{"id":37879,"date":"2018-08-21T12:17:57","date_gmt":"2018-08-21T19:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=37879"},"modified":"2025-02-05T19:35:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T03:35:51","slug":"first-look-rei-co-op-rainier-rain-jacket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/first-look-rei-co-op-rainier-rain-jacket","title":{"rendered":"First Look: REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the rain hits, you want gear that keeps you dry, but not at the cost of breaking the bank. Enter the REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket (women’s<\/a> and men’s<\/a>). It\u2019s waterproof, breathable and wind-resistant\u2014and costs $99.95.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[The REI] founders\u2019 original intent was to provide people with affordable gear,\u201d said Scott Mosher, senior product art director for REI Co-op Brands. Gear that doesn\u2019t break the bank, Mosher continued, \u201cis your ticket to exploring the outdoors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The initial idea was to create a $99 rain jacket. \u201cWe knew we would be competing against other jackets,\u201d said Tim Brown, product manager for Co-op Brands. \u201cWe knew we wanted this to be a step above those other $99 jackets. Then, at the last minute, we decided to provide even more value and drop it $10.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the idea was solidified, our team, including patternmakers, designers and merchants, started working to get the jackets to the market.<\/span><\/p>\n

Soojin Chung, manager of materials for Co-op Brands, had a tough job: finding a waterproof, windproof, breathable and affordable material. Even trickier? The team wanted the jacket to be made of recycled nylon, as part of our commitment to reducing environmental impact when making gear. Working with our factory partners across the globe, we developed an ethically right, high-performance, low-cost option. The material, a 2.5-layer recycled ripstop nylon, shields wearers from rain and wind up to 60 MPH, while staying breathable and dry on the inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s light and aesthetically pleasing without that super-technical feel,\u201d Chung said. \u201cAnd we\u2019re really proud of the material we ended up going with\u2014a recycled nylon is a big step forward into the sustainability efforts we are making.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As Chung was sourcing the right material, our apparel designers were building the jackets from the ground up, developing them to specifically fit women\u2019s and men\u2019s bodies. We also offer this style in tall, petite and plus sizing\u2014part of our ongoing commitment to close the <\/span>gear gap<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The designers also sought to provide the right mix of technical features\u2014some of which other jackets at the same price point just don\u2019t have. The jacket has pit zips that let you get rid of excess heat as the day warms up or your body temperature rises. Pit zips are a pricey feature. \u201cAfter fabric, zippers are usually the most expensive item on a garment,\u201d said Britt Berg, product designer for Co-op Brands. \u201cFor a zipper to work well over a long period of time it has to be very well made. Zippers are highly engineered and well tested, hence the price.\u201d The three-piece hood has two types of adjustments so you can fine-tune your fit, and you can store it away if you don\u2019t need it. The drawcord hem and hook-and-loop cuffs seal out snow and rain. And the whole jacket even stows away in its own pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal was a highly functional but totally approachable (especially the price) waterproof, breathable jacket,\u201d Berg said. <\/span><\/p>\n

With materials, design and fit locked down, the team finalized testing and color selections. This jacket bears the REI Co-op logo, which means this style hits our performance outerwear material testing requirements for water repellency (including after washing), air permeability, breathability and tear strength. \u00a0We also further tested the taped seams and the way we constructed the jacket to make sure water can\u2019t seep in. It\u2019s held up to all of our testing\u2014and is ready to hit your rainy and windy trails or travels with you. In terms of color, our color designers were most excited about Flash Pink. \u201cIt\u2019s a bright, intense, hot pink, not your soft, feminine pink,\u201d said Amanda Russell, senior color designer. \u201cIt\u2019s a statement pink: high energy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To us, the whole jacket makes a statement: You can have high performance for an affordable price.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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Shop REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jackets<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Need help deciding between rain jackets? Read “Which REI Co-op Rain Jacket Is Right for You?<\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When the rain hits, you want gear that keeps you dry, but not at the cost of breaking the bank. Enter the REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket (women’s and men’s). It\u2019s waterproof, breathable and wind-resistant\u2014and costs $99.95. \u201c[The REI] founders\u2019 original intent was to provide people with affordable gear,\u201d said Scott Mosher, senior product art […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":37886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[724,277],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-37879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hike","tag-gear","tag-gear-review"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/hike\/first-look-rei-co-op-rainier-rain-jacket","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"First Look: REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/first-look-rei-co-op-rainier-rain-jacket","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/first-look-rei-co-op-rainier-rain-jacket"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/rainier.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/rainier.jpg?fit=1500%2C900"},"articleSection":"Hike","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Aer Parris-Hoshour"}],"creator":["Aer Parris-Hoshour"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["gear","gear reviews"],"dateCreated":"2018-08-21T19:17:57Z","datePublished":"2018-08-21T19:17:57Z","dateModified":"2025-02-06T03:35:51Z"},"rendered":"