Whether you’re looking to stay protected on your daily commute or headed out on a backpacking trip, a quality rain jacket is a must-have to fend off the elements. Below you’ll find all of our detailed rain jacket reviews, from casual, entry-level pieces for around-town wear to dedicated performance-focused jackets and minimalist ultralight models for activities like trail running and climbing. We put these jackets through extensive (and inclement) testing in places like the Pacific Northwest, the Grand Canyon, and Patagonia to provide our readers with an accurate idea of their weather protection, breathability, comfort, and more.

Rain Jacket Reviews

Rain Jackets (Hiking with the Arc’teryx Beta LT in The Winds) (t)

Best Rain Jackets of 2024

With a long history in the Pacific Northwest, the Switchback team knows a thing or two about rain. From months of daily drizzle to heavy downpours in the mountains, we're acutely aware of the benefits of a quality waterproof and breathable shell—not...
Norrøna Falketind Paclite rain jacket (crossing creek)

Best Women’s Rain Jackets of 2024

Let’s face it: It rains, and sometimes it pours. Thankfully, a good rain jacket can provide a solid layer of defense against the elements. Our female editors have tested dozens of designs on trails near and far to bring you our 18 favorites below...
Arc'teryx Beta LT hardshell jacket (hiking in snowy forest)

Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket Review

Arc’teryx’s hardshell collection is highly revered among avid backcountry-goers, and their Beta LT has been a mainstay for years. Updatedseveral seasons back, the latest jacket represents a fairly substantial shift from the past-generation LT...
Outdoor Research Aspire Super Stretch Jacket (standing in mountains)

Outdoor Research Aspire Super Stretch Jacket Review

Outdoor Research’s Aspire is their core women’s rain shell, and the Super Stretch version tacks on a stretchy Gore-Tex panel at the back for added mobility. We recently put the jacket through its paces in southern Patagonia, where it impressed us with...
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L (hiking by alpine lake)

Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket Review

Patagonia’s Torrentshell 3L rain jacket is about as popular as it gets in the outdoor apparel space. The hardwearing 3-layer build offers excellent protection and durability, you get a wide variety of color options, and it's very reasonably priced for...
Black Diamond Highline Stretch Shell (hiking in the alpine)

Black Diamond Highline Stretch Shell Review

Building on the success of their popular StormLine Stretch rain jacket, Black Diamond upped the performance threshold with their more premium Highline Stretch Shell. For a reasonable $300, the 3-layer jacket boasts a hardshell-like build that offers...
Patagonia Boulder Fork rain jacket (backpacking in Chile)

Patagonia Boulder Fork Rain Jacket Review

Patagonia is an irrefutable leader in the rain jacket market, and the Boulder Fork is the latest addition to their well-rounded collection. Slotting in between the everyday-friendly Torrentshell and more technical Granite Crest, the new shell is...
Norrøna Falketind Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket (up close hiking)

Norrøna Falketind Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket Review

Waterproof protection comes in all forms, from burly, ski-specific hardshells to ultralight emergency layers and casual rain jackets. Finding a really functional middle ground is the Falketind Gore-Tex Paclite, Norrøna’s lightest and most packable...
Patagonia Slate Sky Jacket (standing by water)

Patagonia Slate Sky Jacket Review

Patagonia makes some of our favorite rain shells, and their latest Slate Sky Jacket stands out for its streamlined build that doesn’t feel overly compromised. Like the brand’s flagship Torrentshell, the Slate Sky offers reliable protection with a...
Arc'teryx Beta Jacket (standing in front of mountains)

Arc’teryx Beta Jacket Review

Arc’teryx’s new Beta Jacket slots into the brand’s expansive collection as a premium hiking shell. Offering more protection than a rain jacket but a step below a full-on winter hardshell, the light and packable Beta hits a sweet spot for three-season...
Patagonia M10 Storm Jacket (standing on rock)

Patagonia M10 Storm Jacket Review

Patagonia recently expanded their rain shell collection, adding two new lightweight options to their lineup: the running-focused Storm Racer and alpine-ready M10 Storm. A replacement for the Storm10, the M10 Storm shares that design’s technical...
Arc'teryx Zeta SL (hiking in mountains)

Arc’teryx Zeta SL Rain Jacket Review

Arc’teryx’s Zeta line of rain jackets is designed for lightweight trekking and runs the gamut from the fully featured and pricey Zeta AR (“all round”) to the feathery Zeta FL (“fast and light”). The Zeta SL is the “superlight” version and puts a big...
​​Patagonia Storm10 Alpine Jacket (standing on rocky outcrop)

Patagonia Storm10 Jacket Review

Ultralight without being ultra-compromised, Patagonia’s new Storm10 Jacket is purpose-built for moving quickly in unpredictable mountain environments. With a protective 3-layer H2No construction, functional feature set, and...
Outdoor Research Helium rain jacket (zipping up)

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket Review

Outdoor Research has updated its long-standing and very popular ultralight rain shell for 2020. The latest Helium—replacing the “II”—sticks largely to the same formula with upgrades in durability and fit without...
Patagonia Rainshadow rain jacket (filtering water at alpine lake)

Patagonia Rainshadow Jacket Review

Landing in the middle of their rain shell collection, Patagonia's Rainshadow Jacket slots in as a protective but comfortable option for everyday wear and activities like hiking and backpacking...
Arc'teryx Ralle Jacket (standing with hands in pockets)

