Buying guide

Best Waterproof Jackets

A shortlist built from manufacturers' own published specifications, organised by what each jacket is actually for. Every figure is dated and linked to its source, unpublished figures are shown as unpublished, and none of these jackets has been physically tested by us.

Research-based analysisNot physically tested9 jackets on the shortlistPrices checked 10 September 2026

Last updated September 10, 2026Published September 10, 2026

There is no single best waterproof jacket, and a page that names one is usually hiding how it decided. A 220 g shell built for running and a 550 g hardshell built for winter mountaineering are both excellent at their own job and poor at each other's. What we can do honestly is set out which jackets publish enough verifiable information to be assessed, what that information says, and which use each one was designed for — then let you match that to the weather you actually go out in.

Two things are worth knowing before the shortlist. First, several of the most respected shells publish no waterproof rating at all, because platforms such as GORE-TEX certify the finished garment rather than quote a millimetre figure — the absence of a number is not a weakness. Second, most published ratings arrive without a named test standard, which makes cross-brand comparison unreliable. We show the figures because they are useful within a brand's own range, not because they rank jackets against each other.

How to read this page

Manufacturer-published — quoted or summarised from the brand's own product or technology page, with the page linked and the date we read it.
Not published by the manufacturer — the brand does not publish this figure. We leave it blank rather than estimate it.
Editorial analysis — our reasoning about what published specifications mean for a buyer. Clearly our opinion, never presented as measurement.
Not physically tested — we have not put these jackets through a field or laboratory test. Nothing on this page describes hands-on experience, wear, durability or measured performance.

The shortlist at a glance

Manufacturer-published figures, dated

Waterproof jacket shortlist: construction, published ratings, weight, ventilation and price
Jacket	Construction	Waterproof rating	Breathability	Weight	Ventilation	Price
Patagonia Men's Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket	3-layer	Not published	Not published	400 g (14.1 oz)	Welted pit zips	US $189, UK £180, EU €200
Arc'teryx Beta Jacket Men's	3-layer	Not published	Not published	375 g (13.2 oz)	No pit zips listed	US $400, UK £350, EU €400
Rab Men's Downpour Mountain Waterproof Jacket	2.5-layer	20,000 mm hydrostatic head	MVTR 20,000 g/m²/24hrs	352.5 g (12.4 oz) in size M — one of the few figures published with its sample size	Underarm vents	US $190, UK £160, EU €200
Outdoor Research Men's Foray 3L Rain Jacket	3-layer	Not published	Not published	435 g (15.34 oz)	TorsoFlo hem-to-bicep two-way side zips: "unzipping nearly the entire length of the side of the jacket"	US $260
Mountain Equipment Makalu Men's Jacket	3-layer	Not published	Not published	520 g (18.3 oz)	"Large pit zips let you regulate temperature"	UK £350, US $549.95, EU €399.90
Montane Women's Phase Nano Waterproof Jacket	3-layer	28,000 mm hydrostatic head	RET below 3.5	220 g	Not published	UK £198, CH CHF 398, DK 3,300 kr
The North Face Men's Summit Series Papsura FUTURELIGHT Jacket	3-layer	Not published	Not published	224 g (7.9 oz) average weight	Not published	US $390
Helly Hansen Men's Odin 9 Worlds 3.0 Shell Jacket	3-layer — "HELLY TECH Professional 3-layer, waterproof/breathable and windproof system"	Not published	Not published	Not published	"Ventilation zippers" — the type and placement are not detailed	US $450, UK £470
Rab Men's Downpour Waterproof Jacket	Not published by the manufacturer in our records yet — not recorded from the official page	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded	US $140, EU €140, UK £125

Patagonia Men's Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket

Construction: 3-layer
Waterproof rating: Not published
Breathability: Not published
Weight: 400 g (14.1 oz)
Ventilation: Welted pit zips
Price: US $189, UK £180, EU €200

Arc'teryx Beta Jacket Men's

Construction: 3-layer
Waterproof rating: Not published
Breathability: Not published
Weight: 375 g (13.2 oz)
Ventilation: No pit zips listed
Price: US $400, UK £350, EU €400

Rab Men's Downpour Mountain Waterproof Jacket

Construction: 2.5-layer
Waterproof rating: 20,000 mm hydrostatic head
Breathability: MVTR 20,000 g/m²/24hrs
Weight: 352.5 g (12.4 oz) in size M — one of the few figures published with its sample size
Ventilation: Underarm vents
Price: US $190, UK £160, EU €200

Outdoor Research Men's Foray 3L Rain Jacket

Construction: 3-layer
Waterproof rating: Not published
Breathability: Not published
Weight: 435 g (15.34 oz)
Ventilation: TorsoFlo hem-to-bicep two-way side zips: "unzipping nearly the entire length of the side of the jacket"
Price: US $260

