When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

We tested 24 women's rain jackets in the Colorado Mountains and New York City.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

The difference between a good rain jacket and great rain jacket becomes evident the moment you're caught in a backcountry rain storm or pouring spring shower while walking around the city (even the best umbrella can only keep you so dry, after all). All waterproofing is definitely not created equally, and small details like zippered heat vents and adjustable hoods make a big difference when you're on the move. With such a diverse range of body shapes and sizes, the best rain jackets for women are even harder to pinpoint.

I lived in New York for five years and have lived in the Colorado mountains for seven, so I know first hand what makes a rain jacket incredibly frustrating as well as worth your money, for different types of needs. After putting 24 leading rain jackets to the test, I can say the Outdoor Research Aspire II GORE-TEX Jacket is the very best rain jacket for most women thanks to its A+ waterproofing, great breathability, many nice-to-have features, and wide range of sizes and color options. For a sleeker, city look, I also highly recommend the Fjällräven Vardag Rain Parka which has a long silhouette, multiple closure options, great waterproofing, and overall luxurious look and feel. 

Best overall: Outdoor Research Women's Aspire II GORE-TEX JacketThe Outdoor Research Aspire II beat out the 23 other rain jackets for women we tested.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

The Aspire II was the only jacket that had every single feature we were looking for in a great rain jacket that still delivered on performance. For starters, it's crafted from a proprietary GORE-TEX fabric, has fully taped seams, and is reliably waterproof; no water seeped in during our 60-second drench test.

The material was very breathable when I wore the jacket on hikes (and not too swooshy when it rubs together), but it also has zippered vents under the armpits to exhaust hot air quickly. The hood has well-designed drawstrings to cinch it down when the wind kicks up while still offering an unblocked field of vision, which was not the case for each jacket we tested.

Considering how waterproof and well-constructed this jacket is, it's surprisingly lightweight and easy to pack. At just 11.7 ounces, it feels like you're wearing next-to-nothing and adds barely any weight to a bag, so it's perfect to bring along if you're traveling or hiking.

What really makes this the best rain jacket for women, though, is the many nice-to-have features: It has three, roomy external pockets (all zippered and waterproof), including a chest pocket for your phone or chapstick; adjustable, Velcro wrist cuffs; and two vertical side zippers from the bra-line down to the hip to give you more room if you're wearing a hip pack or waist dog leash. 

While the GORE-TEX kept us perfectly dry during testing, you'll likely want something more technical for climates with long-lasting rainstorms. And while $225 isn't cheap, it is a great value for such a well-designed jacket with very little compromise.

Best affordable: Mountain Warehouse Rainforest II Extreme Women's Waterproof JacketThe Mountain Warehouse Rainforest II jacket is so affordable that its effectiveness will surprise you.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

If you're looking for a women's rain jacket to keep you dry on dog walks around the neighborhood in heavy spring showers, the Mountain Warehouse Rainforest II Extreme is fully waterproof up to 10,000mm and costs less than $100. 

For the price, this jacket will surprise you: It's fully seam taped and has three zippered pockets, including a convenient chest pocket. The hood is adjustable in the front and back to get a super secure fit on windy days, and the high collar has a very nice fleece lining for better comfort against your chin. Made with a polyester lining and a polyamide shell, this jacket is decently breathable for light activity. 

That being said, it does retain some warmth even at stand-still, so you're not going to like it in a hot and humid environment. Even on a moderate hike in a dry climate, I felt the non-ventilated armpits heated up a bit,  so it's not ideal for intense climbs.

The main downside to this rain jacket is that the material doesn't feel as nice as other rain jackets; it's slightly more stiff and crinkly. But these aren't annoying enough to be deal breakers and, at this price point, it's an excellent rain jacket for basic rain protection with a comfortable design. For a more breathable but still affordable rain jacket, we really liked the Helly Hansen Seven J Rain Jacket as well.

Best lightweight: Dovetail Workwear Pac JacFor warm spring weather, the Pac Jac raincoat is the best way to travel light.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

 

The Dovetail Pac Jac is the lightest rain jacket on our list. It packs down into its chest pocket to be slightly bigger than your hand, so it's never a tough decision if you should bring your rain jacket when traveling or heading outside.

