REI Co-op  Flash Stretch Rain Jacket - Women's

I have always loved my REI Rainier jacket and was excited to try out this new stretch rain jacket. The color is fabulous! I can confirm that it's totally waterproof and holds up well in inclement weather. The stretchiness allows more freedom of movement while hiking and wearing a backpack, so it doesn't feel stiff like other jackets. The pit zips are long and generous for dumping heat during intense activity (like hiking fast uphill). Since there were no XS available, I got this in a Small. It's roomy enough to fit several layers (including a puffy) underneath. In all honesty I think an XS would fit a little better since the sleeves on this S are pretty long. I docked one star for the pockets. They are placed too high in my opinion, so when I put something heavier (like my phone) in the pocket, it sits above my waist and hits the lower ribs a little. I included a side-by-side photo of the pockets for this Flash stretch jacket and the Rainier. As you can see, the Rainier jacket has lower pockets, which feel more natural.

I like this jacket way more than I thought I would! I live in the PNW so I have a variety of waterproof and water-resistant jackets but have yet to find the holy grail. That being said, this is a pretty darn good rain jacket. I like that it's waterproof but not noisy or shiny. If it were going to be daily winter jacket, I'd prefer mid-thigh length, but this does goes generously below my waist. Small is a perfect size for me (5'3" 125 lbs) given that I'll likely always be wearing layers under this - whether it's a midweight jacket or a thick sweater. I brought it with me as my one rain layer during a 1.5 trip to Italy and it was packable and perfect!

This rain jacket is really comfortable with great breathability, and it kept me dry in pretty heavy rain. It runs a bit big, so unless you are layering a lot beneath it, I would go down a size. There is good freedom of movement with this jacket. The sleeves are a bit long—there is Velcro at the wrists, but I still feel like I need to fold them up once for a good fit (the length can be good, however, if you want the sleeves to cover your hands). There is a drawstring at the bottom, and I like to tighten this for a slimmer fit. There are good-sized pockets and a nice extra zippered pocket at the chest as well. There is Velcro to keep the hood snug which is good. I've had jackets where the hood didn't stay in place in the wind, but this one did.

Great overall rain jacket. Very versatile. Slightly rubbery texture (in a good way), not plastic like a lot of other jackets. Lots of pros such as pit zips, velcro writs adjustments, hood adjustment and small brim, and good sized zippered pockets. The pockets are also high enough to be comfortable. Overall fit is comfortable. I'm generally a size 14-16 and this fits over clothes with enough room to move. Covers enough of the butt area too.

Great jacket! Waterproof, roomy, stretchy, ventilation, and a great hood! Used this every day in Paris. Easy and light to carry when not needed. Rolls up small!

if the jacket didn’t have the word, “rain“ in it I wouldn’t have bought it at the REI garage sale I’ve wasted $67 and have no use for this jacket. My regular windbreaker is better at rain repellency than the flash stretch rain jacket. It was an impulsive purchase because it was on the garage sale rack, and I didn’t have a chance to read the reviews, but needed a rainjacket for cycling. REI will not return it because garage sale items are final sale. I never plan to buy another REA rain product. There were not enough employees at the store to help other than the one sales rep at the cycling center who tried to manage the whole floor. However, this is common in Chicago due to shortage of employees I get that but I sure wish I had not blown my money on this jacket and I still have to buy a rainjacket. This jacket flash stretch and leave the rain off. I wore this jacket the first time and it rained on my bike ride and it soaked completely through especially in the sleeve area and my arms were dripping white. After drying it, I tried putting water on the sleeve to see if the wetness was just due to sweat, but it leaked all the way through and it was just dripping through The lining inside So I am positive. It wasn’t due to sweat on top of that. I was riding an electric bike and it was a short distance so I was not sweaty.

I was in the rain today for about 60 seconds, and this jacket was not waterproof at all. The water soaked into the fabric, and when I felt the inside (with dry hands), my hands got visibly wet. I have not worn this jacket before today and I purchased it new. The fit was good, but the jacket is useless if it isn't waterproof.

I absolutely love this jacket. This quality is top notch. The fit if great and very flattering.The side zippers to release body heat are super helpful when hiking in wet conditions when you want to keep your temp down. I couldn’t be more pleased.

Alas - it does in fact have a leaky seam. I purchased this a few weeks ago and have been waiting and waiting for rain to test it out. IMMEDIATELY I felt wetness on my left shoulder. I went on a long walk in a solid drizzle and luckily that's the only leaky seam. unfortunately it's in an area that receives maximum rain. Other than that, the jacket is exactly what I was looking for. Perfect fit, love the interior pockets, the pit zips were a must for me, the zippers seem great, like the velcro flaps over the zippers. My face stayed dry. (Even though it would be nice to have a little more capability to adjust the rainhat) But alas, the jacket fails in it's primary purpose - keeping me dry

This rain jacket is so comfortable, I really loved it at first. However, after less than a year of occasional gentle use, the shoulder is pilled and is no longer waterproof. Now if I wear this in the rain, my shoulders get soaked. I would not recommend this product unless you never ever plan to carry a bag/backpack on your shoulder. The quality of this one did not hold up to what I usually expect from REI.