It’s vital to travel in the mountains with adequate protection from the worst the weather can throw at us and that means having a quality waterproof jacket. When you’re in the wild, you want a good rain coat that you can count on.
The most obvious concern when buying a waterproof jacket is the type of protection that you’re getting, as this influences the price, weight, breathability and of course the level of waterproofing on offer. You obviously don’t want the jacket to start leaking water after just a month of wear, yet you don’t want to pay over the odds for something that may feel a little overkill for the type of activity that you’re buying the jacket for. elastic fiber camouflage fabric
There are three main types of waterproof protection to consider; wax-coated (pretty rare for technical outdoor jackets these days), PU-coated, and membrane lined jackets. Give our Buyer’s Guide to Waterproof Jackets a read to understand the differences between the three waterproof protections.
You’ll notice that membrane lined jackets are the most common in this roundup. They’re favoured for their good balance between weight, breathability and waterproofness. The most common type of waterproof membrane is of course Gore-tex, but we’ve also included some of the various own-brand waterproof technologies such as Paramo’s Nikwax Analogy and Patagonia’s H2No.
Aside from the type of waterproof protection on offer, it’s also important to consider other features that the jacket carries in order to find the best waterproof jacket for you. Choose these features based on the type of activity that you’re buying the jacket for. For instance, if you’re going to be mostly cycling and trail running then a lightweight and breathable jacket will be the best option for you. A jacket that holds a mixture of features makes for a great multi-activity jacket that can be used and abused wherever you take it.
Many of the jackets in this selection are featured in our Outdoor 100 and our Green Gear Guide. Within these product guides, you’ll be able check out a more in depth review of each jacket, including tester’s verdicts and industry trade secrets.
These jackets were tested by editor Will Renwick and our contributors and outdoor enthusiasts Emma Cole and Cat Nicol. Will, who led the tests, has been reviewing outdoor gear for outdoor magazines for over 10 years. He’s stood on a number of gear awards juries, including for the ISPO Awards, the OIA Awards and the Scandinavian Outdoor Awards and has hiked numerous long distance trails including the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, the Cambrian Way and the Camino de Santiago. Emma, is a hiker, trail runner and cyclist based in the North Wessex Downs and Cat is a hiker and snowboarder from the Cairngorms.
We tested all of these jackets on hikes within the UK’s national parks, as you’ll see in the pictures alongside each review. Will, Emma and Cat looked at the resistance to heavy and wind-driven rain, the breathability when hiking at tempo up hills, the durability of the fabrics against rough rocks and branches and their resistance to abrasion when worn underneath a heavily-loaded backpack.
Selected as our best waterproof jacket overall this year
Price: £300 Weight: 550g Best for: hillwalking, mountaineering What we liked: p rotective, durable, innovative new fabric What we didn’t like: quite heavy
The all-important thing to know about this is that it’s one of the first ever jackets to use Gore-tex’s brand new ePE fabric. This is a new waterproof material from Gore-tex that looks set to replace the standard version of the fabric that we’ve all come to know over the last few decades now. The reason for the switch? The old fabric contains PFCs while the new one doesn’t. PFCs, you see, are now being phased out of production by most outdoor brands due to their potential for environmental harm.
Better still, the fabric is impressive. We’ve used it in three different jackets now and it seems to be durable, protective and as breathable as you can expect a waterproof membrane to be. Featured here in the Mountain Equipment Makalu, it makes for a very impressive offering. During our tests, this jacket had the feel of a shell you can really trust; the kind of thing we’d reach for when we knew conditions were going to be very rough. But it’s still relatively lightweight too; we found it can serve either as that option to wear all day-long in horrible stuff or as that option to carry in your backpack, just in case some rain happens to roll in. For us, this offered everything we’d want in bad weather: a fully adjustable hood, venting pit zips, water resistant zips and, of course, a fabric that can capably block out moisture.
There are also touches that show Mountain Equipment’s real alpine expertise. The hood, for instance, is helmet friendly, the pockets can be accessed when you’re wearing a harness or backpack with a hipbelt and the arms are articulated so the hem doesn’t lift up when you’re reaching high for a hold.
