The Best Rain Jackets of 2023: Staff Picks

The do-it-all REI Co-op XeroDry GTX combines everything you want in a rain shell but at an affordable price. It uses a 2-layer GORE-TEX PACLITE® material, which makes for a lightweight, breathable and versatile jacket that performs nicely as a moderately technical shell for hiking, hopping around town, sitting on the sidelines at your kid’s soccer game or coastal camping in the fall. You can also find the jacket in women’s 1X-3X and men's long. “This quality jacket introduces people to GORE-TEX technology without breaking the bank,” says Paige Frederick-Pape, a retail sales specialist at an Austin, Texas, store. “There’s nothing else like it out there at that price.”

The XeroDry GTX also has a chest pocket for quick access, adjustable hook-and-loop wrist straps and a higher neckline to block your face from the rain. It stuffs down relatively small to fit in your backpack. Nice touch: The front zippered pockets are hipbelt-compatible and mesh-lined, so they can double as vents on warm days. (There are no armpit zips, however.) “I love the XeroDry,” says Jillian Langston, a visual merchandising sales lead at REI’s Raleigh, North Carolina, store. “It’s soft, quiet and the jacket I grab if there’s a chance of rain.” It can take a beating, too: The hybrid design reinforces high-abrasion areas like the elbows and shoulders with tough nylon while utilizing a more comfortable polyester throughout the rest of the jacket. 

The Patagonia Torrentshell may appear minimalist, but this feature-packed rain jacket can weather even the heaviest downpours. It’s suitable for most everyday outdoor pursuits, but we think the newly upgraded construction from 2.5-layer to 3-layer adds durability, making it a top pick for hiking in pouring rain. The exterior fabric is created from post- and pre-consumer recycled materials (think: plastic bottles and fishing nets), and the jacket and zippers are treated with a PFC-free DWR coating that helps moisture bead up and roll off. Plus, all the zippers have storm flaps, and the hook-and-loop cuff closures and drawcord hem adjust to seal out precipitation and wind. 

One Seattle REI Co-op member wore the Torrentshell on a four-day backpacking trip through the Enchantments in Washington state and said, “We got rained on daily—sometimes torrentially—and this jacket kept me completely dry!”

Other attributes that make it a good choice for hiking: It’s roomy enough to layer a puffy jacket underneath and breathable enough that you won’t overheat putting in long miles, with pit zips that allow for extra ventilation while hiking up a sweat. Although not helmet-compatible, the roomy hood can be adjusted with drawcords at the back and around the face for a snug fit. The stiffened visor shields out rain when pushing through wet brush, and a cord-and-hook design tucks the hood away on the back of your neck (but doesn’t completely stow it) when not in use. There’s no chest pocket on the Torrentshell, but the two handwarmer pockets are large enough to store a phone, map or other small essentials. As a nice added touch, the jacket packs into its own pocket; clip a carabiner into the loop to strap on the outside of your pack for easy access.

In addition to keeping you dry, visibility is a critical function of a cycling-specific rain jacket, and the REI Co-op Junction Cycling Jacket’s “new high-vis yellow color and reflective hits on the arm, back and zipper are made to be seen in traffic or on the road,” says Jennifer Dallas, the co-op’s cycling apparel buyer.

Cyclists will also appreciate the longer tailoring in the back, which provides added splatter coverage, and the two-way zipper allows you to adjust for comfort while pedaling. One member wore the jacket on a cycling tour of trails between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., and pronounced it “the perfect jacket,” adding, “it kept me warm and dry in moderate rain and 50-degree temps.”

Read more: Staff Picks: The Best Cycling Jackets of 2022.

Other callouts worth mentioning on this lightweight windproof jacket include the waterproof zippers (with rain flaps) found throughout, pit zips to help dump heat and tailored cuffs that fit over gloves to keep wind and water out while gripping the handlebar. Co-op designers updated the Junction with a helmet-compatible hood that tucks into the collar when not needed. “The hood is big, but you can tighten it from the back,” says one co-op reviewer from Seattle. “I like having the extra room to pull the brim forward (more rain protection on the face) or to leave room for a bulky ponytail or bun; I also sometimes wear a cap underneath.”

