Using a Gore-Tex Paclite waterproof membrane, durable water repellant (DWR) finish, and full seam taping, REI packed solid wet-weather and wind protection into the XeroDry GTX. During our four-day trek through the Grand Canyon, the jacket easily shed light to moderate rainfall. But on our final day, we were hit with an unrelenting storm and exceptionally strong gusts: the perfect testing conditions. At the onset, the jacket effectively sealed out rain and kept me dry for most of the day, and I barely felt any drafts through the outer shell.
For this review, we tested the standard women's version of the REI Co-op XeroDry GTX, which is also offered in dedicated plus sizes for the same price. This jacket is also made in a men's model, which weighs slightly more (12.5 oz.) and comes in different colorways, but with the same design overall. Additionally, REI offers XeroDry rain pants for both women and men with the same 2-layer Gore-Tex Paclite design of the jacket reviewed here. These pants are black in color, available in a variety of sizes (including petite, short, and tall variations), and retail for $139.
JACK THE ZIPPER XERO-torrent.zip 4
We scoured the internet, spoke with brands, and researched a wealth of online reviews to narrow down the top contenders for the best rain jackets. Then, we tested the best of the best to determine which contenders stood out. We looked at materials, features (waterproof membranes, durability, breathability, packability), price, and more.
The Pertex Shield 2.5-layer waterproof membrane sports what we believe is just about the perfect balance of waterproofing to breathability: 20,000mm to 20,000g/m, and generous pit zips help to avoid perspiration when the difficulty really ramps up. There are certainly other rain jackets that fill special niches better than the Downpour, but none tick more boxes across the range.
Utilizing the crème-de-la-crème of GORE-TEX membranes and a super durable face fabric, this is the shell of serious mountaineers and alpinists who need absolute protection, no matter the price. Our own testing has taken the Alpha SV to places where other jackets shudder to dream of. Through it all, this jacket came out ready for more.
On top of all that, Janji donates 2% of proceeds to a different clean-water project nonprofit org each year. For the eco-conscious, it might be the best rain jacket for your mind and body.
The Venture 2 ($99) rain jacket has long been the go-to option for all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts. One member of our team owned their first Venture 2 for over 5 years before it needed to be replaced. Windproof, waterproof, and designed for all sorts of outdoor adventures, this jacket will quickly become a standard part of your kit.
With fully sealed seams and a high-quality DWR coating, the Venture 2 can handle even the heaviest of downpours without rain soaking through. When the weather warms up, large underarm zipper vents open up in an instant to help regulate your body temp. Also, the whole jacket packs down into its own pocket and easily stores in even the smallest daypack.
The Snaefell jacket ($525) is a no-frills rain jacket that justifies its hefty price tag with quality construction. Hailed for its revolutionary breathability when it was released, the Polartec NeoShell material works to vent excess body heat with an exceptional breathability rating, but suffers a little with water resistance on the lower end.
Our team of testers has braved storms from the rain-drenched foothills of the Pacific Northwest to the mountains of Colorado to review and publish rain jacket guides for men and women. For this guide, we considered a broad range of uses for rain jackets, and included selections for both city and outdoor use.
Senior Editor Nick Belcaster is no stranger to a little precip. Living and playing in the state of Washington requires either a lot of patience in waiting for the weather to change, or a lot of gumption to get outside anyways. Exploring in the rain can be an exciting change, and having an appropriate rain jacket can make all the difference.
In considering these rain jackets, we consulted online resources, talked shop with brands, and then hit the field to pull our hoods up and let the skies open. From time spent on the Pacific Crest Trail to running laps on ice climbs, rain shells are often put to the test in a wild variety of conditions, and we aimed to review in a broad spectrum of environments.
As humans, we tend to perspire as we run, hike, or climb in our rain jackets, so having a shell that is breathable should be highly valued. Measured most often by the Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) test, higher values in g/m denote a better ability to allow perspiration to pass out of a jacket.
