Best Rain Jackets For Women

I have lived in the Pacific Northwest for a while now, and I know a thing or two about rain jackets. I wear them when I walk to work as well as when I do outdoor activities. Rain jackets can get pretty expensive, so you need to know which one to buy in your situation. Not everyone needs the most expensive jacket out there. So I have come up with a roundup list of the best rain jackets for women. I talk about budget-friendly jackets, jackets for walking around town, hiking jackets, and jackets for extreme weather conditions. So I hope this list helps you stay nice and dry outdoors!

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Table For Best Womens Waterproof Jacket

Best Rain Jackets For Women

Arc’teryx Zeta SL Rain Jacket – Women’s

Living in the Pacific Northwest, I know a good rain jacket when I see it. This jacket is with me on all my winter adventures through Washington State. It keeps me extremely dry, and it is lightweight, comfortable, and durable. I love this jacket!

I remember last year when I went on the rainiest hike I have ever been on, and my feet were soaked, and my legs felt damp. But at least my upper body was nice and dry. This jacket can get you through the gnarliest rain storms.

However, it is expensive, and there are no pit zips (ventilation sucks). If you live in a rainy, gloomy place like me, this jacket is well worth the high price. If you live in a nonrainy place I would consider getting a jacket that is at a lower price.

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Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket – Women’s

This Patagonia rain jacket is well known in the outdoor industry. It is great to use around town and on the trails. The durability and water resistance are pretty adequate for the price. Since the zippers are not waterproof, and it uses flaps for protection, there are chances of feeling wet on a big downpour. Also, many people have complained of the crinkly stiffness of this jacket. However, at this price point, this jacket does its job. If the weight and the zippers don’t bother you, then this jacket is sufficient.

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REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket – Women’s

What I love about REI products is that they are usually good quality at a lower price point (compared to Patagonia and Arc’Teryx, that is). This jacket is no exception. The price is pretty great, the ventilation is good, it’s windproof, and it packs really well. The main problem with this jacket is the waterproofness. It is average. It can get you wet on stormy days, so I would be cautious about purchasing this one. Luckily REI has a great return policy, so if you need something on a budget, then you might as well try this rain jacket out!

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Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket – Women’s

So out of all the rain jackets on this list, this is the best women’s rain jackets for hiking. The jacket uses Gore-Tex’s thin 2 layer construction in some areas, but they also utilize a 3-layer Gore-Tex on the front and shoulders. There is also pit zips for ventilation and a fantastic hood design. But even with all these features, why didn’t I pick this as the best waterproof jackets for women?

Because it is so expensive! This jacket is over $400. I mean it costs more than my tent! Of course, the quality is outstanding, and it is pretty much a better version of the Arc’teryx Zeta SL Rain Jacket. However, this jacket is not for a casual hiker. It is more for someone that is constantly outside on crazy weathered backpacking trips.

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Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket – Women’s

The Helium Rain Jacket is an all-around great jacket to have in your hiking backpack. It is lightweight, breathable, has great water resistance, and is very packable. Many people don’t like that it has no pockets, and since it is made with lightweight materials, it isn’t as durable as some of the other jackets. But this is still an outstanding all-around, great priced jacket that will keep you dry from the rain.

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REI Co-op Groundbreaker Rain Jacket – Women’s

This jacket is the new cool thing to buy at REI. For being so inexpensive, this jacket is pretty awesome. I loved wearing it on my Oregon Coast road trip. When it would drizzle, it would keep me dry and comfortable. It is one of those jackets that is perfect for walking around town or doing easier activities. I also love the orange color!

Is it going to keep you dry on some crazy weather downpour while backpacking? Probably not, but it is a great inexpensive jacket to have around town. Sometimes I need something that isn’t too technical.

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Black Diamond StormLine Stretch Rain Shell – Women’s

The Black Diamond StormLine is a fantastic lightweight rain jacket at a good price. What is so great about this jacket is how stretchy and comfortable it is. The inside layer is soft, and the stretchy outside layer helps you easily move around. It is packable, waterproof, and can be used anywhere and everywhere.

There are not too many negatives about this jacket. Mainly, the breathability isn’t the best, but hey, it is a waterproof jacket, so you can’t have it all. If you start to get hot or clammy, open the pit zips, and you will be fine. Overall this is a solid jacket at a reasonable price.

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Marmot PreCip Eco Jacket – Women’s

The best budget rain jacket is the Marmot Precip Eco Jacket. It is the best bang for your buck! The quality is pretty great for being so inexpensive; it is lightweight, keeps you dry, and it uses recycled materials! This is a fantastic jacket for anyone that is just starting out with hiking or backpacking.