Available in men’s and women’s versions / 75D fabric / Gore-tex ePE membrane / helmet-friendly adjustable hood / underarm vents / two-way main zip / press stud at zip base / 2 x handwarmer pockets / 1 x chest pocket.
Selected for our Outdoor 100 23/24. Read our full Mountain Equipment Makalu review.
Buy the Mountain Equipment Makalu: £300 at Ellis-Brigham
Our choice for the best lightweight waterproof jacket on the market
Price: £350 Weight: 300g Best for: Hiking, climbing, backpacking and day-to-day use What we liked: light but durable, simple aesthetic What we didn’t like: lacking pit zips
There’s no denying that the Arc’teryx brand is hugely popular at the moment with its reputation even crossing beyond the outdoor realm and this, the Beta Jacket, is up there as one of its most sought after products. But is it any good? Yes, it is actually. It’s a really decent jacket.
OK, it’s expensive (though not the most expensive in this test) but it does ooze quality. The materials are all high-spec, the details are all carefully thought through and, from our experience, it offers the kind of performance any hiker or climber would want from a waterproof jacket.
The Beta uses a Gore-tex waterproof membrane that’s sandwiched between a lightweight shell and a C-knit backer and the resulting fabric feels durable but also very light and packable. From our experience, this thing’s so light you can stuff it in your backpack and completely forget it’s there. Then, when you need it, it’ll offer dependable protection without too much clamminess and it’ll fend off a bit of rough stuff too – we found it held up really well when exposed to rough rock while scrambling.
Arc’teryx describe the Beta jacket as being multi-use. We’d define it as being suitable for hiking, climbing and some not-too-gnarly alpine climbing. It’s a little on the heavy side as a jacket for running, but it’s not wholly inappropriate for that kind of stuff. We’d recommend looking at the Beta LT if you want something for fast tempos.
OM editor Will tried this in a medium, his usual size, and he said it fitted perfectly over a baselayer and mid layer but it’s cut a little too athletically to be worn over a bulky layer of insulation.
Available in men’s and women’s versions / Gore-tex membrane / adjustable hood / internal zipped pocket / zipped hand warmer pockets / water resistant zips throughout / bluesign approved / articulated arms.
Selected for our Outdoor 100 product guide – Here’s our full Arc’teryx Beta Jacket Review.
Buy the Arc’teryx Beta Jacket: £350 at Ellis-Brigham
Our pick if you’re looking for a good value waterproof jacket
Price: £195 Weight: 405g Best for: Hiking, mountaineering What we liked: durable, lots of handy details, good value What we didn’t like: quite heavy
From our experiences, the Keela Pinnacle offers the same kind of protection and performance that you’d get from a £300 Gore-tex jacket, just at a much lower price.
Keela is a Scottish brand that does things a little differently to some of the more well-known brands. Its designers think outside of the box, coming up with their own fabrics and clever design details, and this results in great products like this.
It’s a useful, versatile jacket with some really nice details, including glove-friendly zipper tabs, a big moldable peak, two-way zips and huge vents at the armpits. We found the three-layer fabric to be protective and durable and it has a slight bit of stretch to it to give that touch more of dynamism when you’re reaching up for a hold in this thing.
From our experience using the Pinnacle, we’d call it your three-season work horse. It’s the kind of jacket that will come in handy for anything from alpine-style climbing through to scrambling, hillwalking and just day-to-day use. The cut was noteworthy too; we found it to be loose enough to accommodate a thick layer of insulation underneath but it didn’t come across as bulky or baggy either.
Available in men’s and women’s versions / Aquaflex Extreme 3-layer fabric / underarm vents / 2 x chest pockets / 2 x hand pockets / two-way zip / adjustable hood / internal storm flap / reflective details / Velcro cuffs / adjustable hem.
Selected for our Outdoor 100 23/24. Read our full Keela Pinnacle review.