Arc’teryx Ralle Jacket Review

Arc’teryx is a longstanding leader in the technical hardshell market, and much of that expertise trickles down to their more casual offerings. Their Ralle Jacket is case in point: This everyday rain shell offers top-notch protection with proven 3-layer...
Outdoor Research Foray II rain jacket (backpacking in forest)

Outdoor Research Foray II GTX Rain Jacket Review

Seattle-based Outdoor Research is no stranger to creating quality rain jackets that can fend off the elements, and we like what they've come up with in the Foray. This do-it-all shell is light and packable for hiking and backpacking yet tough enough to...
Patagonia Calcite jacket (hiking in Grand Canyon)

Patagonia Calcite Jacket Review

Patagonia’s rain wear lineup runs the gamut from the everyday-friendly Torrentshell to the Triolet hardshell that offers a winter-ready level of protection and breathability. The Calcite Jacket lands squarely in the middle: at 13.1 ounces and featuring...
Marmot PreCip Eco jacket (hiking through forest)

Marmot PreCip Eco Rain Jacket Review

Being from Seattle, we get asked for rain jacket recommendations a lot, and we often steer people to the Marmot PreCip. The reasons for this are fairly simple: the jacket punches well above its $100 price with quality waterproofing, a versatile feature...
Arc'teryx Norvan SL Insulated jacket (running through snowy woods)

Arc’teryx Norvan SL Insulated Hoody Review

Arc’teryx’s Norvan SL Insulated Hoody is billed as their lightest insulated waterproof layer. Purpose-built for trail running in cold weather, we put the Norvan to the test during a wet and soggy season in British...
Outdoor Research Aspire II rain jacket (standing in field)

Outdoor Research Aspire II GTX Jacket Review

There’s no shortage of rain jackets to choose from, but the Outdoor Research women’s Aspire II (and men’s Foray II) is far and away one of our favorite designs. With a relatively thick face fabric and premium touches like Gore-Tex Paclite waterproofing...
Black Diamond Liquid Point rain jacket (standing beside glacial lake)

Black Diamond Liquid Point Rain Jacket Review

Over the last few years, Black Diamond has assembled an impressive lineup of outdoor gear, from ski jackets and insulation to casual lifestyle apparel. The Liquid Point is their leading performance rain jacket...
Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket (in mountains)

Black Diamond StormLine Stretch Review

Black Diamond has assembled a solid lineup of quality rain jackets and hardshells over the last several years, and the StormLine is yet another standout. By adding stretch into the jacket’s face fabric, BD created an impressively lightweight...
The North Face Apex Flex 3.0

The North Face Apex Flex GTX 3.0 Review

The North Face Apex Flex GTX 3.0 is a versatile jacket that doesn’t fit perfectly into any one category. The 3-layer Gore-Tex build provides excellent waterproofing, although it certainly is heavy for...
Columbia Watertight II (hiking in forest)

Columbia Watertight II Rain Jacket Review

There are a healthy number of budget-oriented rain shells on the market, and Columbia’s versatile Watertight II is among the most popular. The jacket isn’t a standout in wet-weather performance—you’ll...
Arc'teryx Zeta AR Jacket (hiking downhill in Nepal's Everest region)

Arc’teryx Zeta AR Jacket Review

Sitting atop Arc’teryx’s Zeta lineup is the Zeta AR (“all round”), which is designed as a versatile and fully featured shell for trekking. Recently updated with a retooled Gore-Tex construction, more storage, and a roomier fit, we put the latest model...
REI Drypoint GTX jacket (hiking in Patagonia)

REI Co-op Drypoint GTX Jacket Review

Backed by a Gore license, REI Co-op now has top-of-the-line waterproofing technology to replace their old eVent line. Combine this with REI’s increased focus on design and performance of their in-house products, and you have some very competitive...
Arc'teryx Beta SL Hybrid jacket (on ridgeline)

Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Review

Arc’teryx’s Beta SL Hybrid isn’t your typical rain shell. As its name suggests, the hybrid construction blends two Gore-Tex fabrics of different thicknesses to maximize weatherproofing, minimize weight, and...
REI XeroDry rain jacket (standing in Grand Canyon)

REI Co-op XeroDry GTX Rain Jacket Review

REI Co-op has assembled an impressive in-house lineup of high-quality gear and clothing that doesn’t break the bank, and their XeroDry GTX rain jacket carries the torch. Constructed with Gore-Tex Paclite, we brought REI’s lightweight shell along on an...
The Venture Face Venture II (in Grand Canyon)

The North Face Venture 2 Rain Jacket Review

The Venture 2 has been a long-time staple in The North Face’s rain jacket collection, aiming to balance weather protection, weight, and price. Over the past year, we’ve tested the shell extensively from...
Marmot Minimalist rain jacket (in the forest)

Marmot Minimalist Rain Jacket Review

Marmot’s Minimalist jacket isn’t new, but its combination of price and performance keeps it among our favorite rain shells year after year. With proven Gore-Tex waterproofing, a thoughtful feature set, and premium build quality, the...
Arc'teryx Norvan SL Hoody (standing under waterfall)

Arc'teryx Norvan SL Hoody Review

Purpose-built for trail running along the wet and sloppy trails of North Vancouver, Arc’teryx’s Norvan collection runs the gamut from the long distance-focused Norvan LD shoes to the Gore-Tex-equipped Norvan SL Hoody tested here. In short, this rain...