Mountain Equipment Makalu Men's Jacket

Construction: 3-layer
Waterproof rating: Not published
Breathability: Not published
Weight: 520 g (18.3 oz)
Ventilation: "Large pit zips let you regulate temperature"
Price: UK £350, US $549.95, EU €399.90

Montane Women's Phase Nano Waterproof Jacket

Construction: 3-layer
Waterproof rating: 28,000 mm hydrostatic head
Breathability: RET below 3.5
Weight: 220 g
Ventilation: Not published
Price: UK £198, CH CHF 398, DK 3,300 kr

The North Face Men's Summit Series Papsura FUTURELIGHT Jacket

Construction: 3-layer
Waterproof rating: Not published
Breathability: Not published
Weight: 224 g (7.9 oz) average weight
Ventilation: Not published
Price: US $390

Helly Hansen Men's Odin 9 Worlds 3.0 Shell Jacket

Construction: 3-layer — "HELLY TECH Professional 3-layer, waterproof/breathable and windproof system"
Waterproof rating: Not published
Breathability: Not published
Weight: Not published
Ventilation: "Ventilation zippers" — the type and placement are not detailed
Price: US $450, UK £470

Rab Men's Downpour Waterproof Jacket

Construction: Not published by the manufacturer in our records yet — not recorded from the official page
Waterproof rating: Not yet recorded
Breathability: Not yet recorded
Weight: Not yet recorded
Ventilation: Not yet recorded
Price: US $140, EU €140, UK £125

Figures in this table come from each manufacturer's own product page on the dates listed in the sources section. Ratings from different brands are not directly comparable, because the test standards behind them are not published in most cases. Prices change; treat every figure as correct on its stated date only.

The jackets in detail

Organised by use, not ranked

1. A three-layer shell at a mid price

Patagonia Men's Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket

Men's; a women's Torrentshell 3L is listed separately

Intended useHiking, travel and daily wear in steady rain, without a helmet

PriceUS $189 · UK £180 · EU €200 (checked 10 September 2026)

Our analysisThree-layer construction, pit zips and a manufacturer repair route at a price where most jackets are 2.5-layer and vent only through the front zip. Patagonia publishes the fabric in detail — 50-denier recycled nylon ripstop, PU membrane with 13% biobased content, tricot backer — which is more disclosure than most brands give at this price.

Construction: 3-layer
Face fabric: 3.5 oz, 50-denier ECONYL 100% recycled nylon ripstop with a tricot backer
Waterproof rating: Not published by the manufacturer for this jacket. Patagonia's H2No Performance Standard page describes a 20,000 mm initial and 10,000 mm post-wash threshold for the standard as a whole, not for this garment.
Breathability: Not published by the manufacturer. The H2No page names MVTR as its method but publishes no figure for this jacket.
Manufacturer weight: 400 g (14.1 oz). Patagonia does not state the size measured.
Ventilation: Welted pit zips
Hood: Two-way-adjustable hood with a laminated visor; rolls down and stows
Seam sealing: Not published by the manufacturer — no seam-taping specification appears on the product page
DWR / PFAS wording: "Fabric, membrane and DWR finish made without intentionally added PFAS."
Warranty and repair: Ironclad Guarantee, plus Worn Wear repairs and published DIY repair guides

Strengths on paper

Three-layer laminate with no loose liner to wear through
Pit zips, which several far more expensive shells omit
Documented repair route and DIY guides
Self-stuffs into its own handwarmer pocket

Limitations

400 g is heavy next to lightweight hiking shells
No published waterproof or breathability figures for the garment
No seam-sealing specification published

What we could not verify

The German store lists a 119 g/m² laminate weight that the US and UK pages do not show — a regional disclosure difference we report rather than reconcile.
The women's Torrentshell 3L page did not load for us on this check, so we have not verified its price or specification.

Full specification record H2No explained Manufacturer's product page

2. A durable all-round GORE-TEX hardshell

Arc'teryx Beta Jacket Men's

Men's (SKU 0868); Beta Jacket Women's is SKU 0867

Intended useHiking, mountain days and everyday use in prolonged wind-driven rain

PriceUS $400 · UK £350 · EU €400 (checked 10 September 2026)

Our analysisAn 80-denier face fabric over a three-layer GORE-TEX ePE laminate with a C-KNIT backer is a heavier, more abrasion-tolerant package than a typical rain shell, and Arc'teryx publishes the full material breakdown including origin. It is also the clearest example of why a millimetre rating is not a buying criterion: Gore certifies the finished garment instead of publishing one.

