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As Longfellow might say: In every life that involves commuting, running errands, or watching your kid’s soccer game, it must rain. We spent two and a half months researching 134 raincoats and testing 30 of them (a panel of six testers tested a variety of shapes and sizes), ultimately finding six that varied in size, style, color and length. from. Keeps you dry and comfortable.
Our first priority is to source high quality raincoats in a variety of sizes. Some styles only have limited sizes available.
In our testing, all the jackets we tried were waterproof. They will keep you dry in most everyday situations.
The outerwear we select has at least a year’s worth of reviews to avoid seasonal style changes, and we also monitor stockouts during the pandemic.
We’re looking for jackets that are suitable for most seasons, have room inside, and don’t overheat during the summer commute.
Our assortment includes universal women’s raincoats, warm insulated women’s jackets, men’s mid-thigh jackets, women’s and men’s jackets for hiking and other outdoor activities, as well as inexpensive sports raincoats for women and men. All of the jackets we’ve selected are great at keeping you dry, so choosing the best one will come down to style, fit and price. Most of our models are available in extended sizes. The company classifies outerwear by gender, but anyone can wear it (we have unisex options in the “Competition” section).
This durable, timeless jacket is available in two lengths and a variety of fits to suit most seasons, as well as a PrimaLoft lined version for the colder months.
Pros: Simple and beautiful, the LLBean H2Off rain jacket with mesh lining is perfect for commuting into town or standing on the soccer field, and is comfortable to wear from spring to fall. It has the most style and size variation of any jacket we tested, with 13 sizes and two lengths to choose from, and there’s also a warm winter version. It also has the most thoughtful details of any women’s raincoat we’ve ever seen. One of our testers remarked, “I have nothing bad to say about this jacket, which is a good thing! She’s just doing her job.”
The H2Off’s subtle, logo-free styling and simple details make it less sporty than the Columbia Arcadia (which we also recommend), and its five classic color options will fit into both your work and weekend wardrobes.
The H2Off size range is one of the best we’ve found. The thigh-length version is available in sizes Small and XL, while the mid-thigh version is available in Small. LLBean also offers a winter version lined with PrimaLoft at hip and mid-thigh length. (We haven’t tested the lined version, but it’s designed the same as the regular version.) If you’re curvy, between sizes, or want to add thick layers underneath, we recommend going up a size.
When it rains, water rolls off the H2Off jacket. This is typical of most jackets we’ve tested, but the H2Off seemed to roll faster than the Eddie Bauer On The Go insulated windbreaker. The H2Off fabric is thicker than the Columbia Arcadia II rain jacket and feels smoother than any other women’s jacket we’ve picked. Fully taped seams keep water out, and the top half of the lining is mesh, making the jacket breathable. The hood is adjustable with a Velcro strap (though testers didn’t need to use this feature), and it’s deep enough to fit most hair types, with the exception of high buns and thick hair.
Testers said the H2Off’s two-way zipper was one of their favorites. The design allows you to unzip the bottom of the jacket for ventilation, allowing you to fit comfortably into longer jackets. Testers also liked that the zippers matched the color of the jacket. You can tighten the cuffs using the buttons; They’re better at keeping water out and providing a custom fit than the non-adjustable cuffs on the Eddie Bauer Girl On The Go, but not as good as the Velcro cuffs on the Columbia Arcadia Women’s Jacket, which allow for fine adjustments.
The LLBean H2Off Mesh Lined Rain Cover is my favorite rain cover and I really like it; it turned out to be a durable city jacket. The hood is large and has plenty of room for my thick curly hair (even when it’s in a high bun). The pockets have plenty of room – I filled them with a flashlight, a water bottle, eggs from the coop and gardening tools. During the heavy rains that I live in Washington State, this jacket was definitely waterproof. Even my version doesn’t have PrimaLoft lining, it’s very warm. (To be honest, when I work out in the yard, sometimes it gets too hot. I’ve overheated there a few times.)
I’ve been using H2Off as my regular raincoat for years and it still looks fresh after many washes. I haven’t worn it for strenuous outdoor activities yet to see how durable it is. But I wear it for most of my country life: working in the garden, cleaning up after the chickens, carrying feed and supplies, and walking around the stables where my children take riding lessons.
A downside, but not a deal-breaker: We were disappointed to learn that the mid-thigh version of the H2Off doesn’t come in plus sizes. A spokesperson for LLBean told us via email that the company has stopped offering the mid-thigh version in plus sizes because relatively few people buy that length, but added that LLBean is considering bringing it back next season. (As of Summer 2023, LLBean has yet to bring it back, although you can buy it in a mid-thigh PrimaLoft jacket version.)
