Layer 3, if a jacket has it, is the interior protection. Does this mean you should give up on rain jackets altogether? With a recent reconfiguration of their lineup, theyve moved their rain shells away from the Zeta collection into the versatile Beta series. Category: PerformanceWeight: 14.5 oz.Waterproofing: 2.5L Gore-Tex Paclite PlusWhat we like: Durable shell with premium waterproofing.What we dont: Relatively heavy and bulky. Weather doesnt just mean rain. MARMOT. Hood For outdoor adventurers, access to your phones GPS and mapping apps gives confidence when navigating, especially when weather conditions make finding your way trickier. Another place the outdoor industry is catching up: some companies, like Arcteryx, dont offer the same range in womens rain jacket models as they do in mens. All three of these jackets check in around 13 to 14 ounces and come with pit zips, but the Rab stands out with its smooth-operating coated zippers (the aforementioned jackets instead feature storm flaps) and trimmer fit. Men's Climbing Jackets & Vests. And while the Torrentshell is decidedly casual, the Calcite tacks on an alpine-helmet compatible hood, more pliable shell fabric, and a watertight front zip, making it a better choice for more technical endeavors. Category: Hiking/performanceWeight: 11.9 oz.Waterproofing: 2L Gore-Tex PacliteWhat we like: Multi-sport functionality; updated design has a great fit and feel.What we dont: TorsoFlo vents are a little polarizing for casual use. The elastic shock cord and tensioning piece are minimal but not finicky; they stay out of the way when needing to cinch the hood tightly over your face for maximum weather protection. The climbing community loves Montbell and for good reason: The company offers well-thought-out technical pieces that come in cheaper than brands like Arcteryx and Patagonia. And as long as you dont take them Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket (2023) Review, Outdoor Research Foray II GTX Jacket Review, See the Women's Patagonia Torrentshell 3L, See the Men's Outdoor Research Helium Rain. Lets start with layers, what they do, and why they matter. Some membrane designs are more vulnerable to getting clogged up and require consistent cleaning (this will vary based on use, but we aim for every few weeks with our eVent direct venting gear). Photo by Naomi Hudetz. How well a rain jacket packs down affects how often youll actually carry it, which in turn affects how often youll actually use it. Hood size can be a big consideration when rain jacket shopping. Everything from the REIs hood design to pocket layout and even smaller touches like mesh pockets and the Velcro covering the center zipper reminded us of the Marmot shell. And for a shell thats intended for hiking and backpacking, wed prefer the hand pockets sit a little higher to be accessible when wearing a hipbelt (the interior chest pocket is generously sized, however). Fully-lined pockets are better for cooler weather, and also wont allow any water to leak through to your torso if your pockets are open. That's one reason why you'll see the Versalite listed in our PCT Gear List, JMT Gear List, and numerous other thru-hiking gear lists. Itll protect you from the elements better than most competitorsbut youll pay extra for the technology that helps you skip that half-layer. For example, we often rely on customer reviews to understand how these jackets fit a diversity of bodies beyond the body type of our own testers. Reasonably priced at $199, the Motive has a whole lot going for it. For most people, having the lightest jacket isn't going to be necessaryand most people aren't willing to pay for that. You can just roll it up into its own hood to protect the thinner fabric in your pack. CNN also identifed a solid, less-expensive option in the REI Rainier: . Tack on sleek Patagonia styling, wide variety of available colorways, new-for-2023 PFC-free DWR coating (to go along with the 100%-recycled face fabric), and excellent $179 price tag, and the versatile Torrentshell 3L currently is our favorite overall rain jacket. The Black Diamond Stormline Stretch does just thatit stretches with movement. For fast-and-light alpine trips when the forecast looks favorable, the Highline certainly can do the trick. Generally, companies split outdoor apparel lines into womens models and mens models-and while that doesnt quite mesh with our understanding of gender diversity, the outdoor industry hasnt quite yet caught up with reality. Patagonia Torrentshell 3L. Tack on REIs excellent warranty and a wide range of colorways and available sizes, and you get a quality rain shell for anything from city commutes to summer hiking and backpacking trips. And we gotta say, it looks sleek too - yet another reason it landed as our winner. All told, if youre looking for versatile rain