Buy the Keela Pinnacle: £195 at Keelaoutdoors.com
The best waterproof jacket for breathability, according to our team of testers
Price: £270 Weight: 693g Best for: cold and wet conditions What we liked: easy to repair and long lasting, useful details, very breathable What we didn’t like: heavy, not fully waterproof
For those unacquainted with Páramo, the first thing to know about them is that they make rain protection without the use of any membranes and instead they use highly water resistant fabrics that are treated with Nikwax’s hydrophobic treatment. The result? Wet weather protection without that horrible clammy feeling that you tend to get from most waterproof jackets. Their jackets are also straightforward to repair. In fact, with a needle and thread you could even repair them while out in the field.
The downside is that most of Páramo’s jacket, including this one, are a little on the heavy side. You also need to ensure that the Nikwax protection is topped up fairly regularly. Still, we’re big fans of the brand here at Outdoors Magic and we’re continually impressed by their products.
Details we liked on this jacket include the large, stormproof hood and the front zip that’s backed by poppers so you can convert it into a large vent.
“I’m 5 foot 10 and have an average build and I tested the Páramo Helki in a men’s medium, my usual size and it fitted perfectly,” said our tester. “The cut is quite similar to most modern waterproof jackets . If you like a longer jacket, I recommend looking into the Páramo Alta instead.”
Available in men’s and women’s versions / Nikwax Analogy fabrics / two-way main zip / wire peaked, adjustable hood / Velcro cuffs / hem and waist adjustment / large OS map pocket on chest / PFC-free.
Selected for our Outdoor 100. Read our full Páramo Helki Jacket review.
Buy the Páramo Helki: £270 at Blacks.co.uk
Price: £170 Weight: 400g Best for: Hiking, backpacking What we liked: eco-friendly, good features, protective, stretchy but durable fabric What we didn’t like: wets out quite quickly
The Granite Crest comes with all the eco credentials we’ve come to expect from Patagonia. With a three-layer construction using the brand’s own H2No waterproof-breathable tech, it’s designed to be both high performance and responsibly made, using recycled fabrics with no nasty PFC-based water repellent treatments.
It’s a well-equipped jacket too, ticking all the boxes for a reliable hillwalking shell. The main zip and external chest pocket feature laminated, water-resistant zips, while those on the two hand pockets and pit zips are both reverse-coil designs, protected by storm flaps. The hood has a laminated brim and three-point adjustment. It cinches in well, offering good face protection.
The main thing we liked about the Granite Crest is the light feel and stretchiness that the fabric provides. It doesn’t actually feel that waterproof but we can say from experience that it definitely is.
H2No three-layer waterproof fabric / 100% recycled fabric / PFC-free waterproofing / fair trade certified sewn / laminated main zip and external chest pocket / water-resistant zips / two hand pockets / pit zips / storm flap protection throughout / hood with laminated brim and three-point adjustment / roomy fit / Velcro cuff tabs / single hem drawcord / stuffs away into chest pocket.
Read our full Patagonia Granite Crest review.
Buy the Patagonia Granite Crest Jacket: £170 at Ellis-Brigham
Price: £600 Weight: 850g Best for: harsh weather conditions, snow sports, winter walking What we liked: sustainability factors, versatile hood and storage options What we didn’t like: high price point
Páramo’s newly improved version of the Aspira smock is built for durability and minimising the risk of damage during use. Should repairs be necessary, Páramo have made it easy for individuals to patch up minor rips with basic sewing skills, or you can send it to their workshop for professional repairs at a fair price.
The Aspira 360 features Nikwax Analogy fabric which uses a membrane-free construction, mimicking animal fur to provide effective rain protection while managing internal moisture. We found it to be particularly effective during those relentless rainy days in the autumn and winter months here in the UK. In fact – we tested it on some pretty brutal days in the Lake District and stayed cosy and dry the whole time.
Páramo’s hoods are equally impressive. They feature a big mouldable peak that offers a lot of coverage and plenty of adjustment. The smock also includes several ventilation points, allowing you to regulate temperature during intense activity. The five pockets add significant functionality, with handwarmers, a large front pocket, two small Velcro chest pockets, and an additional interior pocket for extra storage.
Overall, the Páramo Aspira 360 smock delivers high performance and functionality for winter conditions, while its commitment to sustainability through recycled materials and repairability positions it as a leader in the outdoor industry. |t’s expensive yes, but it showcases some very high spec design at least – and is built to last.