But more than the feather-light weight, this jacket is built to hold up against the elements for years. Dovetail Workwear makes uber-tough, well-fitting apparel for women who need their clothes to keep up with their jobs, so their reputation speaks volumes. The Pac Jack is crafted from super-strong ripstop Cordura nylon that is UPF 50 in sun protection and treated with a PFAS-free, plant-based water repellency. The fabric feels light but durable, and it let zero water in during our drench test.

Its light weight means this jacket doesn't have as many bells and whistles as other rain jackets on our list. But it does have the essentials, including one zippered chest pocket and two flapped hip pockets and elastic on the wrist cuffs, hood, and hips for a more secure fit. This rain jacket was also designed for women on the move: armpit gussets for a wider range of motion, reinforced elbows for tough work, a wide hip circumferences, and a longer tail to keep your butt dry.

The main downside to this rain jacket is that it only comes in two colorways (although both are pretty great, in our opinion), and some may dislike that it's not tapered into a feminine silhouette. But at 5 ounces and under $100, this jacket is a no-brainer to bring traveling or keep stashed in your hiking pack, and it won't disappoint when the rain comes.

Best insulated: Helly Hansen Adore Ins Rain CoatHelly Hansen's popular rain jackets proved to be worth the hype.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

For rainy, chilly spring days or a wet winter that's not quite cold enough to turn rain to snow, the Helly Hansen Adore Ins Rain Coat hits the sweet spot of keeping water out and warmth in. True to the brand's long-standing reputation of high-quality, tech-focused outdoor gear, this jacket is made from very high-quality and durable polyamide, is fully seam sealed, and uses waterproof YKK zippers on the chest and hand pockets. It's not completely waterproof, but the shell membrane is treated with a PFC-free DWR and, in our testing, kept moisture out during traditional spring rain showers.

While the majority of insulated, waterproof jackets are a winter weight, the Adore Ins has just 60g Primaloft insulation inside, delivering a reliable, light layer of warmth but not so much that you'll overheat when it's 50 degrees out. When we wore this jacket walking around New York on rainy spring days, we found it offered the perfect protection from outside chill and wind, but didn't feel bulky and was still quite breathable (the latter of which is an upside to not using a less-breathable, waterproof fabric). 

The real deal-clincher, though, was the small luxurious touches on this jacket: The material feels high quality and durable; it sports three outer, zippered pockets (including one chest pocket convenient for your phone); and the hood is easy to cinch when the wind kicks up. We particularly love that the wrist cuffs have reflective strips for better safety when visibility is low, but that also tuck away for a sleeker overall look.

Lastly, the long cut of this jacket and sportier cut means it'll keep the majority of you dry without a marshmallow silhouette.

Best long: Fjällräven Vardag Rain ParkaThe full length on the Fjällräven Vardag Rain Parka gives you more coverage than any other jacket we tested.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

If you're looking for a long raincoat that will keep the majority of your body dry and look sleek on wet city walks, Fjällräven's Vardag Rain Parka delivers—and then some. 

This waterproof shell jacket is crafted from a 2.5-layer recycled polyester that has a PU membrane and proved completely waterproof during our drench test. The material is the perfect thickness and weight to keep you feeling protected but not weighed down when wearing this jacket around the city for hours. It fits on the roomier side, which is ideal for wearing layers underneath (we did find the material cold on bare shoulders when wet). It has a roomy hood and long silhouette to keep 75% of you dry in even the nastiest of rain storms.

But it's really Fjällräven's incredibly well thought-out and sleek-looking design that makes this rain jacket rise above the rest. The vertical, button-flapped pockets are convenient, roomy, and protective to stash items you want easy access to. The high collar and adjustable hood are effective at keeping rain out without impeding your visibility. It has a two-way main zipper to offer more range of motion when riding a bike around the city, say. Most of all, this coat has snap buttons from top to bottom for a quick closure, which we found particularly nice during testing since zipping a long rain jacket can be cumbersome to do up if it's just lightly raining for a few minutes.