and snow protection but dont want to spring for a full-on Gore-Tex Pro hardshell, the Beta LT is hard to beat Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's Arc'teryx Beta LT See the Women's Arc'teryx Beta LT. Category: Daily use/hikingWeight: 13 oz.Waterproofing: 2.5L PeakWhat we like: Great price for a solid all-around design; wide range of colors and sizes.What we dont: Fits very big, so we ended up sizing down. The adjustable cuffs on the new model are half elastic, on the other side of the wrist, and half velcro. When choosing which rain jackets made our top picks list, we made the best choices we could with our own testing and other information available. Full unzipped, the jacket becomes a poncho. If you live in a wet climate like the Pacific Northwest or New England, a rain jacket is an indispensable part of your everyday wardrobe. The DWR coating on the outside of the jacket is stellar and holds up better than most of the other jackets in this price range. Marmot Minimalist $220 at Marmot. But the overall formula remains the same, which were happy to see: The venting system is functional for a number of outdoor activities, and with a relatively light weight, the jacket feels fairly nimble and multi-sport-ready. Columbia. Serious shells, such as those offered by Arcteryx, often place the hand pockets higher up on the torso to avoid interfering with your packs hipbelt. Photo by Robert Curzon. Key measures include recycled materials, PFC-free DWR coatings (traditional coatings use perfluorocarbons, which is a chemical known to be harmful to the environment), bluesign-approved fabrics, and Fair Trade Certification. Popular applications include backcountry skiing and trekking in mild weather. One step down from a full-on hardshell jacket, they're made to withstand extreme conditions: The shell fabrics are tougher, the waterproof membranes are better breathers, and the hoods are more substantial. (Just know thats not going to magically stop you from sweating.). Shop All Men's Multi-Sport Rain Jackets. Both jackets have large fits (sizing down is recommended unless you want room for layering), stuff away into a pocket, and weigh about the same (the REI is 1.2 oz. The Patagonia Torrentshell was updated to 3L this year (2020) so the 2020 version should be an improvement over the previous 2.5L models. Photo by Mike Unger. Photo courtesy Tiffany Searsdodd. The beading seems to continue forever. At $185, the Downpour Plus 2.0 slides in between popular rain jackets like the Patagonia Torrentshell above and Marmot Minimalist below. For the occasional chance rainstorm encounter. In the end, if you want a high-performance piece for serious outdoor use, you may want to up your budget to an alternative like the Arcteryx Beta LT below. You dont get a ton of room for layering (we can fit a thin midlayer underneath, but not much more), and the low weight and streamlined feature set makes it one of our favorite emergency layers. Depending on what your jacket is made of and the care you put into its maintenance, it can last for years. Weve had the Minimalist ranked at or near the top of our list in prior years, but we felt the most recent update was a step backwards in most ways (besides the sustainability improvements mentioned above). All of the jackets in our review have fully-lined pockets with the exception of the Marmot PreCip Eco, which features mesh-lined pockets. Similarly, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is said to start at 20,000 mm-though after their Killer Wash treatment, which simulates what they presume to be years of heavy use, that degrades down to about 10,000 mm. burger . Generous hand pockets keep your hands cool on chilly days. After washing, follow the manufacturers drying instructions, whether youre on that air dry or tumble dry low train. Keep a close eye on features and try to match them to your intended use and budget.Pockets For example, the REI XeroDry GTX is a true 2-layer jacket made with Gore-Tex PacLite Plus technology. Columbia Arcadia II - Women's. . A 2.5-layer jacket attaches a very thin interior fabric to the waterproof/breathable laminate or coating. Alternatively, for $100 more, you can bump up to the Arcteryx Beta, which features 3-layer Gore-Tex and drops almost 4 ounces off the build of the Calcite. . You'll want an adjustable hood. However, in saving some money, you give up some in material qualitywe found the XeroDrys shell cheaper-feeling and faster to absorb moisture in heavy rainfall. When fully unzipped, this creates a poncho-like opening for awesome venting on the traila great way to dump excess heat while still retaining coverage. The newest version has a 3L construction, which provides a step up from the previous 2L and 2.5L models . For its reasonable $179 MSRP, youll be hard-pressed to find a