Jackets intended for high-output activities will have a breathability rating of 20,000g/m or more, while lesser ratings between 10,000-15,000 will suffice for in-town use or when packability is the primary goal. The jacket with the highest breathability in our testing was The North Face Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket at an astounding 75,000g/m.
About as simple as simple gets, two-layer jackets utilize a waterproof membrane and outer face fabric to guard against scuffs and scrapes. These jackets often require hanging linings to protect the waterproof membrane from abrasion, which ups the bulk and weight factor, but can also keep the cost down on entry-level pieces like the Decathlon Quechua MH100 rain jacket.
Jackets made with 2.5-layer fabrics incorporate a very thin protective lining to the inside of the waterproof membrane, which is typically laminated, screen printed, or sprayed on. These linings often increase the longevity and breathability of the jacket by decreasing the body oils and dirt that can clog the pores of the membrane.
By adding a third wicking textile to the interior of the membrane, three-layer jackets benefit from a significant bump in moisture management, but also typically in price. This is the realm of true all-day-deluge performance jackets, and most often use the big name-brand membranes that have come to dominate the industry, such as GORE-TEX or eVent.
Using a polyurethane film membrane, Pertex Shield+ is able to achieve a good balance of water resistance and breathability at 20,000mm and 20,000g/m, respectively. Produced as a 2.5-layer fabric, jackets made with these membranes can sometimes be overwhelmed by perspiration and feel slick to the touch.
Historically made from environmentally harmful chemicals known as perfluorocarbons (PFCs), many companies are now working on using PFC-free DWR finishes in their rain jackets. Patagonia has pledged to use a PFC-free DWR in the majority of its outerwear by Fall 2022, and we are happy to see this trend spreading throughout the industry.
A growing trend has been incorporating built-in stretch into rain jackets, which greatly increases their abilities where high mobility is needed. Jackets we reviewed like the Black Diamond StormLine Stretch and Outdoor Research Motive AscentShell Rain Jacket incorporate stretch and will move with you outdoors.
Small features usually define the overall comfort of a rain jacket. For example, a hood that fully blocks peripheral vision will not be comfortable to use. Ideally, your rain jacket will minimally limit your range of motion, and the interior lining will feel good against your skin.
Sewing together a rain jacket introduces hundreds of holes into the fabric, so most incorporate taped or bonded seams to ward off leaks. Seam tape can be added to all seams, or sometimes only essential seams, in order to save weight.
Being Bluesign certified means that the fabric used in the jacket has passed an independent approval process to ensure that they are safe for the environment and consumers. A similar process is used in being Fair Trade Certified, where producers must ensure sustainable livelihoods for textile workers.
The most sustainable rain jacket in our review was the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket, which utilizes a 100% recycled face fabric, is Fair Trade Certified sewn, and is Bluesign approved.
Often overlooked, regular upkeep of your rain jacket is essential to keeping the waterproof membrane happy and working as it was designed. When body oils and grime clog the interior pores, the breathability suffers, and a worn-away DWR finish does little to keep a jacket from wetting out. A quick and easy way to breathe some life into your DWR is a brief cycle in the dryer on medium heat.
You can go a step further by reapplying a fresh coat of DWR such as GEARAID Revivex Durable Water Repellent Spray, and then turning the jacket inside-out and drying on high heat to set. This is a common fix and with frequent reapplication, it will keep water beading off your jacket when it counts.
Waterproof membranes in rain jackets degrade slowly, but are sensitive to becoming dirty and clogged with sweat and dirt. Often, a jacket still retains much of its original waterproof ability, and only needs to be cleaned with a waterproof fabric-safe detergent and re-waterproofed with a new DWR finish.
The main job of a rain jacket is to protect you from rain, snow, wind, and other adverse weather. While rain jackets will add a little warmth, other layers such as fleece jackets and puffies provide much more and can easily be worn underneath a rain jacket. 2ff7e9595c
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