At $350, it's not cheap—but the material, durability, and features all make this jacket feel quite luxurious and, truthfully, like it would cost more.

Best sporty: Janji Rainrunner Pack Jacket 2.0If you're taking your workouts outdoors during the rainy season, we recommend the Janji Rainrunner Pack Jacket 2.0.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

Janji's Rainrunner Pack Jacket 2.0 is incredibly lightweight at just 7.2 ounces. During testing on runs and hikes, I loved its permanent flap vents at the waist in the front and back, strategically designed to keep water out but also prevent heat from building up on the move without having to zip anything open. It also has a drop hem in the back for better splatter guard on muddy trails.

Despite its incredibly-lightweight construction, this rain jacket is shockingly durable: It's crafted with a 2.5-layer laminated shell of ripstop fabric (durable and windproof) treated with a PFC-free C0-DWR (eco-friendly and waterproof) coating.

The jacket is fully seam-taped, has two zippered hip pockets (including an inner mesh pouch to minimize bounce), and semi-elastic wrist cuffs that stay in place when you run. The hood is an elasticized, scuba-like type with bunge toggles and a small visor in the middle to keep rain off your face that still allows for 180º of visibility.

During the drench test, the Rainrunner sufficiently kept water out during 60 seconds of significant water pressure, even around the flapped vents. It's not going to keep you dry in an hour-long, heavy rainstorm in Vancouver, but if you get caught in a sudden downpour, it will surprise you by how well it keeps water out during the stretch of time it'll take you to reach shelter. And if you're looking for a rain jacket to bring on a run or a hike in case of rain, the Rainrunner is incredibly well equipped. It's very lightweight and comfortable to wear tied around your waist when the sun comes out, or it can be stuffed inside its self-stowing pocket and tossed in a backpack.

Best technical: Stio Ender JacketThe Stio Ender jacket had better waterproofing than the doubly expensive technical rain jackets we tried.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

If you live somewhere seriously wet or are looking for the best rain jacket to take on outdoor adventures, the Stio Ender rain jacket is near perfect.

Designed out of Jackson, Wyoming by people who live and adventure in the mountains, the brand's PeakProof 3L shell is made from 100% recycled nylon, finished with PFC-free DWR (two wins for the environment) and offers 20,000mm of waterproofness with 10,000g breathability. Not only is it the perfect balance of seriously waterproof and breathable, but it's also extremely durable, made with Tricot backer. To finish it off, at 12.8 ounces, it's very lightweight.

During testing, this jacket proved reliably waterproof under heavy and continuous water flow—and performed better than a technical rain jackets double its price. It was also seamless on fast-moving hikes through the Colorado mountains. 

It has all the features we love, including three zippered pockets; zippered, armpit vents to dump heat; and one of the best-fitting adjustable hoods we tested (it cinches like a baseball cap rather than tight around the face). I particularly liked the brushed fleece chin guard when the jacket was zipped all the way up. I also appreciated the that the fit hits the sweet spot of not too baggy and not too tight. 

The hem is slightly dropped in the back, but it doesn't cover the top of the thighs or much of the butt. Also, it only comes in three colorways (though we do love all three) and has a limited size range, which are the main reasons it didn't make our top pick for the Best Overall Rain Jacket. But you're looking for a highly technical rain jacket you can trust and this size and color range works for you, we couldn't recommend the Stio Ender more.

Best convertible: Patagonia Women's Tres 3-in-1 ParkaThe best part of Patagonia's Tres Parka is that it's actually three rain jackets in one.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

We know: $700 is a lot for a rain jacket. But for three different coats—all of which are sustainably made, durably constructed, and backed by a lifetime guarantee—it's a pretty good deal, especially if you live in a true four-season location where your needs against the weather change frequently and fast.

Patagonia's Tres 3-in-1 Parka consists of two main jackets: A performance outer shell, made from 100% recycled polyester with an eco-conscious, DWR finish that is completely waterproof, and an inner 100% recycled, 700-fill-power, down insulation liner jacket. Separately, you have a long, down jacket for cold winter days and a long, rain jacket for protection during spring showers; together, you have a third, warmly-insulated rain jacket for protection on wet and cold days.

