Every time I Sliding on the rain jacket, I thank us for no longer having to wrap ourselves in a thick smelly seal to keep it dry. Thanks to advances in weatherproof textiles and clothing design, the best raincoats today are more comfortable and watertight than ever before. However, classification of different styles, techniques and waterproof ratings can be confusing depending on climate and activity level.
Every year, I test twelve or so raincoats through the wet Pacific Northwest winter and fake spring. I hike, bike, run and walk dogs- sometimes I even stand in the shower in clothes when the weather is not cooperating. I also received advice from Amber Williams, a consumer science educator and textile science and pattern making lecturer at the University of Utah Outdoor Product Design Program. All of this can find raincoats worth your time and money.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our outdoor coverage, including the best umbrellas, the best puffer jackets, the best running shorts and the best merino wool clothes.
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Updated April 2025: We added Gorewear Concurve Windbreaker, MEC X Aquanator, Montbell Versalite, Rab Cinder Phantom and 66 North Snaefell Rain Jacket.
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Understand raincoat technology
Photos: rei; Getty Images
Trying to decipher the jacket’s specifications is almost as annoying as being soaked by a trail suddenly in a cloud explosion.
Looking for laminated layers: Most technical waterproof jackets are called two-layer or three-layer jackets. These layers are usually composed of facial fabrics that have been treated with waterproofing agents such as durable waterproofing agents, which are thin grids that release water vapor, and a protective lining underneath. Often, for greater durability, you need to look for layers that have been laminated together, not just coated with waterproofing. That’s what Amber Williams, a consumer science educator and lecturer at Utah State University, suggests.
Waterproof and breathable grade: Manufacturers usually rate each fabric based on its waterproofness and breathability. For example, a raincoat has a waterproof rating of 20,000, which means that if you have a long 1-inch square tube, you can pour 20,000 mm of water on top of the fabric before you can start to seep in (over 65 feet!). 20,000 breathability levels mean 20,000 grams of water vapor can pass through the fabric in the other direction. While higher breathability levels seem better, if you are stuck, you may want to think twice before you can. The heat in the body can be almost as easy to avoid breathable jackets as steam.
Check seams and zippers: If you want the raincoat to last longer than the amusement park poncho, take a look at the seams. The shoulders are particularly fragile, as most outdoor sports require you to wear a backpack that can rub and damage them. “The design lines look really sexy, but over time they won’t last that long,” Williams said. Other features looked for include plasticization, waterproof zippers and protective zipper flaps. That’s why our rain jackets are so expensive – lots of new fabric techniques and many design details.
Take care of your coat: You can greatly extend the life of an item by taking proper care of it. Hang jacket – Don’t stuff it into a small grated sack. If you see stains from grease, dirt or sunscreen, or notice that the water is no longer beaded on the surface, you need to wash it. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You may need a professional detergent – many fabric detergents will leave residues that may interfere with the performance of the long-lasting water repellent (DWR). Avoid fabric softeners, bleaches, dry cleaning and dryers.
The best raincoat for daily use
Since the 1960s, modern raincoats have relied on carcinogenic perfluorocarbons (PFCs) or “forever chemicals.” Modern durable insect repellent (DWRS) uses PFC in manufacturing and then migrates from clothes to soil and streams as you roam around. Today, many companies are taking steps to lower PFA levels in their products, possibly because states ban these chemicals. In 2023, popular outdoor retailer REI announced that it will phase out all products using PFA in its stores.
If you want to be sure your jacket doesn’t have PFA, then you can’t go wrong with a classic rubber raincoat, like Stutterheim’s Stockholm Rain Coat. Technical raincoat manufacturers tend to shy away from polyurethane because it is rubber. But the material is durable, long-lasting, windproof, waterproof and PFC-free! I also prefer rubber rain jackets in humid coastal climates, such as the Pacific Northwest. When the air is already wet, breathability is no longer a shocking point.
This is the only rain jacket I bought with my own money because I’m tired of having to change the raincoat every few years when it’s waterproof and wear out. I wear Stockholm almost every day. The jacket is made of 100% rubber PVC and has a cotton lining so it won’t squeak like a duck when worn.
