★ Good Alternative: I nonetheless love the North Face’s Lightriser (men’s sizing, women’s sizing). North Face’s Futurelight material was developed from nanospinning strategies initially utilized in water-filtration methods and smartphone electronics casings, and it’s each waterproof and PFC-free.
Best Rain Jacket for Biking
As a lot time as I spend within the rain, I by no means get fairly as soaked as I do when ebiking my two children to and from faculty. If you’re a devoted bicycle owner who spends hours coaching with a Peloton, you’ll in all probability be higher off with a lightweight, high-visibility jacket that may stretch as you progress and vent warmth. However, in case you’re an everyday bike commuter, you seemingly need a less-technical jacket.
Cleverhood is an unbiased, Rhode Island-based firm, and its signature garment is the biking-friendly Rain Cape. However, the anorak is my favourite. Like the cape, it’s lower very generously to permit for a flannel shirt and a small down jacket beneath.
It’s lower longer within the again to cowl my tail as I’m driving. It additionally has a protected flap below the entrance zip so I don’t get moist once I open it up, and an infinite kangaroo pocket that’s helpful for stowing my shell gloves, masks, and even bike locks in a pinch. I additionally like that the hood is designed to suit below my helmet, which suggests I can transfer my head and neck round just a little extra simply. It is, nonetheless, a tad small once I’m simply strolling round with my large head.
Best Rain Jacket for Hiking
I actually didn’t consider that Eddie Bauer’s First Ascent line would work. Not due to its specs—it’s a regular high-end 3-layer jacket, seam-sealed, with waterproof zips and StormRepel Super DWR, Eddie Bauer’s longest-lasting DWR. Eddie Bauer’s First Ascent line was designed with backpacking and climbing in thoughts—sports activities the place you may face publicity for lengthy durations of time and it’s vital to remain dry.
No, the explanation I didn’t consider it will work was as a result of the jacket itself was improbably mild, versatile, smooth, and stretchy. By the time I bought my palms on a tester, the one ones out there have been in males’s sizes. But even then, I didn’t thoughts. It shortly turned my favourite jacket for any athletic exercise (bar working), simply because it was really easy to put on. It stored me dry, even via pelting rainstorms that left my pants soaked after lower than 5 minutes. As a bonus, it stretched over a number of insulating layers.
I additionally tried the Arc’teryx Alpha SL (men’s sizing, women’s sizing), one other climbing shell whose ultra-lightweight material is the results of a proprietary collaboration between Arc’teryx and Gore-Tex.
★ Good Alternatives: Arc’teryx has been my favourite on this class for a very long time, though the corporate’s excessive costs give me palpitations (though you possibly can often discover good items used). I discovered the full-zip Beta LT model to be extra snug, versatile, and available. The Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket comes in men’s sizing and women’s sizing and is $399 at REI. I’ve additionally had Outdoor Research’s AscentShell (men’s sizing, women’s sizing) for a number of years. It’s nonetheless waterproof and is a extra reasonably priced various.
Best Affordable Rain Jacket
For below $100, it’s robust to discover a rain jacket that provides higher worth than the Rainier. It makes use of high-quality laminate waterproofing as an alternative of the less-expensive coating many cheaper rain jackets depend on. (Read extra under on laminates and layers.) Rather than bonding a water-proof, breathable membrane under the shell material, producers will lower your expenses by simply coating the interior floor with a water-proof, breathable movie. It’s much less dear but additionally much less sturdy than three-layer development.
The Rainier has many nice options which are robust to search out in rain jackets at this value. For instance, it’s created from recycled nylon and has venting pit zips. It’s additionally seam-taped; has a weatherproof middle zip; and options an adjustable, packable hood. For informal day hikes and touring, the Rainier jacket is a superb selection.
