By Michael Lanza
Store for a rain jacket for dayhiking, backpacking, path operating, or climbing within the backcountry and also you’ll see shells for adults ranging in worth from below $100 to over $500 and in weight from lower than half a pound to over a pound—with simply as large and complicated a variety of opinions on them from reviewers and shoppers. Look no additional. This evaluate spotlights the perfect rain jackets for the backcountry and offers professional recommendations on easy methods to choose the suitable one in your adventures.
My picks are primarily based on intensive area testing of all of those shells dayhiking, backpacking, climbing, backcountry snowboarding, and/or hut trekking—and on testing dozens of rain shells whereas mountaineering via soaking rains everywhere in the world over a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear, together with the ten years I spent because the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker journal and even longer operating this weblog. I’ve realized easy methods to distinguish the mediocre from the superb.
I feel you’ll discover one in all them is excellent for your dayhikes, backpacking journeys, and climbing and different outside adventures—and also you’ll discover nice offers accessible on a few of them proper now (see the hyperlinks beneath). Please share your ideas on any of them or advocate your favourite backcountry rain shell within the feedback part on the backside of this evaluate; I attempt to answer all feedback.
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Perceive the Terminology
Waterproof-breathable implies that a membrane or material coating permits the moisture constructed up from sweating to flee via the material whereas it repels precipitation. Membranes typically supply higher climate safety, breathability, and sturdiness than a coating. Jackets with coatings are usually inexpensive and lighter.
High quality positively varies loads. Membranes like Gore-Tex outperform many proprietary waterproof-breathable materials from jacket makers. Nonetheless, some manufacturers, like Outside Analysis and The North Face (see beneath), have jackets that problem the efficiency of the perfect membranes.
Three various kinds of building are utilized in waterproof-breathable rain shells:
- Two-layer consists of a membrane or coating
utilized to the within of a protecting, outer material layer. The second layer is
a liner that hangs loosely. Two-layer jackets are quiet and comparatively
cheap, however supply solely modest breathability. - 2.5-layer building marries a polyurethane
laminate or coating to a sturdy outer layer, which is backed by a protecting
“half layer.” These shells are much less breathable and sturdy than others, and
typically extra clammy-feeling, but in addition lighter and cheaper. - Three-layer jackets, by which a membrane is
sandwiched between a tricky outer material and a protecting liner, supply the perfect
climate safety, breathability, and sturdiness.
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Easy methods to Select a Rain Jacket
How do I select a rain jacket for the backcountry? I observe 4 easy standards:
• Don’t spend greater than essential for what you’re doing—i.e., your exercise stage (how a lot you sweat) and the place you go (how a lot rain you’ll see). Take into consideration how usually you’ll truly put on that jacket.
• There’s no motive a three-season shell for the backcountry ought to weigh greater than a pound, interval. And 4 of the six jackets reviewed right here—none weighing greater than a pound—can deal with winter situations.
• At a naked minimal, any waterproof-breathable shell, regardless of the worth, ought to suit you, shed regular rain, have a hood that retains precipitation off your face, and breathe at the least effectively sufficient that you just’re not simply as moist from perspiring in it as you’ll be not carrying it. In any other case, you’re losing your cash.
• When you’re spending upwards of $250 or extra, don’t accept something lower than a jacket with nice match and precisely the efficiency and options you need.
See my “5 Expert Tips For Buying a Rain Jacket for Hiking.”
With these standards in thoughts, I’ve put collectively this record of the perfect jackets I’ve examined and reviewed at this weblog, organized by weight. The chart beneath lists the jackets from lightest to heaviest and offers some direct comparisons between these fashions.
| Jacket | Rating | Value | Weight | Climate Safety | Breathability | Weight-to-Efficiency | Packability | Sturdiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammut Kento Gentle HS Hooded Jacket | 4.3 | $219 | 5.5 oz. | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 4 |
| The North Face Flight FutureLight Jacket | 4.1 | $300 | 8.5 oz. | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Arc’teryx Zeta SL Jacket | 4.4 | $299 | 11 oz. | 5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Outside Analysis Helium AscentShell Jacket | 4.5 | $449 | 11.5 oz. | 5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Black Diamond Helio Energetic Shell | 4.5 | $400 | 12 oz. | 5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 5 |
| REI XeroDry GTX Jacket | 4.1 | $169 | 12 oz. | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Outside Analysis Microgravity AscentShell Jacket | 4.3 | $279 | 14 oz. | 5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4.5 |
The Finest Rain Jackets for the Backcountry
Mammut Kento Light HS Hooded Jacket
$219, 5.5 oz.
moosejaw.com
From a nine-day hike of nearly 130 miles via the High Sierra in August, a lot of it on the John Muir Trail, to dayhiking in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range in October, the Kento Gentle HS Hooded Jacket delivered all of the climate safety I wanted. Mammut’s DRYtechnology Efficiency waterproof-breathable material stored me dry and blocked wind—together with for over an hour in a pounding thunderstorm on the JMT.
