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Every time I slip on a rain jacket, I give thanks that we no longer have to wrap ourselves in thick, smelly sealskin to stay dry. The best rain jackets today are more comfortable and watertight than ever, thanks to advances in weatherproof textiles and apparel design. But depending on the climate and your level of activity, sorting through different styles, technologies, and waterproof ratings can be confusing.
Every year, I test a dozen or so rain jackets through the soggy Pacific Northwest winter and false spring. I hike, bike, run, and walk my dogs—sometimes I even stand in the shower with my clothes on when the weather isn’t cooperating. I also got advice from Amber Williams, a consumer science educator and lecturer in textile science and pattern making at Utah State University’s Outdoor Product Design program. All to find the rain jackets worth your time and money.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our outdoor coverage, including the Best Umbrellas, Best Puffer Jackets, Best Running Shorts, and Best Merino Wool Clothes.
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Updated April 2025: We added the Gorewear Concurve Windbreaker, the MEC x Aquanator, the Montbell Versalite, the Rab Cinder Phantom, and the 66 North Snaefell rain jacket.
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Understanding Rain Jacket Tech
Photograph: REI; Getty Images
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, which is a thin mesh for releasing water vapor, plus a protective interior lining underneath. In general, for greater durability you’ll want to look for layers that have been laminated together, rather than merely coated with a waterproofing agent. That’s the advice of Amber Williams, the consumer science educator and lecturer from Utah State University.
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.
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,” Williams says. 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 vastly extend the life of your items by properly caring for them. Hang your jacket—don’t store it crammed in an abrasive, tiny stuff sack. If you see stains from 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 the durable water repellent’s (DWR) performance. Avoid fabric softener, bleaches, dry cleaning, and the dryer.
Best Rain Jacket for Everyday Use
Since the 1960s, modern rainwear has relied on carcinogenic perfluorocarbons (PFCs), or “forever chemicals.” Modern durable water repellents (DWRs) use PFCs in manufacturing, which then migrate from your clothing into soil and streams as you tromp around outside. Today, many companies are making steps to reduce the levels of PFAS in their products, probably because states are banning these kinds of chemicals. In 2023, popular outdoor retailer REI announced it would phase out any products with PFAS in its stores.
If you want to be dead certain that your jacket does not have PFAS, you can’t go wrong with a classic rubber raincoat, like Stutterheim’s Stockholm raincoat. Technical rain jacket manufacturers tend to shy away from polyurethane, because it’s, well, rubbery. But the material is durable, long-lasting, windproof, waterproof, and PFC-free! I also prefer rubber rain jackets in damp coastal climates, like the Pacific Northwest. Breathability is less of a sticking point when the air is already humid.
This is the only rain jacket I’ve ever bought with my own money, because I’m so tired of having to replace my rain jacket every few years when the waterproofing wears off. I wear the Stockholm almost every day. The outer covering is made from 100 percent rubberized PVC with a cotton lining, so you don’t squeak like a duck when wearing it.
It’s true to size and roomy enough to layer a down vest under it. It has double-welded seams to keep the water out, and the hood is large enough for a baseball cap or a large beanie. I also like the buttons; when I’m just throwing on a jacket to walk the dog, it’s faster and easier than making sure a seam-sealed zipper doesn’t get caught in a storm flap. If you also live in a rainy climate and are sick of re-waterproofing your rain jacket every season, get one of these.
★ Alternatives: The price of the Stockholm might make you gag. If you want a basic rubber slicker, I’ve also had Rains’ waterproof jacket ($140) for several years now, which has a very similar, Scandinavian-inspired design but at a much more reasonable price. Baxter Woods ($300) is also a pretty great rubber slicker that’s a little less than the Stockholm.
Best Waterproof Running Jacket
My requirements for a running rain jacket are much different than those for an everyday one. I’m sweating, so I’m already damp, and I don’t care as much if the jacket is a little more permeable. However, I want it to fit well, not chafe or rustle annoyingly, and have good ventilation so I don’t become clammy when working out.
Gorewear’s windbreaker is billed as the most comfortable running jacket ever, and it’s absolutely true. I’ve been wearing this jacket outside for my 3- to 5-mile rain runs, and I barely even notice it’s on. This magic is due to the fabric—it’s a permeable, double-weave fabric that is DWR-treated and has a 3D fabric structure inside. Basically, there are a billion tiny fabric tent poles that hold it, suspended, over the surface of your skin so you don’t get that horrible sticky feeling when your running rain jacket starts clinging to you like plastic wrap. It doesn’t seem like this should work, yet it does.
It has all the usual running jacket essentials, like reflective details and elastic cuffs. There’s a stowaway pocket, and it packs down incredibly small, nearly to the size of a handkerchief. This is a blessing, since you can stuff it in a running vest when it stops raining, and a curse, because I keep losing it. (I spent about 20 minutes searching for it in my house, since I take it with me everywhere.) Best of all, it’s a mere $100, which is affordable for a high-tech rain jacket.
Other Running Rain Jackets to Consider
I’ve tried so many rain jackets in the running category. Here are a few that I like:
- Showers Pass Cloudburst for $199: This is the best if you want a running rain jacket that sheds a bit more, er, rain. It’s thicker than the Gorewear windbreaker but still incredibly soft and flexible. I wear this when the outdoor temperatures drop under 40 degrees with a wool layer underneath.
- Patagonia Houdini for $109: This is the jacket that everyone normally tells you to get. Everyone has one. It’s simple and packable, and the company switched to a PFC-free DWR. However, it rustles, it’s not too breathable, and I feel like I’m wearing a plastic bag.
- Tracksmith Downpour for $400: For its exorbitant price, this is the most feature-rich jacket of the bunch, with a PFAS-free DWR on a three-layer jacket, a brimmed hood, and a 360-mesh panel for breathability. Like all of Tracksmith’s gear, it’s incredibly beautiful, but the colors are dark, and it doesn’t have reflective details, which could be dangerous when running in the rain.
Best Waterproof Cycling Jacket
I hate rain gear. It’s heavy, bulky, and rarely performs in true downpours, and the whole waterproof and breathable thing is a lie (you can have both, just not at the same time). Despite all that, I love the Rab Cinder Phantom and have been carrying it everywhere I go, on and off a bike. It solves almost all my issues with rain gear. It’s incredibly light (3.3 ounces/114 grams for a medium), stuffs down to about the size of a tennis ball, and is somehow surprisingly waterproof.
The shell is 7D Pertex, which has proved to be windproof and waterproof, and when it’s not raining, it’s quite breathable. Pair it with a grid fleece for the ultimate in breathable warmth. At 3 ounces, there aren’t a lot of bells and whistles to the Cinder Phantom. You can use the full front zip to ventilate, though it’s fiddly to use while riding. There are no pit zips and, sadly, no drawstring at the waist. There is elastic, but I would love to sacrifice an ounce and have a pull string.
The one thing to know about the Cinder Phantom is that it is designed for cycling, which means it has a short cut with a longer back, which works great on a bike but isn’t the best for hiking, since rain dripping off you pretty much lands right on your legs. That has not stopped me from using this off the bike, though. I pair it with Patagonia’s new M-10 storm pants (also amazing, though less breathable), which give me full body coverage at about 10 ounces. Do I worry that the Cinder Phantom’s thin fabric might not stand up to a backpack long-term? I do, but after six months, so far so good. —Scott Gilbertson