Sizes XS to XXL / for men and women / two colour options / Nikwax® Analogy® Waterproof fabric / 5 internal and external pockets / secure and adjustable hood / upper arm vents / twin zip design / multi-adjust cuffs / articulated shoulders / PFC-free water repellant finish / fully recyclable / through Páramo / World Fair Trade approved.
Read our full Páramo Aspira 360 review.
Buy the Páramo Aspira 360: £600 at Paramo-clothing.com
Price: £222 Weight: 440g Best for: hiking and alpine climbing What we liked: protective hood, good ventilation options What we didn’t like: strange pocket configuration
Tierra is a Swedish brand that has been making some very good products of late. This, the Nevado jacket, is a case in point. Selected for our Outdoor 100 for 2023/24, we tested out a women’s version of this on a series of hikes, most notably in the Cairngorms national park, and were impressed by the fabric and technical touches that make this suitable for anything from summer backpacking through to alpine mountaineering.
The Gore-tex three-layer fabric had durability and a nice bit of flex, while the large two-way pit zips give good control over the internal climate of the jacket. The hood was perhaps our favourite aspect of this as it has a good range of volume adjustment and provides a lot of secure protection from the elements thanks to its large moldable peak and high collar.
There was one thing we didn’t like so much about this: the chest pocket. Strangely, this pocket connects with one of the hand warmer pockets and, w hile this will have its uses, there’s the risk of placing your phone or keys into the chest pocket and losing them because you haven’t realised that the other zip into the pocket is open. Still, this is a well-built jacket with excellent performance in rough conditions and overall we liked it a lot.
Available in men’s and women’s versions / Gore-tex fabric witbh C-knit backer / helmet-friendly hood with moldable peak / pit zip ventilation / two-way main zipper / hipbelt and harness friendly pockets.
Selected for our Outdoor 100 2023/24. Read our full Tierra Nevado review.
Buy the Tierra Nevado: £222 at Trekitt.co.uk
Price: £435 Weight: 515g Best for: high-energy outdoor activities, hiking, climbing What we liked: bio-based waterproof membrane from Polartec, roomy storage options What we didn’t like: slightly cropped fit
66 North ° are the first brand to adopt the innovative new Polartec Power Shield Pro , a fully waterproof, windproof, and highly breathable fabric technology that allows moisture to escape through diffusion on a molecular level, while blocking out wind and rain completely. This makes it ideal for high-energy outdoor activities where you need full weather protection along with breathability.
The Power Shield Pro PFAS-free membrane is also made from 48% plant-based content with a waterproof rating of 20,000 and a breathability rating of 20,000. There’s a remarkable amount of stretch to it too – so much that it doesn’t even feel like it’s actually waterproof. Fortunately it is! We used the Snaefell on a very wet trip to the Lake District and found that it provided the protection we needed.
The Snaefell has a two-way zip to make it harness-friendly, while the handwarmer pockets are also slightly raised to make them usable when you’re wearing a harness or a backpack hipbelt. Said handwarmers are roomy and are in fact large enough to swallow an OS map or big pair of winter gloves . Inside the jacket, there’s one small pocket and there’s also a small zipped pocket on the sleeve.
We think many people will appreciate its alpine cut, but if – like many of us here at Outdoors Magic – you do a lot of hiking in very wet and windy places like the UK; you might want to size up to ensure any insulation you’re wearing is kept covered down at the hem.
Sizes S to 2XL / 3 colour options / Polartec® Power Shield® Pro PFAS-free membrane with 48% plant-based content / waterproof rating: 20,000 / breathability rating:20,000 / stretchy, narrow fit / alpine cut / multiple roomy pocket options / two-way zip / harness-friendly / three-point adjustment hood.
Read our full 66° North Snaefell Jacket review.
Buy the 66° North Snaefell Jacket: £435 at 66north.com
Price: £200 Weight: 313g Best for: backpacking and three-season hiking What we liked: good value, stretchy and dynamic fabric What we didn’t like: fabric marks quite easily
The Rab Firewall is a good value three-layer waterproof and lightweight shell that uses the British brand’s proprietary ProFlex fabric. This is notably stretchy and it gives the jacket a comfortable fit that doesn’t restrict your movement, even when you’re reaching up high for a hold.
