How to Choose Rainwear
REI Co-op Essential Rain Jacket - Men's
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Lightweight and fully weatherproof, the men's REI Co-op Essential rain jacket will have you singing in the rain thanks to a rugged 2.5-layer nylon shell that's windproof to 60 mph.
Shop similar productsKey Details
Type of Waterproofing
2.5-layer waterproof breathable laminate
Back Length
Hip-length
Weight
8.8 ounces
- 2.5-layer waterproof, breathable and fully seam-sealed face fabric defends against the elements
- Durable water repellent (DWR) finish deflects light rain and snow
- Adjustable 3-piece hood allows you to fine-tune the fit
- Drawcord hem lets you seal out wind and water
- Cuffs adjust with hook-and-loop tabs
- Weatherproof center-front zipper
- Zippered hand pockets
- REI Co-op brand is certified to The Climate Label; we actively fund efforts to reduce carbon emissions across our business and support climate projects around the world
- Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria
Durable water repellent (DWR) renewal will keep your rainwear in peak condition; regularly clean and dry according to care instructions on the label. If your rainwear is wetting out even after cleaning and drying, we suggest you apply a new coating with a wash-in or spray-on DWR product (not included).
View all REI Co-op Men's Multi-Sport Rain Jackets| Best Use | Multisport |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Nylon (bluesign® approved) |
| Windproof | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Type of Waterproofing | 2.5-layer waterproof breathable laminate |
| Hood | Yes |
| Back Length | Hip-length |
| Back Length (in.) | 30 inches |
| Gender | Men's |
| Weight | 8.8 ounces |
| Sustainability | Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria From a Climate Label Certified brand |
REI Co-op Clothing - Men's
| XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL | XXXL | 24 IN Waist | 26 IN Waist | 28 IN Waist | 30 IN Waist | 31 IN Waist | 32 IN Waist | 33 IN Waist | 34 IN Waist | 35 IN Waist | 36 IN Waist | 38 IN Waist | 40 IN Waist | 42 IN Waist | 44 IN Waist | 46 IN Waist | 48 IN Waist | 50 IN Waist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | 35 | 36 - 38 | 39 - 41 | 42 - 45 | 46 - 49 | 50 - 53 | 54 - 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| Sleeve Length | 32 | 32.5 | 33 | 33.5 | 34 | 34.75 | 35.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Waist | 27.5 | 28 - 30 | 32 - 34 | 36 - 38 | 40 - 42 | 44 - 46 | 48 - 50 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 |
| Hip | 33.5 | 34.5 - 36.5 | 37.5 - 39.5 | 41 - 43 | 44 - 46.5 | 47.5 - 50.5 | 51.5 - 54.5 | 32 | 33.5 | 34.5 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38.5 | 39.5 | 40.25 | 41 | 43 | 44 | 46.5 | 47.5 | 50.5 | 52.5 | 54.5 |
| Inseam | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
Sizing Notes
Measurements are stated in inches unless otherwise indicated. Size chart values represent body measurements, not garment measurements.
SHORT: Some pants are available in short sizes, which generally means an inseam that is 2.5 inches shorter than regular sizes.
TALL: Some pants, shirts, jackets and parkas are available in tall sizes, which generally means an inseam that is 3 inches longer and a rise that is 1 inch longer, a shirt or jacket body that is 2 inches longer, a parka body that is 2.5 inches longer and sleeves that are 2.5 inches longer than regular sizes.
Capri or cropped pants have an intentionally shorter inseam—reference the technical specs instead of this chart.
Inseam is measured to the floor.
Buying Advice
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From feedback to field testing, all of our gear is dialed-in by REI Co-op members. Their adventures informed every stitch and detail—making for better, longer-lasting gear.
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
It's functional and reasonably fashionable
thetk42one7 years ago
Received free productI'll spoil the ending right here, I'm keeping the jacket.
I usually don't wear rain jackets because when it does rain, I figure what's the point, I'm going to get wet, I might as well focus on staying warm. But that doesn't mean I don't wear rain jackets. Prior to the REI jacket, I had two in my closet. One was for running and was designed to be light-weight and stow-able. I've packed it with me a few times and it's held up well. But it doesn't like sparks from a campfire and does not breath well at all. My other jacket is much thicker and breathes a lot better, but it's old and doesn't keep the rain off very well anymore.