At simply over 5 ounces and packing right down to the scale of an orange, it’s one of many lightest waterproof-breathable jackets you’ll discover. Whereas not designed for hours of onerous rain, it has an adjustable hood, elasticized cuffs, a hem that extends effectively beneath the waist, and a hid, zippered chest pocket.
Learn my complete review of the Mammut Kento Gentle HS Hooded Jacket.
BUY IT NOW You may assist my work on this weblog, without charge to you, by clicking any of those affiliate hyperlinks to buy a males’s Mammut Kento Gentle HS Hooded Jacket at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com, or a ladies’s Mammut Kento Gentle HS Hooded Jacket at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.
For prime-speed exercises in windy, damp climate, get a breathable, ultralight shell.
See my evaluate of “The Best Ultralight Hiking and Backpacking Jackets.”
The North Face Flight FutureLight Jacket
$300, 8.5 oz.
moosejaw.com
The North Face payments its Flight FutureLight Jacket because the model’s most breathable shell, and it measures as much as the hype. I’ve wore it path operating in rain showers and funky wind, backpacking via thunderstorms with robust gusts, and even backcountry snowboarding in variable spring climate, and regardless of some minor flaws, the Flight FutureLight demonstrates spectacular breathability and a snug match.
TNF’s nano-spinning course of creates a membrane with hundreds of thousands of microscopic fibers that permit air however not moisture to cross via, leading to glorious breathability. Its climate safety doesn’t measure as much as others on this record, however for path runners, dayhikers, and ultralight backpackers, this can be a good, gentle, packable shell.
Learn my complete review of The North Face FutureLight Jacket.
BUY IT NOW You may assist my work on this weblog by clicking both of those hyperlinks to buy the lads’s or ladies’s The North Face Flight FutureLight Jacket at moosejaw.com or backcountry.com.
Plan your subsequent nice backpacking journey in Yosemite, Grand Teton, and different parks utilizing my expert e-guides.
Arc’teryx Zeta SL Jacket
$299, 11 oz.
outlet.arcteryx.com
Backpacking in the Wind River Range, the Zeta SL stored me dry via hours of rain, together with mountaineering 9 miles via a wind-driven tempest. Its minimalist design focuses on the wants of backpackers and dayhikers, preserving the load at 11 ounces, whereas offering practical options—and preserving the value aggressive with the easiest three-season rain shells for mountaineering.
The Gore-Tex Paclite Plus membrane delivers good breathability that stops overheating in reasonable temperatures. The adjustable hood sports activities a laminated brim and the jacket’s waterproof entrance zipper comes up over the chin, shielding your face from rain. Total, the Zeta SL shows the distinctive building and design of Arc’teryx attire. Lastly, it squishes right down to the scale of a softball.
Learn my complete review of the Arc’teryx Zeta SL Jacket.
BUY IT NOW You may assist my work on this weblog, at not price to you, by clicking this affiliate hyperlink to buy a males’s or ladies’s Arc’teryx Zeta SL Jacket at outlet.arcteryx.com.
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Outdoor Research Helium AscentShell Jacket
$449, 11.5 oz.
backcountry.com
For 2 weeks in Iceland—trekking the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails and on dayhikes alongside the Ring Highway—I lived on this light-weight shell for hours day by day, via cool temps with wind and rain most days and a few onerous, wind-driven deluges. And it met the problem of the toughest situations most hikers, backpackers, and climbers will face.
It combines sturdy Pertex Diamond Fuse material and OR’s waterproof-breathable AscentShell membrane for dependable climate safety and superior breathability and luxury. The adjustable, helmet-compatible hood stored rain off my face when mountaineering into heavy, wind-driven mist. With 4 zippered pockets, two mesh stuff pockets inside, hook-and-loop cuffs and an adjustable hem, it delivers glorious efficiency for a packable shell weighing below 12 ounces.
Learn my complete review of the Outside Analysis Helium AscentShell Jacket.
BUY IT NOW You may assist my work on this weblog, at not price to you, by clicking both of those affiliate hyperlinks to buy a males’s or ladies’s Outside Analysis Helium AscentShell Jacket at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com or outdoorresearch.com.