At 313g, it’s a lightweight and packable option and therefore it’ll suit long-distance hikers, but it’s also got the features and durability to serve as a three-season workhouse for hiking and scrambling.
Emma Cole, who tested the Firewall Light for us, is a tall, size 12 and tried the jacket in a size L. She says that she “found the jacket to be the perfect fit” adding that it was “comfortable, flattering and cut in all the right places”. Emma found that the arms are a decent length and the various adjustable mechanisms made it easy to tweak the jacket’s fit where necessary.
“I would like an inner pocket for valuables, but I’m being picky because ultimately the Firewall Light jacket is incredibly useful and it’s become a firm staple in my wardrobe,” adds Emma.
Available in men’s and women’s versions / Proflex 3-layer nylon fabric / HH: 20,000 mm / MVTR: 20000g/m2/24hrs / 2 zipped hand pockets / adjustable hood / Velcro cuffs / men’s S-XXL, women’s 8-16.
Selected for our Outdoor 100 gear of the year list. Read our full Rab Firewall Light review.
Buy the Rab Firewall Light: £200 at Blacks.co.uk
Price: £250 Weight: 460g Best for: eco-minded adventurers What we liked: good eco credentials, durable build, nicely cut What we didn’t like: quite heavy
This is a jacket that showcases some excellent eco efforts. The polyester face fabric, membrane and backer, for instance, are derived from recycled materials (100%, 75% and 100% respectively) while a solution dyeing process has been used in its creation. Solution dyeing means that the fibres used to form the garments are dyed before they’re woven together instead of being woven then dyed. By doing it before, less water and energy is used and it also results in more colourfast garments.
Fortunately, the jacket also performs very well, offering the levels of waterproofing and breathability you’d expect from a three-layer waterproof jacket. It’s also got a very durable feel to it and feels built to last. That durability does come at a cost though, because at 460g it’s not particularly light.
“I’m 5 foot 10 and tried this in my usual size”, which is a size medium, said our tester. “I really like the fit as the hem comes down nicely below the waist to keep below a backpack hipbelt without riding up and there’s plenty of room for a midweight down or synthetic insulated jacket underneath too.
Available in men’s and women’s versions / solution dyed Pertex Revolve fabric with PFC-free DWR / 1 way main zip with storm flap / 2 venting handwarmer pockets with 2 way zips. / Velcro cuffs / sizes: S-XXXL.
Selected for our Outdoor 100. Read our full Montane Solution review.
Buy the Montane Solution Jacket: £250 at Montane.comk
Price: £199 Weight: 450g Best for: Hiking, day-to-day wear What we liked: Fit, durability, neat venting underarm zips, peaked hood holds well What we didn’t like: No recycled materials or info on recyclability.
British brand Rohan have come up with a durable and reliable performer here. It’s a jacket that uses a three-layer fabric called Barricade, which involves a tough outer shell, a PU membrane and then a liner material that we found to be comfortable to wear against bare skin.
With its hydrostatic head of 20,000 and a breathability rating of 20,000 MVTR, the Ventus’s membrane stats are good – up there with the likes of Gore-tex and Patagonia’s H2No – and out in the field the jacket did offer the performance we tend to look for, helped a lot by the neatly designed venting zips under the arms.
At 450g, it’s not the lightest but it does hit a goldilocks spot, being light enough for backpacking while also hardy enough to serve as your year-round workhorse. It’s also one of those jackets that’s clearly been designed by hikers for hikers, offering pockets that’ll fit an OS map and that are accessible when you’re wearing a backpack with a hipbelt. It also has a reliable peaked hood that holds well and moves with your head.
Read our full Rohan Ventus review.