Construction: 3-layer
Face fabric: 80-denier plain-weave recycled nylon, GORE-TEX ePE membrane, GORE C-KNIT backer
Waterproof rating: Not published by the manufacturer. GORE-TEX garment pages publish no hydrostatic-head figure; the certification is the claim.
Breathability: Not published by the manufacturer — no MVTR or RET figure for this garment.
Manufacturer weight: 375 g (13.2 oz). Arc'teryx does not state the size measured.
Ventilation: No pit zips listed. The separate Beta SL page does list pit zippers.
Hood: Adjustable low-profile StormHood with a single pull adjuster
Seam sealing: Not published by the manufacturer at garment level; Arc'teryx mentions narrow seam tape only on its Beta family overview page.
DWR / PFAS wording: "free from intentionally added PFAS"; fabric treatment listed as "FC0-DWR"
Warranty and repair: Limited warranty for the "practical product lifespan", which Arc'teryx states does not mean your lifetime; ReBIRD repair programme

Strengths on paper

80-denier face fabric tolerates pack straps and rock better than lightweight shells
C-KNIT backer is among the more comfortable three-layer inner surfaces
Full material and country-of-origin disclosure

Limitations

No pit zips, which is a real limitation for high-output use
No cuff-closure specification published for this model
No numeric fabric performance data to compare against rated membranes
Expensive

What we could not verify

Arc'teryx describes this hood as "low profile" and does not use the word helmet on this page, although its family page and the Beta SL and Beta AR pages do claim helmet compatibility. We therefore do not describe the base Beta as helmet-compatible.
Two Beta Jacket product IDs (0868 and 0511) were live at our check with different PFAS wording and a different US price. We record the current 0868 listing.

Full specification record GORE-TEX ePE explained Manufacturer's product page

3. Published performance figures at a lower price

Rab Men's Downpour Mountain Waterproof Jacket

Men's (QWI-11); a women's version is listed separately

Intended useRab lists "General use, Hill walking, Mountaineering"

PriceUS $190 · UK £160 · EU €200 (checked 10 September 2026)

Our analysisOne of the few jackets in this price band where the manufacturer publishes both a hydrostatic head and an MVTR figure, states the weight with its sample size, and gives a component-by-component recycled-content and PFAS table. It also has underarm vents and harness-friendly pockets, which is unusual below the flagship tier.

Construction: 2.5-layer
Face fabric: "40D Pertex Shield 2.5-Layer construction waterproof technology with fluorocarbon-free DWR (97gsm)"
Waterproof rating: 20,000 mm hydrostatic head. Rab does not name the test standard.
Breathability: MVTR 20,000 g/m²/24hrs. No RET figure and no test standard published.
Manufacturer weight: 352.5 g (12.4 oz) in size M — one of the few figures published with its sample size
Ventilation: Underarm vents
Hood: Described as having a "robust peak and high adjustability"; helmet compatibility is not claimed
Seam sealing: Not published by the manufacturer — no seam-taping wording appears on the product page
DWR / PFAS wording: "fluorocarbon-free DWR"; Rab's material table marks every component "No" for PFAS, defined as no intentionally added PFAS
Warranty and repair: Rab Promise: factory-approved repair, or replacement where repair is not possible, for failure due to a manufacturing defect "during its usable lifetime", original owner only

Strengths on paper

Published hydrostatic head, MVTR and a size-specific weight
Underarm vents and A-line pockets that clear a harness or hip belt
Component-level recycled-content and PFAS disclosure
Consistent, comparatively low pricing across four regional stores

Limitations

2.5-layer construction: the inner surface wears faster than a three-layer backer
No seam-sealing statement published
No test standard given for either performance figure, so the numbers are not comparable across brands

What we could not verify

Rab's own repairs page still displayed an out-of-date pandemic closure notice at our check, so we cannot confirm current repair-service turnaround from it.

Pertex Shield explained Manufacturer's product page

4. Maximum venting for warm, humid rain

Outdoor Research Men's Foray 3L Rain Jacket

Men's; the women's equivalent is the Aspire 3L

Intended useHiking and travel where dumping heat quickly matters more than low weight

PriceUS $260 (checked 10 September 2026)

Our analysisThe hem-to-bicep TorsoFlo side zips vent far more aggressively than pit zips, and in warm, humid rain mechanical venting does more for comfort than any membrane specification. Note that the current Foray is not a GORE-TEX product: Outdoor Research uses its own AscentShell Dry laminate.