The rain jacket has a two-way full zip—very convenient if you like to ride a bike around the city, say—and a storm flap for a sleeker look and convenient, hidden snaps to close the jacket when you're dashing out and don't want to fuss with the zipper.

This jacket not only looks expensive, but it feels expensive. Both the outer shell and inner insulated liner have zippered pockets with a brushed fleece lining to keep your hands warm. The outer shell has an adjustable hood that also snaps off for a sleeker, city look, and a tall collar to protect your face from wind and rain. 

As a rain jacket alone, this outer lining certainly gives the Fjällräven Vardag Rain Parka a run for its money. And while this jacket is, as we said, expensive, Patagonia's reputation and apparel longevity speaks for itself—plus the brand offers a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

Best sustainable: Everlane The ReNew AnorakKatie Decker-Jacoby tests the Everlane ReNew Anorak during a rainy walk in the park.

Katie Decker-Jacoby/Business Insider

We had three people located in New York, Florida, and California try out Everlane's ReNew Anorak to test out its functionality in different climates. In short, all three enjoyed its quick-drying shell that effectively wicked away moisture, but its boxy, oversized fit meant that there were gaps. Only cinching the drawcord remedied this, and because it's unlined, we'd only recommend this rain coat for mild transitional weather. It's still a great option for those who live in the city, since it's lightweight and compacts neatly. 

Former style and beauty Reviews fellow Jacqueline Saguin tried hers in New York and found hers held up well in a shower. "The rain tends to glide off rather than stick, which makes the fabric feel even more lightweight. And contrary to its double-layered design, humidity isn't trapped underneath," she said. "Its pockets were a downfall for me. I prefer easy side pocket access to slip my hands in when it's pouring."

Katie Decker-Jacoby, another former style and beauty Reviews fellow who tested her ReNew Anorak in California, also wished this jacket had side pockets. But it wasn't a dealbreaker considering the protection the double-layered coat provided: "The jacket itself was also quick to dry once I got back inside. I liked the spacious hood that comfortably fit my entire head and hair without falling down. The anorak fulfills its functional purpose of keeping me dry," said Decker-Jacoby.

Read more in our full Everlane ReNew Anorak review.

How we tested the best rain jackets for womenAny of our nine favorite rain jackets for women will keep you dry and comfortable.

Rachael Schultz/Business Insider

Water resistance

We tested 24 jackets in springtime and wore them for as long as possible each time it rained. When it wasn't raining, we did a "drench test" where we wore each jacket under a showerhead, powered at light and heavy flows to simulate different rain storms. During the shower test, we checked whether our clothes underneath got wet.

Comfort

Our testers wore each rain jacket out in the world on multiple occasions to assess each one's comfort. We looked for overall fit of the jacket, range of motion in the arms and hips (particularly when fully zipped up), and how comfortable the jacket felt on the body after 30 minutes to a few hours. 

For rain jackets that could be worn running, walking, or hiking, we wore them on moderately-intense activities to assess how breathable each was and, therefore, how comfortable on the move.

Weight and durability

These two factors are a bit personal: Some people prefer a barely-there, lightweight raincoat while others prefer one that's heftier and more protective against the elements. Additionally, some people are way harder on their gear and need a higher level of durability than others. 

All of our recommended jackets are a comfortable weight and durable enough for the average wearer — that is, they'll hold up for normal amounts of wear and tear for the activity they're intended for (e.g., walking around cities, rainy runs). That being said, we have specific categories for those who need a highly technical jacket, and those who need a super lightweight jacket.

Usability

Considering a rain jacket is intended to protect you in less-than-ideal weather. It ought to be frustration-free to put on, zip up, and walk around in. 

For each jacket I tested, I took it on some kind of walk outdoors in order to assess the functionality of each jacket and it's features. Specifically, I looked at things like pocket placement, convenience of zipper and buttons, how easy it was to slide the hood on and cinch it at the face in case of wind, and the like. I also considered how loud, crinkly, or swooshy the material of each jacket was when out walking, since this seemingly-small detail can lead to big annoyances over time.

Read the original article on Business Insider