Which brings us to the Men's REI Essential Rain Jacket (Regular Fit). I'm a big guy so I got the Extra Large. As I said earlier, this was sent to me for free with the expectation that I write a "candid and honest" review. Which is what I plan to do now.
The jacket is moderate to light weight, closes with a zipper, and has a hood. The cuffs at the wrist have velcro to tighten and there's a small bungee-type cord at the hood and waist to tighten those as well. Like my other rain jackets, it made for a great wind-breaker. I didn't get to test it in the heaviest gust we had (75 mph) but it held up great in several 50 mph gusts.
With temperatures above 60F, it gets a little warm to wear because it doesn't breath like most jackets. But to keep dry in the rain, that's to be expected. In the rain, it performed great. With or without the hood, I was able to keep dry in everything from a light drizzle to a heavy downpour.
I did find the sleeves to be a little too long but the more I thought about it, longer is better than shorter. Plus I could roll the cuffs a few times and be fine. I did try the velcro a couple of times but found the tighter wrists made it a little harder to take on or off. Maybe I just have fat hands.
Probably the best part of the jacket is the quality. The material is sturdy enough to block the wind and hold up to mild abrasions but light enough to not feel like a lead coat. The stitching is doubled-up and sealed. All of the zippers have pull tabs on them and the main zipper has a unique design that helps prevent the little flap from getting stuck as you start to zip.
There was plenty of room inside for me to wear anything from just a t-shirt to multiple layers with long sleeves. While the jacket has no built-in thermal layer, I was able to stay warm down to about 20F. If I wore it in temps down to 10F, I'd feel a draft at the bottom but still be warm in just a t-shirt. Anything below that, layers are going to be a good idea.
So, to summarize, this is a pretty nice jacket. It held up to daily use and various weather scenarios. It looked nice as a casual jacket but held up as a work jacket too.
thetk42oneReceived free product
King George, VA
74 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Lightweight but at the expense of performance
mkt427 years ago
Received free productI've used this jacket for over a week now, thanks to plenty of drizzly weather (but no real downpours).
The positives: light weight (9 1/8 ounces on my scale). And the DWR coating works well and no rain has gotten through the jacket. However most every new rain jacket's DWR repels water quite well and I haven't spent hours in pouring rain, just shorter periods in drizzle. So that's a low bar to clear.
The negatives: no pit zips, so ventilation will always be limited. The jacket is on the short side, so you won't get as much coverage as you would with a longer jacket. The jacket unzips easily enough but it often takes me several tries to put the zipper ends together so that I can zip the jacket up. The hood doesn't keep the rain of my eyeglasses -- but no hoods do, except for ones that are so long and narrow that they cut off my peripheral vision. So that is not a big criticism of this jacket.
Recommended activities: this is why I give this jacket only three stars. If I want something light that I can take on long hikes or backpacks as a "just in case it rains" jacket, there are jackets that are lighter and that have pit zips, and I would use one of those jackets instead.
If it's going to be a hike or backpack where heavy rain is expected, I would take a longer jacket to get more rain protection.
Similarly, if I'm looking for a rain jacket to use in town, I'll use a beefier longer jacket.
So this jacket's uses may be limited to situations when I'm in town and want a lightweight jacket to bring along just in case it rains, something smaller and lighter than my full heavy-duty rain jacket.
mkt42Received free product
Portland, OR
12 people found this review helpful
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Poncho
Severn Maryland
Light rain jacket
6 years ago
I took this rain jacket in tropical Florida’s weather and it kept me dry all day. It did not vent extremely well but if you unzip it a bit you’ll breathe fine! On the other hand I just finished a trip to Acadia National Park and wore this jacket with a T-shirt underneath in 32 degree weather with wind gusts of 20mph. Yes I was a little chilly but considering this jacket is supposed to be a light rain jacket I’d say it was performing excellent. The only con would be the lack of storage on the inside. There are no inside pockets so you only have the two outer pockets which do have zippers! Overall, great buy for someone looking for a light 3 season jacket!
