![]() ![]() But even at its budget price, the Co-Op’s XeroDry GTX jacket ($169) performs more like a veteran piece. REI often focuses on gear to help folks get into the outdoors, especially those on a budget or who are dabbling on a first excursion. And, as always, Outdoor Research is one of our favorites when it comes to offering a broad range of sizes to fit all body types. If you find your adventures are a bit more static, the Forayand Aspire jackets are both available in a non-Superstretch cut - retaining everything we love about this jacket and at a palatable $75 less. There is also a left-hand napoleon pocket on the chest, and an elastic drawcord hem. Rounding out the Foray and Aspire is a three-way adjustable hood with buried cordlocks, YKK Aquaguard zippers (further guarded by storm flaps), and two torso pockets that are large enough to stuff the jacket into for storage. This supreme mechanical venting ability greatly manages previous breathability concerns, and in practice, it felt like turning a corner when it comes to the rain jacket paradigm. Where other rain jacket pit zips may span from elbow to mid-torso, the TorsoFlo zips of the Foray and Aspire run a full two feet all the way to the hem, meaning that venting the zips feels like throwing open all the windows in the house. While our previous experience with Paclite has shown it to be a supremely waterproof membrane, we often felt clammy when overworking the 15,000 g/m² breathability capacity. Hewn from a tried-and-true GORE-TEX Paclite 2L membrane, OR has overcome the typical pitfalls of this membrane and capitalized on its strengths to create a rain shell that’s up for anything. That’s why we appreciate the design of the Superstretch jackets so much - which puts the stretch right where you need it and retains the waterproofing elsewhere. While rain jackets with integrated stretch have become popular in recent years, our testing has shown that while the mobility gains are generous, most DWR finishes have a difficult time keeping up with a flexible fabric, and will often wet out before their non-stretch counterparts. Building on their previous successes, the new Superstretch flavor from OR adds an elastane-infused GORE-TEX panel between the shoulder blades that provided an impressive amount of mobility in our testing. That’s why we were so impressed at how even-keeled the Outdoor Research Foray and Aspire Superstretch Jackets($299) were. Practice however shows that this produces many niche jackets: an ultralight shell that doesn’t breathe great, or an armored hardshell that moves like a tarpaulin. In creating a better rain jacket, there are a number of different levers to pull to tilt the scales toward your ideal. Best Breathability: The North Face Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket.Best Rain Jacket For Running: Janji Rainrunner Pack Jacket.Best Ultralight Rain Jacket: Montbell Versalite Jacket.Best Premium Rain Jacket: Arc’teryx Beta Jacket.Runner-Up Rain Jacket: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket.Best Budget Rain Jacket: REI Co-op XeroDry GTX.Best Overall Rain Jacket: Outdoor Research Foray Superstretch Jacket.And if you still have rain jacket questions, take a look at our list of frequently asked questions. At the end of our list, be sure to check out our comprehensive rain jacket buyer’s guide, as well as our comparison chart. Scroll through to see all of our recommended buys or jump to the category you’re looking for. We looked at materials, features (waterproof membranes, durability, breathability, packability), price, and more. Then, we tested the best of the best to determine which contenders stood out. We scoured the internet, spoke with brands, and researched a wealth of online reviews to narrow down the top contenders for the best rain jackets. And while almost anything is better than being soaking wet, nothing beats a purpose-built rain jacket with the right combination of features and price to meet your needs. ![]()
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