Construction: 3-layer
Face fabric: "bluesign Approved AscentShell Dry 3L 100% Recycled Nylon 40D with Mechanical Stretch"
Waterproof rating: Not published by the manufacturer — no hydrostatic-head figure appears on the product or collection page
Breathability: Not published by the manufacturer — only a qualitative marketing scale, with no figure or method
Manufacturer weight: 435 g (15.34 oz). The size measured is not stated.
Ventilation: TorsoFlo hem-to-bicep two-way side zips: "unzipping nearly the entire length of the side of the jacket"
Hood: Fully adjustable hood with a bonded brim and a hood lock "for a customizable fit with or without helmet"
Seam sealing: "Fully Seam-Taped"
DWR / PFAS wording: The collection page states "Exclusive PFAS-Free Nikwax Direct.Dry DWR" and "Free from intentionally-added PFAS", while the product page carries the notice "This item contains PFAS and cannot be shipped to California, New York, or Colorado."
Warranty and repair: Infinite Guarantee: "guaranteed to perform throughout the lifetime of the product". Outdoor Research states it does not currently offer a repair service.

Strengths on paper

The most effective venting on this shortlist, by a wide margin
Three-layer 40-denier recycled nylon with mechanical stretch
Explicitly fully seam-taped
Side zips give access to base layers and a hip belt without removing the jacket

Limitations

435 g, and the long side zips add weight and hardware
No published waterproof or breathability figures at all
No repair service offered
Sold from Outdoor Research's own store in the US and Canada only, so there is no official UK or EU price

What we could not verify

Outdoor Research publishes directly contradictory PFAS statements for the same product number: "PFAS-Free" on the collection page against "This item contains PFAS" as a state shipping restriction on the purchase page. We quote both and do not resolve it.
Older GORE-TEX Foray versions existed. The current jacket sold under this name uses AscentShell Dry, not GORE-TEX.

Manufacturer's product page

5. For mountain use, with a helmet

Mountain Equipment Makalu Men's Jacket

Men's; a Makalu Women's Jacket is listed separately

Intended useMountaineering, winter hill days and climbing, worn over a helmet and harness

PriceUK £350 · US $549.95 · EU €399.90 (checked 10 September 2026)

Our analysisA 70-denier three-layer GORE-TEX ePE fabric is at the heavy, durable end of the category, and this is the only jacket on the shortlist where the manufacturer states helmet compatibility, large pit zips, laminated cuffs and an alpine cut together. If your reason for buying is rock, snow and a helmet rather than a commute, this is the specification profile to look for.

Construction: 3-layer
Face fabric: "3-layer GORE-TEX 70D fabric" / "70-denier breathable GORE-TEX ePE fabric"; EU page lists a 100% recycled polyamide face and 100% polyamide backer
Waterproof rating: Not published by the manufacturer. Mountain Equipment cites GORE-TEX Storm Test certification instead of a millimetre figure.
Breathability: Not published by the manufacturer — no RET or MVTR figure and no test method.
Manufacturer weight: 520 g (18.3 oz). The size measured is not stated.
Ventilation: "Large pit zips let you regulate temperature"
Hood: "Peaked helmet-compatible hood is roomy and fully adjustable" — the Mountain HC Hood
Seam sealing: Not published by the manufacturer in exact wording; the page relies on the GORE-TEX waterproof guarantee
DWR / PFAS wording: "Durable water-repellent (DWR) finish". A PFAS or PFC-free claim is not published by the manufacturer.
Warranty and repair: Guaranteed to the original purchaser "against defects in components, materials and workmanship for the reasonable life of the product", repaired or replaced at Mountain Equipment's discretion

Strengths on paper

70-denier face fabric, the most abrasion-tolerant on this shortlist
Explicitly helmet-compatible peaked hood
Large pit zips and laminated cuffs
Alpine cut with pre-shaped articulated sleeves

Limitations

520 g, and deliberately so — poor value if you never wear a helmet
No published waterproof or breathability figures
No PFAS statement published for the DWR
Most expensive jacket here at US recommended price

What we could not verify

Regional pricing is unusually far apart — £350 in the UK against $549.95 in the US — and the EU listing showed the jacket as currently unavailable in the colour we checked.
Mountain Equipment does not publish a full size list in the page text we read; a size chart is provided instead.

GORE-TEX ePE explained Manufacturer's product page

6. The lightest published performance figures

Montane Women's Phase Nano Waterproof Jacket

Verified on the women's listing. A men's Phase Nano exists in Montane's range, but we could not open its product page on this check, so we do not quote men's figures.

Intended useFast-and-light mountain use, trail running and racing where packed size dominates

PriceUK £198 · CH CHF 398 · DK 3,300 kr (checked 10 September 2026)

Our analysisUnusually, Montane publishes both a hydrostatic head and a RET figure — 28,000 mm and RET under 3.5 — for a 220 g, 13-denier GORE-TEX Active shell with fully taped seams. RET below about 6 is described as very breathable by the standard's own bands, so this is one of the few jackets on the market where the published numbers support the fast-and-light claim rather than replacing it.