Yes , I recommend this product
thetk42one
Received free product
King George, VA
It's functional and reasonably fashionable
7 years ago
I'll spoil the ending right here, I'm keeping the jacket. I usually don't wear rain jackets because when it does rain, I figure what's the point, I'm going to get wet, I might as well focus on staying warm. But that doesn't mean I don't wear rain jackets. Prior to the REI jacket, I had two in my closet. One was for running and was designed to be light-weight and stow-able. I've packed it with me a few times and it's held up well. But it doesn't like sparks from a campfire and does not breath well at all. My other jacket is much thicker and breathes a lot better, but it's old and doesn't keep the rain off very well anymore. Which brings us to the Men's REI Essential Rain Jacket (Regular Fit). I'm a big guy so I got the Extra Large. As I said earlier, this was sent to me for free with the expectation that I write a "candid and honest" review. Which is what I plan to do now. The jacket is moderate to light weight, closes with a zipper, and has a hood. The cuffs at the wrist have velcro to tighten and there's a small bungee-type cord at the hood and waist to tighten those as well. Like my other rain jackets, it made for a great wind-breaker. I didn't get to test it in the heaviest gust we had (75 mph) but it held up great in several 50 mph gusts. With temperatures above 60F, it gets a little warm to wear because it doesn't breath like most jackets. But to keep dry in the rain, that's to be expected. In the rain, it performed great. With or without the hood, I was able to keep dry in everything from a light drizzle to a heavy downpour. I did find the sleeves to be a little too long but the more I thought about it, longer is better than shorter. Plus I could roll the cuffs a few times and be fine. I did try the velcro a couple of times but found the tighter wrists made it a little harder to take on or off. Maybe I just have fat hands. Probably the best part of the jacket is the quality. The material is sturdy enough to block the wind and hold up to mild abrasions but light enough to not feel like a lead coat. The stitching is doubled-up and sealed. All of the zippers have pull tabs on them and the main zipper has a unique design that helps prevent the little flap from getting stuck as you start to zip. There was plenty of room inside for me to wear anything from just a t-shirt to multiple layers with long sleeves. While the jacket has no built-in thermal layer, I was able to stay warm down to about 20F. If I wore it in temps down to 10F, I'd feel a draft at the bottom but still be warm in just a t-shirt. Anything below that, layers are going to be a good idea. So, to summarize, this is a pretty nice jacket. It held up to daily use and various weather scenarios. It looked nice as a casual jacket but held up as a work jacket too.
Yes , I recommend this product
buzzkittens
Hutto, TX
Lightweight and dry
7 years ago
I bought this jacket to use Incase I get caught in the rain on my motorcycle or while I’m fishing. It runs a little bit loose, which is great for going over other jackets but not so loose that it flaps in the wind. I got to test it out yesterday when I got caught in a rainstorm while at the river. The hood works perfectly if you’re wearing a cap. There are Velcro adjustments at the sleeves. The seams are taped throughout the jacket. It has zipper pockets. No interior pockets. And pull cords on the hood and bottom of the jacket. It’s totally waterproof so I did get a little sweaty but that’s to be expected. It didn’t get torn when I was walking through brush and can be rolled up and tucked into my pack. I never thought I’d be so happy about a rain jacket.
Yes , I recommend this product
Rileym
San Diego
Repels rain for short periods only
6 years ago
I bought this rain “shell” jacket because it was lightweight and I was going to use it on backpacking trips in CA if it happened to rain. For the first seven months I never experienced rain on a backpacking trip and it wasn’t required. I’m about to head out to the Sequoias in March 2019 and figure I should test it out. I went for a hike in light to average rain fall. For the first hour or so it repelled the rain but after that moisture started to seep through the fabrics. By the time I got back home 2-3 hours later there were water droplets inside the jacket. I’m going to apply a water proofing spray to the outside and give it a try again next week in the rain. Hope it holds up better.
No, I do not recommend this product
cristinez
Received free product
Gig Harbor, WA, USA
Great all-purpose rain jacket!