Some of the things that come into question are durability and waterproofness. You have to apply Durable Water Repellent to the jacket after a few uses, which can be annoying. But overall, this is a great buy for someone that does not want to spend too much and still get a high-quality jacket that will keep them dry.

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The North Face Venture 2 Jacket – Women’s

Another good budget rain jacket is The North Face Venture 2 jacket. This jacket is good for light rainy hiking days or a walk around the town. It can stow into its own pocket, and it has pit zips. But there are many concerns with this jacket. It isn’t waterproof in heavy rainstorms, the breathability is mediocre even with pit zips, and the zippers are low quality. The main positive in the jacket is the price, but I feel like the Marmot PreCip Eco is a better quality jacket at the same price.

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Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Jacket – Women’s

If you are looking for an extremely comfortable, stretchy, breathable jacket for everyday and adventure use, look no further. The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Jacket is an outstanding versatile rain jacket that can be used in many situations. It can be used while running errands or on your hiking trip. It is so stretchy and comfortable and it doesn’t have that annoying crinkly sound. Yes, that is right; you won’t feel like you are a walking trash bag 🙂

The main concerns of this jacket are durability and windproof ability. Since the jacket is so breathable, high winds tend to get to you. So I would be concerned about wearing this in crazy wind storm areas like in Patagonia. But this review isn’t about windproof jackets, it is about rain jackets, and this jacket does its job of keeping you dry.

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More On Waterproof Womens Jackets

Types Of Layer For Rain Jacket Womens

• 2 Layer Rain Jacket: These jackets are usually budget-friendly (under $100) and tend to be a bit more breathable, but the waterproofing isn’t the best.
• 2.5 Layer Rain Jacket: More expensive (over $100) and is great for long hikes or backpacking trips. These are usually more lightweight and packable than the 2 layer rain jackets.
• 3 Layer Rain Jacket: This option is pretty much a hard shell. It has great protection against rain, but it is more expensive. This is a great choice for harsh weather.

Price

The most expensive jacket on this list is the Arcteryx Beta SL at over $400! Do you need to spend more than $400 to stay dry in the outdoors? No, you don’t!

It is great to have a high-quality rain jacket that will keep you dry during downpours, but you have to think about the activities you will be doing with it. Most beginner hikers don’t go hiking during crazy weather, so spending over $400 on a jacket is overdoing it. The Marmot Precip Eco is good enough.

But for someone like me that goes out hiking every week, rain or shine, and backpacks many times a year, the high-quality gear is worth the price.

Comfort

Nowadays you don’t have to feel uncomfortable wearing a rain jacket while hiking. The market now has some fantastic options that use stretchy, breathable fabric. A good example of a comfortable jacket is The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Jacket.

Weight And Packability

Most of the rain jackets on this list are at a reasonable weight and are packable. If you are a hiker, I would stay around the 9-15 ounce range. A good portion of the jackets can pack into their own pocket, which is a great feature for hikers and backpackers.

Waterproof VS Water Repellent

When it comes to rain jackets, make sure they state that they are waterproof, not water repellent. Water repellant jackets are for light rainy days while waterproof are for more stormy days.

Breathability

Breathability is something that most rain jacket manufacturers struggle with. I mean, how do you make jackets that ventilate your hot air out while at the same time keeping all the rain out. It isn’t easy.

So most of the more inexpensive and high-end lightweight jackets have a problem with breathability. Some of the more midrange jackets are more breathable, like The Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Jacket, but it isn’t the lightest in the bunch.

The best way to fix ventilation is to have pit zips. Pit zips are an easy way to dump out hot air without letting any water in. If you tend to run hot, then rain jackets with pit zips are the way to go!

Hoods

The hood designs are essential when it comes to rain jackets. The best kind to have are adjustable ones and have brims to keep your face nice and dry.

Adjustability Drawcords

The drawcords are usually located at the bottom of your jackets and are used to keep the elements out when the wind gets too crazy. Having this feature is another great way to protect yourself from crazy weather.

Rain Jacket Care

Keep an eye on your rain jacket to make sure it is always beading water. If it isn’t, then you might need to reapply a DWR coating. You can use this to reapply. Also, if you need to read more about washing your rain jacket, this article helps.

Final Thoughts On Best Waterproof Womens Jacket

I hope this helped you find a perfect rain jacket for your adventures. Make sure to check out some of my other blog posts on outdoor gear:

• Best Down Jackets For Women
• Best Hiking Sandals For Women
• Best Hiking Boots For Women
• Best Headlamps in The Market
• Tips On Hiking In The Rain

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