Which puffy must you purchase? See “The 10 Best Down Jackets”
and “How You Can Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is.”
Black Diamond Helio Active Shell
$400, 12 oz.
backcountry.com
By an extended day of rain, moist snow, and wind gusting over 40 mph in northern Spain’s Picos de Europa Mountains, and different days of blended climate, I stayed dry and staved off hypothermia in BD’s versatile Helio Energetic Shell (lead photograph at high of story).
Made with Gore-Tex Energetic three-layer membrane, the Helio breathed effectively sufficient to maintain me from overheating even at occasions after we have been protected against wind whereas mountaineering steeply uphill within the rain with temps within the 40s, whereas carrying a pack weighing 25 to 30 kilos. Moreover its stable weatherproofing, the totally adjustable, helmet-compatible hood, simply accessible pit zips, and zippered pockets make it a shell for excessive situations in all seasons.
Learn my complete review of the Black Diamond Helio Energetic Shell.
BUY IT NOW You may assist my work on this weblog by clicking any of those hyperlinks to buy a males’s or a ladies’s Black Diamond Helio Energetic Shell at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or blackdiamondequipment.com.
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REI XeroDry GTX
$169, 12 oz.
rei.com
With the XeroDry GTX, REI places Gore’s lightest and most packable two-layer membrane, Gore-Tex Paclite, in a rain shell that has all of the options, climate safety, and breathability wanted by hikers and backpackers who keep away from extreme climate—at a worth that’s onerous to beat.
It stored me dry via hours of chilly wind and regular rain, with a little bit of moist snow, backpacking in September in Yellowstone.
A totally adjustable hood and three pockets full the bundle. Whereas the opposite jackets on this record are clearly extra within the high-performance class—making them extra weatherproof, breathable, sturdy, and versatile—at half or much less the value of them, REI’s XeroDry GTX represents a superb worth for hikers and backpackers.
Learn my complete review of the REI XeroDry GTX Jacket.
BUY IT NOW You may assist my work on this weblog, without charge to you, by clicking this affiliate hyperlink to buy a males’s or ladies’s REI XeroDry GTX Jacket at rei.com, together with males’s tall and girls’s plus sizes.
By no means get chilly once more (effectively, virtually by no means).
See my “5 Tips For Staying Warm and Dry While Hiking.”
Outdoor Research Microgravity AscentShell Jacket
$279, 14 oz.
backcountry.com
Whether or not mountaineering steep hills in regular rain or backcountry snowboarding in closely falling, moist snow, OR’s Microgravity AscentShell Jacket stored me dry going each uphill and downhill, due to stable waterproofing and distinctive breathability. Credit score OR’s proprietary, three-layer, waterproof-breathable AscentShell material for the way effectively it manages moisture.
Supple and packable, it sports activities the options you need in an all-season shell, together with a totally adjustable, helmet-compatible hood; a snug match with superb mobility; 4 roomy, zippered pockets; weatherproofing options like hook-and-loop cuffs and waterproof zippers; and stable sturdiness—all at a superb worth, though it’s heavier than different jackets reviewed right here. It lacks pit zips, however many customers received’t miss them, given the Microgravity’s breathability.
Learn my complete review of the Outside Analysis Microgravity AscentShell Jacket.
BUY IT NOW You may assist my work on this weblog, without charge to you, by clicking any of those affiliate hyperlinks to buy a males’s or ladies’s Outdoor Research Microgravity AscentShell Jacket at backcountry.com, outdoorresearch.com, or moosejaw.com.
See my “5 Pro Tips For Buying the Right Rain Jacket For the Backcountry,” and all of my reviews of rain jackets, my reviews of ultralight wind shells, waterproof, light-weight jackets effectively suited to cardio actions outside, and all of my reviews of outdoor apparel, backpacking gear, and hiking gear at The Large Exterior.
Don’t miss my picks for “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the 12 months.
Whether or not you’re a newbie or seasoned backpacker, you’ll study new methods for making all your journeys go higher in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Wilderness Backpacking Trip,” “10 Tricks for Making Hiking and Backpacking Easier,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you’ll be able to learn all of these three tales at no cost; in the event you don’t have a subscription, you’ll be able to obtain the e-guide variations of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Wilderness Backpacking Trip,” the 10 tricks for making hiking and backpacking easier, and the lightweight backpacking guide with out having a paid membership.
NOTE: I examined gear for Backpacker journal for 20 years. At The Large Exterior, I evaluate solely what I think about the perfect outside gear and attire. See my Gear Reviews page at The Large Exterior for categorized menus of all of my evaluations and my professional shopping for ideas.
