Green Garden The Best Rain Jackets for Hiking and Backpacking of 2023 – GWC Mag gwcmagOctober 16, 2023054 views By Michael Lanza Shop for a rain jacket for dayhiking, backpacking, trail running, or climbing in the backcountry and you’ll see shells for adults ranging in price from under $100 to over $500 and in weight from less than half a pound/227 grams to over a pound/454 grams—with just as huge and confusing a range of opinions on them from reviewers and consumers. Look no further. This review spotlights the best rain jackets for the backcountry and provides expert tips on how to select the right one for your adventures. My picks are based on extensive field testing of all of these shells dayhiking, backpacking, climbing, backcountry skiing, and/or hut trekking—and on testing dozens of rain shells while hiking through soaking rains all over the world over more than a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear, including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog. I’ve learned how to distinguish the mediocre from the excellent. I think you’ll find one of them is just right for your dayhikes, backpacking trips, and climbing and other outdoor adventures—and you’ll often find great deals on some of them (see the links below). Please share your thoughts on any of them or recommend your favorite backcountry rain shell in the comments section at the bottom of this review; I try to respond to all comments. Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. The Arc’teryx Beta Lightweight Jacket. Understand the Terminology Waterproof-breathable means that a membrane or fabric coating allows the moisture built up from sweating to escape through the fabric while it repels precipitation. Membranes generally offer better weather protection, breathability, and durability than a coating. Jackets with coatings are typically less expensive and lighter. Quality definitely varies a lot. Membranes like Gore-Tex outperform many proprietary waterproof-breathable fabrics from jacket makers. However, some brands, like Outdoor Research and The North Face (see below), have jackets that challenge the performance of Gore-Tex. Three different types of construction are used in waterproof-breathable rain shells: Two-layer consists of a membrane or coating applied to the inside of a protective, outer fabric layer. The second layer is a liner that hangs loosely. Two-layer jackets are quiet and relatively inexpensive, but offer only modest breathability. 2.5-layer construction marries a polyurethane laminate or coating to a durable outer layer, which is backed by a protective “half layer.” These shells are less breathable and durable than others, and sometimes more clammy-feeling, but also lighter and less expensive. Three-layer jackets, in which a membrane is sandwiched between a tough outer fabric and a protective liner, offer the best weather protection, breathability, and durability in waterproof jackets. Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up for my FREE email newsletter now. The Outdoor Research Helium AscentShell Jacket. How to Choose a Rain Jacket How do I choose a rain jacket for the backcountry? I follow four simple criteria: • Don’t spend more than necessary for what you’re doing—i.e., your activity level (how much you sweat) and where you go (how much rain you’ll see). Think about how often you’ll actually wear that jacket.• There’s no reason a three-season shell for the backcountry should weigh more than a pound/454 grams, period. And at least four of the jackets reviewed here—none weighing more than a pound—can handle winter conditions.• At a bare minimum, any waterproof-breathable shell, whatever the price, should fit you, shed steady rain, have a hood that keeps precipitation off your face, and breathe at least well enough that you’re not just as wet from perspiring in it as you would be not wearing it. Otherwise, you’re wasting your money.• If you’re spending upwards of $250 or more, don’t settle for anything less than a jacket with great fit and exactly the performance and features you want. See my “5 Expert Tips For Buying a Rain Jacket for Hiking.” With those criteria in mind, I’ve put together this list of the best jackets I’ve tested and reviewed at this blog, arranged by weight. The chart below lists the jackets from lightest to heaviest and provides some direct comparisons between these models. The short reviews below have include to complete reviews of each jacket. Jacket Score Price Weight Weather Protection Breathability Weight-to-Performance Packability Durability Mammut Kento Light HS Hooded Jacket 4.3 $219 5.5 oz. 4 4 4.5 5 4 The North Face Flight FutureLight Jacket 4.1 $300 8.5 oz. 4 4.5 4 4 4 Outdoor Research Helium AscentShell Jacket 4.5 $449 11.5 oz. 5 4.5 4.5 4 4.5 Black Diamond Helio Active Shell 4.6 $400 12 oz. 5 4 5 4 5 REI XeroDry GTX Jacket 4.1 $169 12 oz. 4.5 4 4 3.5 4 Arc’teryx Beta Lightweight Jacket 4.5 $500 13 oz. 5 4 5 3.5 5 Outdoor Research Microgravity AscentShell Jacket 4.3 $279 14 oz. 5 4.5 4 3.5 4.5 The Best Rain Jackets for Hiking and Backpacking Mammut Kento Light HS Hooded Jacket. Mammut Kento Light HS Hooded Jacket$219, 5.5 oz./156gmoosejaw.com From a nine-day hike of nearly 130 miles through the High Sierra in August, much of it on the John Muir Trail, to dayhiking in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range in October, the Kento Light HS Hooded Jacket delivered all the weather protection I needed. Mammut’s DRYtechnology Performance waterproof-breathable fabric kept me dry and blocked wind—including for over an hour in a pounding thunderstorm on the JMT. At just over five ounces and packing down to the size of an orange, it’s one of the lightest waterproof-breathable jackets you’ll find. While not designed for hours of hard rain, it has an adjustable hood, elasticized cuffs, a hem that extends well below the waist, and a concealed, zippered chest pocket. Read my complete review of the Mammut Kento Light HS Hooded Jacket. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Mammut Kento Light HS Hooded Jacket at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com, or a women’s Mammut Kento Light HS Hooded Jacket at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com. For high-speed workouts in windy, damp weather, get a breathable, ultralight shell.See my review of “The Best Ultralight Hiking and Backpacking Jackets.” The North Face Flight FutureLight Jacket The North Face Flight FutureLight Jacket$300, 8.5 oz./241gmoosejaw.com The North Face bills its Flight FutureLight Jacket as the brand’s most breathable shell, and it measures up to the hype. I’ve wore it trail running in rain showers and cool wind, backpacking through thunderstorms with strong gusts, and even backcountry skiing in variable spring weather, and despite some minor flaws, the Flight FutureLight demonstrates impressive breathability and a comfortable fit. TNF’s nano-spinning process creates a membrane with millions of microscopic fibers that allow air but not moisture to pass through, resulting in excellent breathability. Its weather protection doesn’t measure up to others on this list, but for trail runners, dayhikers, and ultralight backpackers, this is a nice, light, packable shell. Read my complete review of The North Face FutureLight Jacket. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking either of these links to purchase the men’s or women’s The North Face Flight FutureLight Jacket at moosejaw.com or backcountry.com. You live for the outdoors. The Big Outside helps you get out there.Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-guide and member gear discounts! The Outdoor Research Helium AscentShell Jacket. Outdoor Research Helium AscentShell Jacket$449, 11.5 oz./326gbackcountry.com For two weeks in Iceland—trekking the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails and on dayhikes along the Ring Road—I lived in this lightweight shell for hours daily, through cool temps with wind and rain most days and some hard, wind-driven deluges. And it met the challenge of the hardest conditions most hikers, backpackers, and climbers will face. It combines durable Pertex Diamond Fuse fabric and OR’s waterproof-breathable AscentShell membrane for reliable weather protection and superior breathability and comfort. The adjustable, helmet-compatible hood kept rain off my face when hiking into heavy, wind-driven mist. With four zippered pockets, two mesh stuff pockets inside, hook-and-loop cuffs and an adjustable hem, it delivers excellent performance for a packable shell weighing under 12 ounces. Read my complete review of the Outdoor Research Helium AscentShell Jacket. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at not cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Helium AscentShell Jacket at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com or outdoorresearch.com. Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton, and other parks using my expert e-guides. The Black Diamond Helio Active Shell. Black Diamond Helio Active Shell$400, 12 oz./340gbackcountry.com Through a long day of rain, wet snow, and wind gusting over 40 mph in northern Spain’s Picos de Europa Mountains, and other days of mixed weather, I stayed dry and staved off hypothermia in BD’s versatile Helio Active Shell (lead photo at top of story). Made with Gore-Tex Active three-layer membrane, the Helio breathed well enough to keep me from overheating even at times when we were protected from wind while hiking steeply uphill in the rain with temps in the 40s, while carrying a pack weighing 25 to 30 pounds. Besides its solid weatherproofing, the fully adjustable, helmet-compatible hood, easily accessible pit zips, and zippered pockets make it a shell for extreme conditions in all seasons. Read my complete review of the Black Diamond Helio Active Shell. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to purchase a men’s or a women’s Black Diamond Helio Active Shell at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or blackdiamondequipment.com. Looking for a more affordable rain jacket with solid performance? See my review of the Black Diamond Treeline Rain Shell. Get my expert help planning your backpacking or hiking trip and 30% off a one-year subscription. Click here. The REI XeroDry GTX Jacket. REI XeroDry GTX$169, 12 oz./340grei.com With the XeroDry GTX, REI puts Gore’s lightest and most packable two-layer membrane, Gore-Tex Paclite, in a rain shell that has all the features, weather protection, and breathability needed by hikers and backpackers who avoid severe weather—at a price that’s hard to beat. It kept me dry through hours of cold wind and steady rain, with a bit of wet snow, backpacking in September in Yellowstone. A fully adjustable hood and three pockets complete the package. While the other jackets on this list are clearly more in the high-performance category—making them more weatherproof, breathable, durable, and versatile—at half or less the price of them, REI’s XeroDry GTX represents a good value for hikers and backpackers. Read my complete review of the REI XeroDry GTX Jacket. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a men’s or women’s REI XeroDry GTX Jacket at rei.com, including men’s tall and women’s plus sizes. Which puffy should you buy? See “The 10 Best Down Jackets”and “How You Can Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is.” The Arc’teryx Beta Lightweight Jacket. Arc’teryx Beta Lightweight Jacket$500, 13 oz./369garcteryx.com Backpacking in the Canadian Rockies, Wind River Range, and Glacier National Park, I walked countless hours through rain showers, steady rain, intense thunderstorms, and very strong, chilly wind in the Beta Lightweight Jacket—convincing myself that it’s one of today’s most weather-proof and comfortable all-season shells. The three-layer Gore-Tex delivers excellent weather protection and breathability adequate for hiking in temperatures below around 60° F/15° C. The C-KNIT backer gives the fabric a softer feel. Few rain jackets sport such a full feature set, from the adjustable hood with a sturdy brim and the front zipper and collar covering the chin, to three zippered pockets, highly durable, 40-denier fabric, an adjustable hem and cuffs, and more rarely, pit zips. Read my complete review of the Arc’teryx Beta Lightweight Jacket. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Arc’teryx Beta Lightweight Jacket at arcteryx.com or a women’s Arc’teryx Beta Lightweight Jacket at arcteryx.com. . Never get cold again (well, almost never).See my “5 Tips For Staying Warm and Dry While Hiking.” The Outdoor Research Microgravity AscentShell Jacket. Outdoor Research Microgravity AscentShell Jacket$279, 14 oz./397gbackcountry.com Whether hiking steep hills in steady rain or backcountry skiing in heavily falling, wet snow, OR’s Microgravity AscentShell Jacket kept me dry going both uphill and downhill, thanks to solid waterproofing and exceptional breathability. Credit OR’s proprietary, three-layer, waterproof-breathable AscentShell fabric for how well it manages moisture. Supple and packable, it sports the features you want in an all-season shell, including a fully adjustable, helmet-compatible hood; a comfortable fit with very good mobility; four roomy, zippered pockets; weatherproofing features like hook-and-loop cuffs and waterproof zippers; and solid durability—all at a good price, although it’s heavier than other jackets reviewed here. It lacks pit zips, but many users won’t miss them, given the Microgravity’s breathability. Read my complete review of the Outdoor Research Microgravity AscentShell Jacket. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Microgravity AscentShell Jacket at backcountry.com, outdoorresearch.com, or moosejaw.com. See my “5 Pro Tips For Buying the Right Rain Jacket For the Backcountry,” and all of my reviews of rain jackets, my reviews of ultralight wind shells, water-resistant, lightweight jackets well suited to aerobic activities outdoors, and all of my reviews of outdoor apparel, backpacking gear, and hiking gear at The Big Outside. Don’t miss my picks for “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my stories “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.