Its size is real and spacious enough to layer the vest under it. It has double welded seams to prevent water, and the hood is large enough to use a baseball cap or soy bean. I love the buttons, too; it’s faster and easier when I just throw my coat walk dog than making sure the seam-sealed zipper doesn’t get stuck in the storm flap. If you are still living in a rainy climate and are tired of re-watering raincoats every season, get one of them.
★ Alternatives: Stockholm prices may block you. If you want a basic rubber slider, I have it too Rainwater Waterproof Jacket ($140) For several years it has a very similar Scandinavian style design, but it has a more affordable price. Baxter Woods ($300) It is also a very excellent rubber slider, a little less than Stockholm.
Best waterproof jacket
My requirements for a raincoat running is very different from the requirements for a daily raincoat. I’m sweating so I’m already wet and I don’t care if the jacket is more permeable. However, I hope it works perfectly, not annoying or rustling, and has good ventilation, so I don’t get clumsy when exercising.
Gorewear’s windbreaker is known as the most comfortable running jacket ever, and that’s absolutely right. I’ve been wearing this jacket outside for 3 to 5 miles of rain and I barely even noticed it’s already started. This magic is caused by fabric – it is a permeable double-layer fabric that is DWR-treated with a 3D fabric structure inside. Basically, there are a billion small cloth tent poles that hold it to the skin surface, so you don’t get that horrible sticky feeling when the running rain jacket starts to cling to you like a plastic packaging. It seems that this shouldn’t work, but it does.
It has all the usual running jacket essentials, such as reflective details and elastic cuffs. There is a storage pocket, which is very small in packaging, almost the size of a handkerchief. It’s a blessing because you can stuff it into your running vest and curse when it stops raining because I’ve been losing it. (I spent about 20 minutes searching for it in my house because I carry it everywhere.) On top of that, it’s only $100, which is affordable for a high-tech rain jacket.
Other rain jackets to consider
I tried a lot of raincoats in the running category. Here are some of my favorites:
- Showers pass Cloudburst for $199: If you want a rain jacket, this is the best, uh, rain. It’s thicker than the Gorewear Windreaker, but it’s still very soft and flexible. When the outdoor temperature drops below 40 degrees, there is a layer of wool underneath, I will wear it.
- Patagonia Houdini costs $109: This is the jacket everyone usually tells you to get. Everyone has one. Simple and packable, the company switches to PFC-free DWR. However, it rustled, it wasn’t too breathable, and I felt like I was wearing a plastic bag.
- Tracksmith pours rain $400: At a high price, it’s the most abundant coat, a triple jacket, a suspended hood and 360-inch 360-inch panels that are breathable. Like all Tracksmith gear, it’s pretty, but the colors are dark and there are no reflective details, which can be dangerous when running in the rain.
Best Waterproof Cycling Jackets
I hate rain gear. It’s heavy, bulky and rarely performed in a real downpour, and the whole waterproof and breathable stuff is a lie (you can have both, not at the same time). Still, I love the Rab Cinder Phantom and carry it anywhere I carry it with me. It solved almost all the problems I had with rain gear. It’s very light (3.3 oz/114 g of media), stuffed around the size of a tennis ball, and is a bit waterproof.
The case is 7d Pertex, which turns out to be windproof and waterproof, and it will breathe when it doesn’t rain. Pair it with grid wool to give it a breathable final warmth. In the case of 3 oz, the Cinder Phantom does not have many bells and whistles. You can ventilate with a full front zipper, although it works while riding. There is no pit zipper, sadly, there is no rope around the waist. It’s elastic, but I’d love to sacrifice an ounce and have a pulling rope.
One thing to know about Cinder Phantom is that it is designed for cycling, which means it has longer back shortcuts, which works great on bikes, but is not the best choice for hiking as raindrops fall on your legs and almost land on your legs. This did not stop me from using it from the bike, though. I paired it with Patagonia’s new M-10 Storm Pants (also great, though less breathable), which gave me about 10 ounces of body coverage. Am I worried that the thin fabric of Cinder Phantom might not be able to withstand backpacks for a long time? I do, but six months later, so far everything is fine. – Scott Gilbertson