Construction: 3-layer
Face fabric: "13 Denier GORE-TEX Active Shell fabric"; composition given as 100% nylon with a fluorocarbon-based ePTFE membrane
Waterproof rating: 28,000 mm hydrostatic head. Montane does not state the test standard.
Breathability: RET below 3.5. No test standard published.
Manufacturer weight: 220 g. The size measured is not stated.
Ventilation: Not published by the manufacturer — no pit zips or vents are listed
Hood: "Fully adjustable hood using quick release Cohaesive system with reinforced peak"
Seam sealing: "Fully seam taped construction"
DWR / PFAS wording: "bluepass certified, Oeko-Tex certified, ePTFE membrane and C6 DWR contain PFAS chemicals (PFCs)" — Montane states plainly that this jacket does contain PFAS
Warranty and repair: "Montane Lifetime Guarantee — All Montane products are guaranteed for their lifetime against faults in workmanship and materials"

Strengths on paper

220 g with published hydrostatic head and RET figures, which is rare
Fully taped seams stated explicitly
Cut for movement and layering while staying slim
Lifetime guarantee against workmanship and material faults

Limitations

A 13-denier face fabric is fragile; this is not a jacket for rock or a heavy pack
No ventilation zips at all
Montane states the membrane and DWR contain PFAS, unlike most jackets here
Not currently listed on Montane's US store

What we could not verify

We verified the women's listing directly. Montane's men's Phase Nano page did not open for us, so we publish no men's specification.
The UK price we saw was a reduced price against a £330 recommended price. Sale prices move; check before relying on it.

Manufacturer's product page

7. The lightest shell on the shortlist

The North Face Men's Summit Series Papsura FUTURELIGHT Jacket

Men's, SKU NF0A8A4D; a women's version (NF0A8A4E) is listed in Europe

Intended useAlpine climbing and fast mountain days where carried weight is the constraint

PriceUS $390 (checked 10 September 2026)

Our analysisAt 224 g average weight in a seam-sealed three-layer fabric, this is the lightest full shell here, and The North Face publishes the fabric in unusual detail — a 7D x 15D, 71 g/m² recycled nylon ripstop face with a tricot backer. It is the clearest example of what an air-permeable membrane platform buys you: very low weight, no vents, and no published numbers to check it against.

Construction: 3-layer
Face fabric: "7D x 15D 71 g/m² FUTURELIGHT 3L — 100% recycled nylon ripstop face with tricot backer and non-PFC durable water-repellent finish"
Waterproof rating: Not published by the manufacturer — no millimetre figure or test method
Breathability: Not published by the manufacturer — FUTURELIGHT is described qualitatively, with no RET or MVTR figure
Manufacturer weight: 224 g (7.9 oz) average weight. The size measured is not stated.
Ventilation: Not published by the manufacturer — no pit zips are listed; the jacket has no shoulder seams to reduce bulk
Hood: "Attached, adjustable hood with an encased-elastic opening, bonded brim and cinch-cord with a cord lock in back". Helmet compatibility is not claimed.
Seam sealing: "Breathable-waterproof, seam-sealed FUTURELIGHT 3L shell"
DWR / PFAS wording: "Non-PFC DWR finish for added water repellency"
Warranty and repair: Limited Lifetime Guarantee

Strengths on paper

224 g, the lightest jacket on this shortlist
Fully seam-sealed three-layer construction at that weight
Fabric specified down to denier and grams per square metre
Stows into its own hand pocket

Limitations

A 7D x 15D face fabric is very light and correspondingly delicate
No published waterproof or breathability figures
No ventilation zips, and no helmet-compatibility claim
Availability outside the US is patchy and the European listing uses a different name and SKU

What we could not verify

The North Face's live site refused our automated requests, so this entry was read from official archived captures of the brand's own pages rather than a live fetch. Treat it as less current than the entries above and check the price yourself.
We saw conflicting US prices ($390 in a current listing against $215 in an archived cart line). We publish the $390 figure and flag the conflict rather than resolving it.
European and UK pages were inaccessible to us, so we publish no UK or EU price.

FUTURELIGHT explained Manufacturer's product page

8. For snow, and for wearing all day in weather

Helly Hansen Men's Odin 9 Worlds 3.0 Shell Jacket

Men's, style 63140; a women's version (63170) is listed

Intended useSki touring, snow travel and long days in sustained weather

PriceUS $450 · UK £470 (checked 10 September 2026)

Our analysisA fully seam-sealed three-layer Helly Tech Professional shell with a helmet-compatible hood, ventilation zips, a taildrop hem and a RECCO reflector — a snow-oriented feature set rather than a hiking one. It also illustrates a common disclosure gap: Helly Hansen publishes no numeric waterproof, breathability or weight figure for it at all.