Buy the Rohan Ventus: £199 at Rohan.co.uk
Price: £480 Weight: 520g Best for: Hiking, hillwalking, ski touring What we liked: gusseted pockets, good eco credentials, quality materials What we didn’t like: no hand pockets, price
When Fjällräven released this jacket around a decade ago, it drew a fair bit of attention for being one of the earlier examples of a rain shell that didn’t contain nasty PFCs within its durable water resistant treatment. Fast-forward to today and the jacket is still PFC-free and it’s largely unchanged, save for a few minor aesthetic adjustments and the addition of recycled and recyclable materials.
Our crew here at Outdoors Magic tested the original extensively and we’ve also been testing the latest update. Places we’ve used it include on the Fjällräven Classic Trek and on a 100 mile winter backpack through the Welsh mountains. Over the course of these trips, it has stood out for its functionality, with useful pockets and venting options, a protective hood and a well-articulated design. We’ve found the fabric to be reliably weatherproof and breathable and it’s got a nice bit of stretch to it, making it durable but also comfortable.
We’ve found it a little heavy for long-distance backpacking in good conditions, but it’s definitely an option to turn to if you’re expecting to face up to some consistently rough conditions. The price tag is high, that’s for sure, but we’ve found this to be a very well made, high-spec jacket.
Available in men’s and women’s versions / hydrophilic Eco-Shell recycled polyester fabric / zipped vents at sides / two-way main zip with press stud at base / three-way hood with mouldable peak / gusseted chest pockets with inner mesh pockets.
Read our full Fjällräven Keb Eco Shell review.
Buy the Fjällräven Keb Eco Shell: £480 at Alpinetrek.co.uk
Our top choice as the best four season jacket for harsh weather.
Price: £215 Weight: 1124g Best for: mountaineering, winter hillwalking What we liked: durable, protective, long-lasting and decked out in features What we didn’t like: can get hot, very heavy
This is just about as protective as waterproof jackets get. In fact, we can’t think of any other jacket we’d want with us when we’re out on a Scottish mountain and all hell is letting loose.
This might be too heavy to serve as the kind of jacket for summer hiking, where it’s likely to spend a lot of time your backpack, but if you’re in the market for a burly fortress of a jacket to wear on cold and wet weather mountain adventures – and it would probably also make a decent ski jacket as well – this one’s a compelling option, especially when you consider the relatively reasonable price tag.
The Munro uses a material called System Dual Protection. It’s essentially a 2-layer hard shell that combines a waterproof and windproof outer fabric with a special drop liner. The laminated face fabric keeps water out, while a high wicking hydrophilic mesh inner draws moisture away from the body. Between the two layers, an air gap creates a natural thermal barrier, protecting against heat loss.
Does it work? Well, yes, in certain conditions. On test the Munro proved to be breathable enough when its pit zips were opened up, and the double-layer construction gives it a reassuring protective feel too.
Available in men’s and women’s versions / System Dual Protection fabric / four-way adjustable rollaway hood with protective wired peak / neck baffle with one-handed drawcord adjustment / two-way front zipper with double storm-flap, hook-and-loop closure and snap fasteners / two large, zipped chest pockets protected by storm-flaps / internal zipped pocket, sized to take an OS map / secure mobile phone pocket / reinforced shoulder panels for extra durability / underarm ventilation zips with double storm-flaps.
Selected for our Outdoor 100. Read our full Keela Munro Jacket review.
Buy the Keela Munro: £215 at Keelaoutdoors.co.uk
Price: £550 Weight: 510g Best for: alpine climbing and winter hiking What we liked: Gore-tex Pro fabric, excellent articulation What we didn’t like: expensive and the oversized cuffs seem unnecessary
This is a high-end jacket with some excellent fabrics and technical details. We included it in our Outdoor 100 product guide for 2023/24, taking it to the mountains of Scotland for extensive testing, and we liked what we saw. It’s a jacket that’s highly durable but still surprisingly lightweight and, in the rough conditions we faced up to it in, we felt highly protected and sealed in. The climate within the jacket always felt cool and dry and the long pit zips added high levels of airflow when it was needed.
Wearing the jacket on steep scrambles we found it was perfectly articulated with the hem, which is cut quite high, not lifting when reaching for hand holds above the head. We also liked the well designed hood, which moves with your head and can accommodate a helmet, and the array of pockets were useful – particularly the ones on the chest which are big enough for a map or a large pair of gloves.