7 years ago
This is a great all-purpose rain jacket. Whether you are running into the office or out hiking on a soggy day this coat is a good one to have along for the ride. Even with the lightweight materials I find that it does a good job at keeping the wind and rain at bay. Also, the water beads up on the jacket so when it is time to go inside most of it comes right off with a good shake…no more puddle on the floor where you leave your jacket. The fit of the body is exactly as I expected, but I would say the arms are a little longer than other similar jackets that I have worn. There are “hook and loop” straps at the wrists so this helps keep the long arms from being an issue. The hood is adjustable and can be cinched so that is stays in place on windy days. Considering both price and quality, I don’t think you can go wrong with this jacket!
Yes , I recommend this product
Aloha
Received free product
St. Louis, MO
Great Basic Rain Jacket / Shell - Recommend
7 years ago
I reviewed this jacket as part of the REI testers program. Disclosure: I received this jacket for free but my opinions are my own. I tested this jacket under three different conditions for a total of 18 hours plus ran a washing test. Day 1. Boy Scout Camp-out. • Temperature: 25-45 F. Freezing conditions overnight with icing • 3 hours continuous light-moderate snow • 3 hours continuous light rain • Winds were light and variable • Total wear time: ~12 hours • Jacket worn over a base-layer, long-sleeve shirt, and down jacket • Activities included campsite setup, hiking (including light bushwhacking), cooking, fire-pit, ax use Day 2. Boy Scout Camp-out (next day) • Temperature: low 20’sF to low 40’sF • No precipitation • No wind • Total wear time: ~5 hours • Jacket worn over a base-layer, long-sleeve shirt, and down jacket • Activities: cooking, campsite tear-down and pack-out Day 3. Around Town Wear. • Temperature: low 40’s F • Moderate rain • Moderate and gusting winds • Total wear time ~1 hour • Jacket worn over work clothes including insulated jacket • Activities: moving back and forth from work; loading and unloading trunk; outdoor walking to work Washing Test. • Cold wash; gentle cycle; line dry • Jacket started with a smoky smell from the camp-out Overall, a very good jacket. Fits the market space between a Marmot PreCip Jacket and Outdoor Research Helium II Jacket (I own both). Appearance: Excellent, sharp looking jacket Fit: As advertised and similar to my other clothing. Full range of motion without impediment Quality: No defects, quality and workmanship appeared very good Durability: To be determined over extended time period Breath-ability: Unknown, testing conditions were in cold weather with only moderate exertion. That said, jacket was worn continuously and I did not overheat or feel sticky/muggy +++++WEAR TEST +++++ LIKES - Rain Coverage: Good, no water intrusion. Hood provided adequate cover. - Wind Coverage: Good, no intrusion. DISLIKES - None. See Considerations below NEUTRALS/CONSIDERATIONS - Hood Storage: Lack of hood storage means water/snow could collect in the hood if not worn up. Probability of this is low; however, because if the precipitation is light enough to not warrant the hood up it is not likely to collect. I experimented by rolling the hood into the jacket forming a kind of collar – this worked well without discomfort but, again, was an experiment and not really necessary. - Front Zipper Storm Flap. The double flap coverage (versus flap with Velcro) worked but did, at times, open up in movement. Recommend experimenting to determine if water could get past the front zipper if the storm flap is open. +++++WASH TEST+++++ LIKES - Jacket came out the wash without excessive wrinkling or any damage or delamination. Fit after the wash was unchanged (i.e., did not shrink) DISLIKES - None NEUTRALS/CONSIDERATIONS - The jacket does appear to retain a slight smoky smell from the camp-out after one wash +++++OTHER CONSIDERATIONS+++++ - Jacket does not have a self-storage pocket. I find these unnecessary. - No interior pockets. I find these unnecessary. - No hood storage. A nice feature but, again, unnecessary.
Yes , I recommend this product
jdub
Received free product
Knoxville, TN
Good, basic rain jacket
7 years ago
I hoped I would receive this jacket before a rainy week of activity in the mountains. Unfortunately it showed up late, and I instead got to test it in the rainy concrete jungle of a southern metropolis. Overall this is a good, if basic rain jacket. It doesn't give you the breathability (or likely durability) of a more expensive shell, but it's going to do the basics: keep you dry in a lightweight package. I've tried several jackets in this price range from other companies, and this one compares favorably at a competitive price. Overall the fit of the jacket is a bit loose - I initially got a large, but sent that back for a medium, which still borders on "just a bit too big" for me. This is fine if you're planning on layering underneath it, but if you're looking for a good running jacket, go try it on before you buy. My wife owned the older, equivalent women's version of this jacket for several years, and was pleased with it. All in all, this is a great jacket considering the price. My current plan is to keep it in the car for those occasions when I get trapped by a freak downpour.