Construction: 3-layer — "HELLY TECH Professional 3-layer, waterproof/breathable and windproof system"
Face fabric: Not published by the manufacturer — no denier or fabric weight is given
Waterproof rating: Not published by the manufacturer — no millimetre figure or test method
Breathability: Not published by the manufacturer — no RET or MVTR figure
Manufacturer weight: Not published by the manufacturer
Ventilation: "Ventilation zippers" — the type and placement are not detailed
Hood: "Helmet compatible hood" with vertical and horizontal adjustment
Seam sealing: "Fully seam sealed"
DWR / PFAS wording: Not published by the manufacturer — the pages we read state a bluesign certification and recycled content, but no DWR or PFAS wording
Warranty and repair: Not published by the manufacturer in the pages we read

Strengths on paper

Explicitly helmet-compatible hood and fully seam-sealed construction
Snow-oriented details: ventilation zips, taildrop hem, RECCO reflector
Three-layer construction for all-day wear rather than pack-carried backup

Limitations

No published weight, denier, waterproof rating or breathability figure — the least disclosed jacket here
Priced at the flagship level despite that lack of published data
Ventilation is mentioned but not specified

What we could not verify

Helly Hansen's live site refused our automated requests, so this entry was read from official archived captures of the brand's own pages. Prices in particular should be checked directly.
We found no euro-denominated official page in this check, so we publish no EU price.

Helly Tech explained Manufacturer's product page

9. An entry-price shell for occasional rain

Rab Men's Downpour Waterproof Jacket

Men's; a women's version is listed separately

Intended useA pack-carried backup shell for hill walking, commuting and travel

PriceUS $140 · EU €140 · UK £125 (checked 9 September 2026)

Our analysisThe plain Downpour sits a tier below the Downpour Mountain in price and feature set — Rab positions the Mountain as the same range with a mountain-ready feature set — which makes it a reasonable first waterproof if a hood peak and harness-friendly pockets are not requirements.

Construction: Not published by the manufacturer in our records yet — not recorded from the official page
Face fabric: Not yet recorded from the official product page
Waterproof rating: Not yet recorded from the official product page
Breathability: Not yet recorded from the official product page
Manufacturer weight: Not yet recorded from the official product page
Ventilation: Not yet recorded from the official product page
Hood: Not yet recorded from the official product page
Seam sealing: Not yet recorded from the official product page
DWR / PFAS wording: Not yet recorded from the official product page
Warranty and repair: Rab Promise, as above

Strengths on paper

Consistent entry-level pricing across regions
Sold directly by the manufacturer in four regions

Limitations

We have not yet recorded its fabric or performance specification from Rab's own page, so we cannot compare it in detail
Rab's own positioning places it below the Downpour Mountain on features

What we could not verify

This entry is included for price context only. Until we have recorded its full specification from Rab's product page with a date, we do not present it as a like-for-like alternative to the jackets above.

Full specification record Manufacturer's product page

How we chose these jackets

Method and limits

We start from manufacturers' own product pages, not from other publications' rankings. A jacket only reaches this page if the brand publishes enough about its construction for a reader to check our reasoning, and if the jacket was listed as current on the brand's own store when we looked. We then assess what is published against the criteria below. We do not score jackets numerically, because a single number would imply a precision our evidence does not support.

Waterproof protection

Whether the fabric package, seam sealing and zip protection are specified for sustained rain rather than showers. Where a manufacturer publishes a hydrostatic-head figure we record it with its source; where it publishes none, we say so instead of estimating one.

Breathability

Published RET or MVTR figures where they exist, the membrane type, and the mechanical venting that does the work when a membrane cannot keep up. Figures from different test standards are not comparable, so we never convert between them.

Construction

2-layer, 2.5-layer or 3-layer, and what sits against the skin. This drives durability and how the inside of a jacket feels far more than any headline rating.

Weight and packability

Manufacturer weight with the sample size when it is published. A weight quoted without a size is close to meaningless for comparison, so we flag when the size is missing.

Hood and ventilation

Adjustment, peak stiffness, helmet compatibility and whether the jacket has pit zips or another mechanical vent. These decide comfort in real weather more often than fabric choice does.

Intended activity

A jacket designed for a running vest and a jacket designed for a climbing harness are solving different problems. We match each pick to the use its own manufacturer designed it for.

Price and value

Current recommended retail price per region, with the date we read it. Prices move, promotions come and go, and a figure without a date is not a fact.

Repair and warranty

Whether the brand runs a repair route and what its guarantee actually covers. A shell that can be repaired has a longer usable life than a marginally lighter one that cannot.

What this page deliberately does not assess

Long-term durability, because that requires seasons of use we have not put these garments through
Real-world waterproofness under a pack, because that requires physical testing we have not carried out
Fit and cut, because we have not handled every garment on this page
Field breathability, because it depends on effort, humidity and temperature far more than on any published number

More on our approach in how we test, how we score and our editorial policy.

