hot already. That's extra handy if you want to wear this jacket even if it is already bright outside. Interestingly, it has two zippered hand pockets where you can put all your small essentials and accessories. Don't worry about a snug fit since it comes with a hem cinch cord that is designed for that.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION:
The REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket is an outdoor-worthy option for those who want to test their gears against the elements. It has a recycled ripstop nylon shell, which makes it extra impervious against wind and rain. Speaking of, it can withstand winds up to 60 miles per hour without compromising its breathability. It remains dry on the inside, even if the external setting is already watery.
The jacket also features sealed seams so that water can't pass through it. Moreover, the shell has been treated with durable water repellent to prevent your body and inner clothing from getting wet. With its pit zips, ventilation is never an issue. It can remove the heat from your system; it is a beneficial feature that helps you regulate your temperature and match your environment. The REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket also includes a dual-adjustment mechanism that enables you to get the perfect fit.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION:
The Outdoor Research Aspire GORE-TEX Jacket is a wonderful choice for women who want to continue their adventures amidst unfavorable elements. This one is tailored from a 50-denier polyester, which helps in adding insulation to the body. The shell is also covered by two layers of Gore-Tex PACLITE so that water and wind won't be able to breach through its construction.
Moreover, the jacket also features the patented TorsoFlo venting system. Specifically, the latter enables you to unzip the jacket from its hem to bicep so that you will be wearing it like a poncho. The same mechanism also lets you release the heat you've gathered in your body. One of its unique features is its left-hand pocket that acts as a stuff sack so that you can pack it immediately once the weather is already bright and sunny. A carabiner loop allows you to clip the jacket to a harness or backpack.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION:
This multi-sport rain jacket is all you need to ensure that you can handle the elements in your trip. This gear has a unique shell construction, featuring the combination of recycled polyester with 3-layer Proflex fabric and PU membrane. Such intricate architecture enabled the jacket to feature impressive waterproofing and breathability. Furthermore, this shell has a stretch quality, making it extra comfortable.
With its under-helmet elasticated hood, it can provide you with more stable and durable head protection than most of its counterparts. The hood has an adjustment mechanism, too, so that you'll get it perfectly fitted to your head and neck anatomy. Meanwhile, both its front and side pockets are protected by YKK AquaGuard zippers. These zippers resist damages caused by the elements while ensuring that they can block the water from entering the jacket.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION:
If you don't want yourself to be soaked by unexpected torrential rains, then you should consider wearing the Arc'teryx Fraser Jacket. After all, the primary purpose of this jacket is to ensure that its user can have a reliable wind and water defense while they are on the move. It is designed for casual activities, but you can still use it on off-the-grid pursuits. Specifically, its polyester fabric is embedded by a 3-layer Gore-Tex laminate; the latter is seemingly impervious against the elements.
The Arc'teryx Fraser Jacket also boasts the adjustable StormHood, which significantly increases the coverage of the protection that it gives to you. Meanwhile, its two chest pockets and two hand pockets have concealed zippers installed on them. They can stash your essentials and prevent them from getting wet. These zippers are seamless; even moisture will have difficulties in by-passing them. With the jacket's internal cuff gasket and hem drawcord, you will be able to adjust the jacket's fit to your own bidding.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION:
This men's rain jacket from Marmot does not lack anything; when it comes to weather protection, I can guarantee that this gear is one of the best options that you have. Woven from 100 percent polyester, the Marmot Rain Jacket exudes exceptional durability. But at the same time, it is not that heavy, which makes it an impressive choice for enthusiasts who don't want to be burdened by heavy layers. It also got a Gore-Tex PACLITE fabric on its shell to ensure that the elements can breach it. The entire jacket has been seam-taped, too, to avoid leaks.
And if that's enough, then let me notify you that the jacket's fabric has been treated with PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR). Hence, there's a certainty that water can be repelled from the surface of the shell. Like some of the units here, this Marmot rain jacket also features underarm pit zips that help in ventilation and regulating your body temperature. Meanwhile, its articulated elbow construction prevents this equipment from obstructing your movement. Its adjustable hood extends the weather protection that it can give to you.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION:
As the weather is about to change, so are your mindset and the things you like to do. You start to think about buying a great rain jacket that will keep you dry when it is pouring outside.
For outdoor goers, a rain jacket is not just an optional piece of equipment; it is a staple gear that should be a part of their clothing system. If you are expecting downpours in your camping and backpacking trips, you should be equipped with a high-quality rain jacket.
But how do you choose a rain jacket that can provide sufficient protection against the elements?
When it comes to rain jackets, we often see the term waterproof and water-resistant. While they might indicate the same thing, they perform differently.
A waterproof jacket is only waterproof when it can prevent water from passing through its fabric down to your other layers. If a major manufacturer states that their rain jackets are waterproof, then you can say that they can shield you from the downpour and heavy splashes.
Meanwhile, a water-resistant jacket can keep out water for a short period. Most of the time, they are only suitable for light rain. If they meet storms, they will eventually soak from water. Featherweight jackets and windbreakers are among the examples of water-resistant jackets.
Other rain jackets are classified as waterproof/breathable. They can keep the rain out while ensuring that your sweat will be wicked off effectively. If your activity requires a lot of moving around, this type of rain jacket is your best choice.
All the rain jackets I featured above are waterproof and breathable. Therefore, they should become your best bet for a foolproof adventure on a rainy day.
Similar to waterproof and water-resistant, windproof and wind-resistant are two different things, too. For some manufacturers, a windproof jacket should be able to withstand 60 miles per hour of winds.
Interestingly enough, a waterproof jacket can be automatically windproof, too. The reason for this is because of the natural construction of waterproof jackets. Specifically, they are built like seamless shields that block every element possible.
Laminated layers can also be considered waterproof, but for some, they can only serve as decent wind-resistant technologies.
The shell is the fabric that makes up the entire jacket. Contextually, the term should mean the same thing when it comes to your backpacks, pants, and other types of equipment that are made from fabric and similar materials.
For rain jackets, the following types of the shell should be considered:
When it comes to buying the best rain jacket, it's not that easy to generalize and say that one is clearly better than the other, as people have different needs and preferences. Hence, you should still take into account your intended application every time you choose this gear. In this way, you can find the jacket that provides the right specifications that can support your activity and prevent the elements from bothering you.
That's it for now. If you have inquiries, feel free to ask me in the comment section below.