Yes , I recommend this product
Will
Received free product
West Point, VA
Great rain jacket but.....
7 years ago
The material, the fit, the color were all what I expected...great! Deep pockets were easy to access and use while hiking. The flap on the main zipper added that extra bit of protection. I never got wet while wearing this jacket even in pouring down rain. All these things were great, but......I didn’t feel like the jacket had any ventilation whether in the armpits or sides. When it got warm and I was fully zipped up I would start sweating. Some armpit zips would be nice. And, the hood. So every jacket I have purchased with a hood seems to have the same problem. The hood is designed to fit over a helmet or someone that has an extremely large head. The cords on this hood I just couldn’t get. I tried different pulls this way and that but nothing seemed to keep the hood out of my face. The hood would drupe over my eyes and I couldn’t see very well. Adding a piece of Velcro to the back of the hood would make it easy to tighten up the slack in the hood and make it fit better. Now if you are wearing a hat or helmet then the hood fits perfectly. I however don’t like to wear a hat with rain gear. All in all this jacket did what it was supposed to repel rain. Plus I got some compliments on how the jacket looked from several people. It is simple yet stylist. I would recommend this jacket to all my fiends.
Yes , I recommend this product
AK Polar Bear
Sacramento, CA
Nice and waterproof for the price.
6 years ago
Not wanting to test these on the trail while miles from home, I decided to test this jacket by jumping in the shower with it on. It worked great! Stood there for about 3-4 minutes moving around. Arms up, arms down, hood underneath the shower head and it worked great. I used this jacket a week later on a hiking trip when a torrential downpour hit. Again... worked as I wanted it to. It packs small, is light weight, and seems fairly durable. Only a few complaints. The hood needs an adjustment on the back to keep it from extending down over my eyes (solved by wearing a baseball cap) and second complaint is there is no under arm vent. So walk slowly to keep from sweating and this jacket it's perfect. Walk fast, and you will sweat more inside the jacket than the water it keeps out.
Yes , I recommend this product
Steve
Received free product
Wellington, New Zealand
Simple Jacket Gets the Job Done
7 years ago
TL;DR: 4.5/5, great lightweight rain jacket with a few minor quibbles to knock it from a solid 5. Look: (5/5) I mean, it's a rain jacket, so this isn't really a high fashion piece, but the black color looks great, and it's a very clean looking jacket. The branding is fairly minimal and could be comfortably worn in the outdoors and in urban settings. Fit: (4/5) I have a large, as I am a bit in between sizes and for outer layers usually size up. I will say though that the sleeves are a bit too ridiculous in length and the hood, while appearing helmet ready seems to be a bit more billowy in the wind. Otherwise, it lets me add warmer layers underneath with no problem without being super tent like. Weight: (5/5) No complaints here. Compared to my old jacket, this thing is barely noticeable. Functionality: (5/5) So far it works as intended and it has serviced a few deluges and seems to block the wind decently well, aside from the aforementioned hood-sail. I haven't been in long sustained rain to test how long it takes to wet out, but so far in medium to heavy rain it beads off quite well without wetting out. General Design: (4/5) There are a few minor gripes I have, but nothing that would probably dissuade the casual user: 1) The storm flap opposite the zipper bit frequently catches on the zipper when initially zipping. You get used to thumbing it out of the way but it's a bit of a bother. A waterproof zipper, while probably adding some cost and bulk, would be a welcomed upgrade. 2) It might be user error, but the hood adjustments to tighten the front are a bit clunky and don't work super well. You need to be able to batten down the hatches, but in this jacket it fell short for me. Durability: (N/A) I've only had this jacket a short while, so durability hasn't come up as a pro or a con. Typically, lighter weight jackets don't tend to last super long so I am interested to see how this one handles wear. Same goes with the waterproofing - It's a new jacket and hasn't degraded in terms of waterproofing in the short time I've had it.
Yes , I recommend this product
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