What the specifications actually mean

Read this before comparing numbers

2-layer, 2.5-layer and 3-layer are not quality grades

The layer count describes what sits behind the membrane, not how waterproof a jacket is. A 2-layer jacket hangs a separate mesh or taffeta liner inside the laminate. A 2.5-layer fabric replaces that liner with a treatment applied to the membrane's inner face — Gore describes its own 2.5-layer laminate as built for packability and low weight — at the cost of a surface that takes abrasion directly and can feel clammy against skin. A 3-layer fabric bonds a backer textile permanently to the membrane, usually costs more, and has no loose liner to abrade. Weight follows the specific fabric rather than the layer count: light 3-layer fabrics exist, and lined 2-layer jackets are often the heaviest.

A well-made 2.5-layer shell can keep rain out perfectly well. It is the service life and the feel against a wet base layer that differ, not the barrier itself.

2.5-layer vs 3-layer, compared

What a millimetre rating actually measures

Hydrostatic head is a laboratory measurement of the water pressure a fabric resists before water passes through it, expressed in millimetres of a water column. A 20,000 mm fabric withstood a taller column than a 10,000 mm fabric in that specific test.

It says nothing about seams, zips, the hood, or how the fabric behaves after two years of washing. Several standards exist and brands do not always name the one they used, so figures from different companies are not strictly comparable. Treat the number as one input, not a ranking.

Waterproof ratings explained

Breathability numbers describe a laboratory, not your walk

Two families of figures are in circulation. MVTR reports how much vapour passes through a square metre of fabric in 24 hours, so higher is better. RET reports evaporative resistance, so lower is better — a RET under about 6 is generally described as very breathable by the standard's own bands.

Both are measured at fixed temperature and humidity. A membrane moves vapour because there is more of it inside the jacket than outside; on a warm, humid, rainy day that gradient collapses and even an excellent laminate cannot keep up with a hard effort. That is why pit zips and front-zip venting matter, and why no jacket is comfortable in every condition.

GORE-TEX versus in-house membranes

GORE-TEX is a licensed platform: Gore specifies the laminate, certifies the garment construction and tests the finished product, which is why GORE-TEX garment pages almost never publish a millimetre rating — the certification is the claim. Brands with their own membranes, such as Patagonia's H2No, The North Face's FUTURELIGHT or Helly Hansen's Helly Tech, control their own specification and publish figures at their own discretion. Some publish detailed numbers, some publish none, and some use a proprietary scale.

The practical consequence for a buyer is that an absent number is not evidence of a worse jacket, and a large published number is not evidence of a better one. What matters is the construction, the fit of the hood, and whether the jacket suits the activity.

GORE-TEX explained

The DWR is not the waterproof layer

The durable water repellent finish is a treatment on the outer face fabric that makes rain bead and run off. The membrane underneath is what stops water. When the DWR wears away the face fabric soaks up water — it wets out — and the jacket feels wet inside even though nothing is leaking, because a saturated outer fabric blocks vapour from escaping.

This is the single most common reason people believe a jacket has failed. Washing with a technical cleaner and reproofing usually restores it. It also means DWR chemistry, including the industry-wide move away from PFAS, affects repellency and long-term feel rather than the barrier itself.

What is DWR?

Choosing by activity and climate

Where the trade-offs actually land

Everyday wear and walking

Comfort and cut matter more than fabric specification. A 2.5-layer or lighter 2-layer shell with a decent hood is enough for a walk to work, and money is better spent on a hood that stays put than on a high millimetre rating you will never load.

Hiking

The compromise most people actually need: a shell that survives a pack's hip belt and shoulder straps, vents when the climb starts, and has a hood you can adjust with gloves on. A 3-layer fabric earns its weight if you hike often in rain; a lighter package is fine if the jacket mostly stays in the pack.

Hiking jacket guide

Backpacking

Weight and packed size compete with abrasion resistance under a loaded pack. Prefer reinforced shoulders or a heavier face fabric denier over the lightest available shell, because a repair in the field is worse than carrying an extra hundred grams.

Trail running

Packed size, weight and how the jacket sits over a vest dominate. Very light 3-layer fabrics such as GORE-TEX Active exist for exactly this use, and they trade abrasion resistance to get there. Race rules in some events specify taped seams and a hood, so check the event requirements before buying.

Trail running jacket guide

Cycling and commuting

Look for a dropped tail, sleeve length that works in a forward riding position, and reflective detail. Ventilation matters more than on foot because output is high and airflow over the fabric is constant.

Mountaineering and climbing

A helmet-compatible hood, pockets that stay reachable over a harness, and a face fabric that tolerates rock are the non-negotiables. Heavier 3-layer fabrics in the 70-denier range exist for this use, and the extra weight is the point.

Skiing and snowboarding

Snow-specific shells add a snow skirt, larger vents, goggle-friendly pockets and sometimes an avalanche transceiver reflector. Waterproofness is rarely the limiting factor; venting a chairlift-to-bootpack effort is.