better-made, better-looking, or more protective shellRead in-depth reviewSee the Men's Patagonia Torrentshell 3L See the Women's Patagonia Torrentshell 3L. Weight: 13.9 oz. The 10-denier fabric of the Versalite means this jacket won't be the one you turn to outside of thru-hiking or ultralight backpacking. BLACK-DIAMOND: Extra 20% off Outlet with coupon code "OUTLET20". We think most people will be plenty served by the Stormline Stretch, but if you like the stretchiness and want extra waterproofing, check out the Highline Stretch. Most ultralight shells go without hand pockets, instead opting for a chest pocket for storage. The interior is soft to the touch and doesnt have the plasticky feel that you get with most traditional designs, and theres a noticeable amount of give in the shell fabric. Gore-Tex is widely accepted as the cream of the crop as far as waterproof/breathable membranes go. Its not quite as durable as the Torrentshell, but the Downpour is the sleeker and more packable design and more fine-tuned for performance use. But it does prevent some dirt, oil, and abrasion from degrading the efficacy of your jacket. Other models charge up to $100 more than the Versalite's sticker price to get the same specs for waterproofing and breathability, as well as pockets, pit zips, and an adjustable hood. Weve placed the latest AscentShell jacket toward the bottom of our list, however, because its finer details are somewhat disappointing. Marmot gave the PreCip a light revamp fairly recently. Hyper-fancy, high-performance rain jackets can cost close to a months rent, but we think the men's and women's REI Co-op XeroDry GTX offers the performance at about half the price of similar jackets. The helmet-compatible hood fits a climbing or bike helmetor those of us with larger hairstylesand stows away when you dont need it. If youre in the market for a casual shell for light drizzles or quick dashes between the car and the climbing gym, the Cielo fits the part.See the Men's Cotopaxi Cielo See the Women's Cotopaxi Cielo. Black Diamond makes another model, the men's and women's Highline Stretch, that is a little bit heavier because it's a 3-layer jacket. Still, youve got to choose the best rain shell for your budget, and well always try to find you the best deals at our links. These can reach over the top of most climbing helmets for added weather protection. 2. The 2-layer Paclite build resembles Outdoor Researchs Foray above, but with a smooth and clean exteriorincluding fabric flaps over the center zipper and hand pockets and a nice array of subdued colorwaysthe Minimalist is fully at home around town. Thats the bonus of DWRnot only does it prevent soaking through, it also keeps Layer 2 clean enough to breathe. Three names, two zippers, one delightful function: keeping you just a little cooler. Our line of technical shells offers pinnacle waterproof, yet breathable protection for every activity. laundromat nea. Like the Marmot PreCip Eco and REI Co-op Rainier above, the TNF features a 2.5-layer construction (in this case, their in-house DryVent design), pit zips for ventilation, and an adjustable hood. It is a great option for hikers and backpackers seeking a lightweight balance of features and minimalist design. Best Performance Balance: Marmot Minimalist Rain Jacket. Comparison in pocket placement and torso length between the Patagonia Torrentshell 2019 (left) and Torrentshell 3L (right). REI.COM: Up to 40% Off Clearance REI Co-op Brand Winter Clothing.Shop and Save! It's right at the $300 price limit we set in this piece, but is one of our favorite pieces of gear. Overlay - 3 Column; Overlay - 4 Column; Default - 2 Column One thing that threw us off is The North Face doesn't run the usual Hydrostatic Test for waterproofing. Theres also an updated fit, although the jacket still has a regular cut thats roomy enough for wearing a lightweight puffy underneath. Its a close call between the two, but as long as you can get a good fit, we think the REIs modest improvements in comfort and durability give it the edge.See the Men's REI Co-op Rainier See the Women's REI Co-op Rainier. The hood on the mens Outdoor Research Helium 2. Photo by John Carr. The Janji Rainrunner rain jacket is the most breathable jacket on the market while also being waterproof and durable for thru hiking and backpacking the pct. Despite these changes, its still very budget-friendly, retailing for $100 at mostthough it can nearly always be found on sale. Our Patagonia Women's Torrentshell 3L Jacket has a trusted reputation for providing exceptional waterproof/breathable performance, comfort and durability. Rain jackets dont offer as much variation in features as some other types of outdoor gear, but there are notable differences between models. And if you need an even more affordable rain jacket, see our recommendation below.