Available in men’s and womens versions / Gore-tex Pro 3-layer fabric / helmet-friendly hood / harness friendly pockets / two-way main zip / pit zip ventilation.
Check out our full Haglöfs Spitz GTX Pro Jacket review for the full rundown.
Buy the Haglöfs Spitz GTX Pro Jacket: £550 at Haglofs.com
Venting – This not only comes from the breathability of the fabric, but manufacturers are also able to increase venting through the use of pit zips and mesh lined pockets.
Zips and pockets – The type of zip a jacket has influences how waterproof the jacket is. Premium zipper technology creates a zip that locks together tight, to remove the need for a PU or fabric coating that covers the entire zip. However, this also adds a little more to the price of the jacket.
Hoods – Hoods come in a variety of shapes, sizes and adjustability, which all depend on the type of brand you’re looking to buy – it’s again important to try them on before you buy. You’ll be looking for a good range of adjustability and if you’re climbing a lot, then a helmet compatible hood is essential.
Pockets – A good all-round jacket will hold a few pockets for stuffing various items in throughout the day. Considering the pockets based on the activity you’re buying the jacket for is important, as if you’re frequently strapping your backpack up, then you don’t want pockets that can’t be used whilst wearing a pack. Similarly, Napoleon chest pockets are essential for climbers who are frequently wearing a harness over their waterproof jacket.
Rain jackets are essential for staying dry in wet conditions, but not all are created equal. Key to their effectiveness is the waterproof membrane, a specialised layer within the jacket’s fabric. It acts as a barrier to prevent water from entering while allowing moisture vapour to escape. There are various types of waterproof membranes, each with unique properties. Notable options include Gore-Tex, known for its exceptional waterproofing and breathability; eVent, highly breathable and waterproof; Pertex Shield, known for its lightweight qualities, and H2No by Patagonia, which is highly regarded for its sustainability and protection. There are numerous other options out there though, with many brands offering their own proprietary waterproof fabrics.
These membranes work in different ways, though most feature microscopic pores that are smaller than water droplets but larger than water vapour molecules – so water can only pass through in vapour form and not in liquid form.
These membranes are typically laminated to the jacket’s inner surface, preventing rain from penetrating while allowing sweat and moisture to escape. On the outside, you’ll tend to find a durable fabric that protects the membrane from abrasion, while on the inside you tend to find liner fabrics that protect the membrane, wick moisture and add next-to-skin comfort.
Waterproof Rating (mm H2O)
This rating, often referred to as the hydrostatic head, represents the amount of water pressure a fabric can withstand before water penetrates. The measurement is in millimetres of water. For example, a rain jacket with a 10,000mm waterproof rating can withstand the pressure of a 10,000mm (10-meter) column of water before it starts to leak. Higher numbers indicate better waterproofing. Generally, a rating of 5,000mm is suitable for light rain, while 10,000mm and above is ideal for heavy rain and more extreme conditions. For something like a Gore-tex jacket, you can often expect a hydrostatic head of over 20,000mm.
Breathability Rating (g/m²/24h)
This rating measures how well a fabric allows moisture vapour (sweat) to escape from the inside of the jacket to the outside. It’s typically expressed in grams per square meter over a 24-hour period. The higher the number, the more breathable the fabric. A breathable waterproof jacket helps regulate your body temperature and prevents you from feeling sweaty and clammy. A good range for breathability is 5,000g/m²/24h to 20,000g/m²/24h, with higher values indicating better performance. Gore-tex don’t tend to give figures for the breathability of their jackets but they tend to be rated to at least 20,000g/m²/24h – there are some membranes with far, far higher rating though, with Polartec NeoShell arguably being the most notable example.
Since it was discovered that the chemicals (PFCs) used to add water repellency to jackets were bad for the environment and companies subsequently stopped using these, there’s a strong case to say that more recently produced waterproof jackets (without PFCs) can saturate quickly. As such, it’s essential to keep reproofing such items if you want them to perform at their best for you. Fortunately, brands such as Nikwax offer solutions that can be applied at home in a quick and easy way.
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