Very wet climates

Prioritise a stiff peaked hood, a genuinely protected front zip and a 3-layer construction. In prolonged rain the difference between jackets is mostly how quickly the face fabric wets out, which makes reproofing a maintenance habit rather than a repair.

Warm, humid climates

Accept that you will be damp inside whatever you buy. Mechanical venting, a light fabric and a jacket you can take off quickly beat any membrane specification. This is the one case where a cheaper shell with big pit zips outperforms an expensive one without them.

If you would rather answer a few questions than read a table, the jacket finder filters our published records by activity, rain intensity and budget, and you can put any two to four of them side by side in the comparison tool.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best waterproof jacket?

There is no single answer, and any page that gives you one is simplifying. A 224 g running shell and a 550 g mountaineering hardshell are both excellent at what they were designed for and poor substitutes for each other. Decide the activity, the weather you actually go out in and the budget first; the shortlist above is organised that way for exactly that reason.

Is GORE-TEX actually the best waterproof material?

GORE-TEX is a well-documented, independently certified platform with a long track record, and Gore tests finished garments rather than only fabric. That is a genuine advantage. It is not automatically better than every in-house membrane for every use, and because Gore certifies rather than publishes millimetre ratings, you cannot compare it numerically against a branded membrane that does publish figures. Construction, hood design and fit usually separate two jackets more than the membrane name does.

How waterproof should a jacket be?

For everyday use and shower protection, a low-to-mid rated fabric with taped seams is adequate. For hiking in sustained rain, or for wearing a pack that presses fabric against your shoulders, a higher-rated 3-layer package holds up better. Note that many premium jackets publish no rating at all because their membrane platform certifies the garment instead, so the absence of a number is not a warning sign.

Is 10,000 mm waterproof enough?

For rain that comes and goes, and for use without a heavy pack, generally yes — provided the seams are taped and the hood works. Where 10,000 mm fabrics show their limit is prolonged rain and pressure: sitting on wet ground, kneeling, or a hip belt and shoulder straps pressing wet fabric against you for hours.

Is 20,000 mm waterproof enough?

Yes, for essentially all recreational use. Above roughly 20,000 mm the marginal benefit of a higher figure is small compared with what the seams, zips and hood contribute, and a wetted-out face fabric will make the jacket feel wet long before the membrane is the limiting factor.

Are expensive waterproof jackets worth it?

It depends on what the money buys. Paying more usually gets a 3-layer construction, better hood and cuff engineering, a more durable face fabric and a repair route — all of which extend usable life. It does not reliably buy more comfort in warm, humid rain. If your jacket lives in a pack for occasional showers, a mid-priced shell is the rational purchase.

How long does a waterproof jacket last?

There is no honest single figure: it depends on hours of use, pack abrasion, washing habits and storage. What is predictable is the order of failure. The DWR fades first and is restorable, the inner surface of a 2.5-layer jacket wears next, and seam tape and delamination come last. Regular washing with a technical cleaner and reproofing extends the life of the laminate rather than merely the appearance.

Why does my waterproof jacket feel wet inside?

Usually condensation or wetting out, not a leak. If the outside of the fabric has gone dark and stopped beading, the face fabric is saturated and vapour cannot escape. If you have been working hard in mild, humid air, your own sweat is outrunning the membrane. A genuine leak is normally localised: seams, zip line, or an abraded shoulder.

Can you restore the waterproofing of a rain jacket?

You can restore the water repellency of the face fabric, which is what most people mean. Wash the jacket with a technical cleaner, apply a wash-in or spray-on reproofer, then reactivate it with gentle heat as the product and garment label direct. You cannot restore a delaminated membrane or failed seam tape at home — that is a repair, and several brands run a paid or warranty repair service for exactly this.

Keep reading

Related guides and records

All jacket records

Every product record we have published, with sources and check dates

Compare jackets side by side

Two to four records, specification by specification

Waterproof ratings explained

What hydrostatic head, MVTR and RET measure

Waterproof vs water-resistant

Where the line sits, and why labels blur it

GORE-TEX explained

How the platform is licensed and certified

GORE-TEX vs FUTURELIGHT

Two different answers to the same problem

2.5-layer vs 3-layer

What the layer count changes in practice

Hiking jacket guide

What matters when a pack is involved

Trail running jacket guide

Weight, packed size and race requirements

How we score

Our criteria, weights and their limits

Sources and references

Every page we read, with the date we read it

All product facts on this page come from the manufacturers' own product, technology and warranty pages listed below. Where a brand's live site blocked automated access, we say so in that jacket's entry rather than substituting a retailer or review site. Links are unpaid and carry no affiliate tracking; see our affiliate disclosure.

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