The Janji Rainrunner is a lightweight and ventilated jacket that allows for unrestricted movement when running in the rain, and it’s three times more waterproof and breathable than the previous design. One customer reviewer from Philadelphia called it the “Holy Grail jacket,” because it kept her dry and comfortable during one pouring run in 60-degree weather. Another trail runner from Colorado called it remarkable, adding that it “breathes extremely well and the venting system is well thought-out.”

The Rainrunner’s 2.5-layer shell is waterproof and windproof, and the streamlined cut has enough stretch so as not to impede your natural stride, with a dropped back hem for added spatter protection. Water-repellent zippers and semielasticized cuffs prevent moisture from finding a way in, and open mesh paneling around the core lets heat escape so you won’t feel clammy when you’re putting in the long miles. You can also comfortably fit a light mid layer underneath or wear a hydration vest over top.

Read more: What to Wear Running

Zippered hand pockets and an internal pocket provide ample storage for your keys and cards, and the Rainrunner packs down for easy stowing when the sun comes out. The elasticized hood with mini visor offers enough mobility to turn your head and check your blind spots, but it can’t be cinched tight, which is something to consider if you run in gusty winds. Small reflective hits on the front and back hem add a touch of visibility for running in low light.

The Arc’teryx Beta LT is a versatile and lightweight rain jacket that can withstand heavy rain and gusty wind, making it suitable for a wide range of activities. While the Beta LT is the priciest jacket among our picks, it’s an investment worth making, says Katie Smyth, a Seattle-based assistant category merchant for women’s outerwear at the co-op who has had her Arc’teryx jacket for at least a decade. She can’t even justify replacing her current one yet because it won’t wear out; Smyth credits its longevity to the abrasion-resistant face fabric, high stitch count and flat-laying taped seams. 

The Beta LT underwent a redesign in early 2021, and the latest version trades in 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro for standard 3-layer GORE-TEX, making it less robust but more breathable, lightweight, quiet and comfortable than its predecessor. Another noticeable difference: pit zips to improve ventilation during spring ski touring or late summer backpacking. 

Arc'teryx excels at hood design and it's arguably the most dialed-in feature on the Beta LT. The adjustable hood is helmet-compatible and allows for a customized fit that provides full coverage without impeding vision. “When you cinch the hood down, if you need to look left or right, the hood looks with you, instead of you looking into the hood,” says Langston, the co-op’s Raleigh retail specialist. Although it doesn’t pack down into its own zippered pocket like some other rain jackets, it can be rolled into its hood and secured with the drawcord for easy stowing.

It’s no wonder that the Rainier is the co-op’s best-selling rain jacket—ever. It’s waterproof, relatively breathable and loaded with features, all for less than $90. “I keep looking for a reason to buy a second rain jacket but can’t find one,” says a copywriter at the co-op who bought the Rainier when she first moved to the Pacific Northwest—and she hasn’t broken up with it yet.

“The Rainier has the benefit of the pit zips,” says Dawn Fahlstrom, a co-op retail sales specialist in Dallas, “which are handy if you need more ventilation when being active.” Sealed seams, hook-and-loop cuffs, a drawcord hem and front storm flap keep wind and water out, and the bright color options help keep you visible to city traffic. (There are also men's tall sizes for those who need more length in the arms and torso.) But this isn’t a super technical piece: It doesn’t pack up all that small, making it a better option for everyday use. It has ample room for a phone, snacks and sundries with two exterior hand pockets and two interior drop pockets. We love that the hood adjusts and rolls away into the collar.

Wet weather shouldn’t hinder outdoor fun, and the REI Co-op Rainwall Jacket keeps little ones dry and toasty while playing in the rain and puddle-jumping. “We were out for hours in a full downpour and my child stayed 100% dry and very happy,” says one customer reviewer. The 2.5-layer shell is waterproof, windproof and blocks out the elements with sealed seams, elastic cuffs and a front storm flap. Reflective trim on the front and back help keep kids visible in low light.

Another member praised this jacket for being able to last through two toddlers’ tough and repeated use at the playground, exploring nature trails and on neighborhood walks. The tricot-lined collar is soft on the neck, and the fit is generous enough to fit another layer underneath. The hood has a rain brim and elastic on the sides of the opening for a snug fit that needs no fiddling. Zippered hand pockets on the kids’ version secure essentials, while the toddlers’ version utilizes hook-and-loop hand pockets, making it easier for little hands to stash treasures. Added touches include a loop to hang it in a school locker and a write-on ID label.