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Rain Jacket Guide

You're cruising along the trail when you see dark clouds on the horizon. A half hour later the wind is blowing like crazy and the clouds are nearly above you. Thirty minutes after that you're in the middle of a downpour wishing you had been smart enough to slip a rain jacket into your pack. If you had, you wouldn't be soaking wet right now. Rain jackets have come a long way in the last few years. Instead of choosing between three colors like you used to, now you have to pick from more than a dozen different fabrics and a nearly limitless list of features. On the other hand, all these options let you find the jacket that's just right for your day in the hills... as long as you know what you're looking for.

Single-Layer Two-Layer Three-Layer
Rain Jackets
Rain Jackets
Rain Jackets

Materials:

  • coated nylon
  • coated polyester
  • SilNylon
  • FreeFlow H2O (Montane)

Materials:

  • GORE-TEX® PacLite Shell
  • HyVent, HyVent DT (The North Face)
  • PreCip (Marmot)
  • H2No 2 and 2.5 layer (Patagonia)
  • MemBrain (Marmot)
  • Cloudburst (Cloudveil)
  • Dri1 (Norrona)
  • Pertex Shield 02
  • Trinity (GoLite)
  • FD Storm Dry (Columbia)
  • DRYtech 2.5 layer (Mammut)
  • GORE-TEX® Performance Shell

Materials:

  • GORE-TEX® Pro Shell
  • eVent
  • Bombshell (Backcountry.com)
  • HyVent 3 layer (The North Face)
  • Ark (Mountain Hardwear)
  • Pertex Shield 03
  • Dri3 (Norrona)
  • H2No 3 Layer (Patagonia)
  • DRYtech 3 layer (Mammut)

The Lowdown:

A single-layer jacket is exactly what it sounds like—just a layer of nylon or polyester with some type of treatment to make it waterproof. Although they're technically waterproof, if these jackets stay out in the rain long enough you will eventually begin to get wet. They also lack breathability, so you're likely to get a little wet from your own sweat. They are, however, incredibly light and packable.

The Lowdown:

Two-layer rain jackets have a nylon or polyester "face" fabric to protect from abrasion, with an inner waterproof breathable material for weather protection. A separate mesh or fabric liner keeps your skin from touching the waterproofing, preventing contamination and improving comfort. This combination provides better moisture management than a single-layer jacket, but it also tends to weigh a bit more. Many companies also produce 2.5-layer fabrics, which replace the hung liner with a dry-touch coating. This saves considerable weight and improves packability, at the price of shorter fabric life. If you only own one rain jacket, one of these options should probably be the type you want.

The Lowdown:

While three-layer jackets usually fall into the Technical Shells category, they provide serious moisture protection and durability for backpackers who spend time in places where rain is more common than sun. These jackets also cost an extra helping of money, but if you're in Washington, Western Canada, Scotland, or some rainforest, then money for a burly three-layer jacket will be well spent.

Advantages:

  • Incredibly low weight
  • Very compressible
  • Waterproof until you're in a torrential downpour
  • Usually cheaper than two-layer shells

Advantages:

  • Completely waterproof even in a total downpour
  • Good breathability to let moisture escape from your skin
  • More durable than single-layer shells
  • Can be pushed into winter duty if necessary

Advantages:

  • Completely waterproof even in a total downpour
  • Most durable of the three
  • Breathable enough to let moisture escape even during aerobic activities
  • Often fully featured with underarm-zip vents and tons of pockets
  • Don't have to get relegated to the closet when winter rolls around

Disadvantages:

  • Not very breathable (moisture can't escape from your body)
  • Easily ripped or torn
  • If it rains long and hard enough you'll eventually get a bit wet

Disadvantages:

  • Heavier than single-layer shells
  • Relatively bulky
  • Generally more expensive than single-layer shells

Disadvantages:

  • Heavier and bulkier than light, rain-specific jackets
  • Considerably more expensive than other rain jackets

Get one of these jackets if...

  • You're not likely to get rained on but want the protection just in case
  • You're so concerned about weight that you cut tags from everything you have

Get one of these jackets if...

  • You're likely to encounter rain during your trip
  • You want the option to get features like underarm zips for more comfort

Get one of these jackets if...

  • You're absolutely sure to get heavily rained on
  • You want the option to get features like underarm zips for more comfort
Top Brands:

The North Face Rain Jackets The North Face Rain JacketsMen's - Women's

Marmot Rain Jackets Marmot Rain JacketsMen's - Women's

Sierra Designs Rain Jackets Sierra Designs Rain Jackets Men's - Women's

 Top Brands:

Patagonia Rain Jackets Patagonia Rain JacketsMen's - Women's

GoLite Rain Jackets GoLite Rain JacketsMen's - Women's

Montane Rain Jackets Montane Rain JacketsMen's - Women's

 Top Brands:

Norrona Rain Jackets Norrona Rain JacketsMen's - Women's

Mountain Hardwear Rain Jackets Mountain Hardwear Rain JacketsMen's - Women's

Columbia Rain Jackets Columbia Rain JacketsMen's - Women's

Shop For Your Rain Jacket


Check out our entire selection of Men's and Women's rain jackets. Why stop there? We have what it takes to outfit you for the backcountry: shop backpacks, layers, rain shells, and more.

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