Our testers also noticed some size differences between the thigh-high and mid-thigh versions. They both found the mid-thigh version to be a little roomier, but we still think it’s better to size up. The pockets don’t have closures to keep them dry, which wasn’t an issue during our rain testing but did make testers worry about losing items. The pockets are also smaller than our other styles, but all H2Off jackets have an internal zipped chest pocket to protect valuables.
Color: Thigh length: lilac, black, dark blue, dark olive, barley; mid-thigh length: black, dark blue, dark olive.
Who’s it for: Commuters who want to keep their butt dry while sitting at bus stops and people who want style without the hefty price tag.
Why it’s great: The Helly Hansen Moss Rain Jacket is the best jacket we’ve found, combining mid-thigh length, style, and price (there’s a shorter option, too). While the Helly Hansen coat doesn’t have the same size range as our other coats, it comes in more sizes and is more breathable than other similar stylish coats.
If you need something that will help keep your butt and thighs dry, but don’t want the rain jacket to sit too low, the Moss might be just what you need (it’s about 2 inches longer than the thigh-high Columbia Watertight II ). Our men’s jacket testers, the shortest of whom were 5’9″ and the tallest almost 6’4″, all loved how this length felt to them. The Moss doesn’t offer as many sizes as the Columbia Watertight II, but it has more options than similarly styled mid-thigh jackets we’ve reviewed, like the Stutterheim Stockholm. We think the fit remains roomy in all the sizes we tested, and the design better suits a wider range of body types.
All of our testers noted that the Moss coat felt comfortable and roomy enough for layering, but one tester who received the Moss in size XXL found the coat to be strangely disproportionate: “It’s like they just pressed the same size as them.” An exaggerated hood adjusts the size of the chest and sleeves, which is not how a person’s head and body proportions work,” he said.
If you like the moss style but want it shorter, Helly Hansen also makes a hip-length moss (we haven’t tested it).
Helly Hansen’s products may not be as luxurious as coats from brands like Stutterheim, but if you want a more urban style for your commute, the Moss Rain Coat feels less outdoorsy than a basic nylon jacket. We found the zippers to be well made. The hood was deep enough for most testers and was as waterproof as other jackets we’ve tried.
It’s our only choice made from polyurethane, which testers noted has a “rubbery” feel that they liked. While this fabric isn’t bulky, it’s not as breathable as the cotton, polyester, and nylon jackets we recommend. There’s a vented lid at the back, but testers didn’t notice any difference in breathability when the lid was open or closed. We called Helly Hansen customer service and a representative confirmed that this jacket is probably best suited for colder temperatures.
My husband has been wearing a Helly Hansen coat for several years now, and when he encounters one of the worst rainstorms in Washington state, he immediately grabs this coat. Since it is thicker and longer than other rain jackets we recommend, it will give him better protection from the rain when it rains. I inspected the coat and found no signs of major wear or fraying. The seams look good and my husband tells me they are still completely waterproof to protect him outdoors when he needs it most.
Defects but not a deal breaker: Per label instructions, this is the only jacket we do not recommend putting in the dryer (placing it in the dryer will void the warranty). But when I decided to dry it during testing, it performed great. I also air dried it and found it awkward to take the wet coat out of the washing machine.
Our testers didn’t like the placement and design of the Moss pockets. They didn’t like the almost vertical opening (although it could be seen that this could keep the contents dry) and found the opening too tight to fit their hands into.
Our pick for the cheapest women’s raincoat performs just as well in the rain as the more expensive raincoats we’ve tried. But its simple design lacks features we like, like taped seams and a zipper.
For whom: People looking for an inexpensive women’s jacket for warm weather.
Why it’s great: The Columbia Arcadia Women’s No-Frills Casual Jacket was one of the options picked in the original version of this guide and is one of the best options we’ve found. It’s available in a larger size, fits our testers better, costs less, and performs just as well in the rain as other track jackets we’ve tried. For 2022, Columbia updated the Arcadia Casual with the Arcadia II rain jacket. We haven’t tested this particular style, but we can confidently recommend the Arcadia II as it has all the same features as the original Arcadia with a few minor changes. The Columbia logo is on the chest rather than on the sleeves, and the jacket is now packable, folding into a zippered pouch for easy storage. We think the packaging option is a nice improvement, and depending on your style preferences, the logo switch could be one of them too.
When we tested the original Arcadia Casual, our testers said they thought the jacket was cute and preferred its style to similar sporty models. They say the tapered fit doesn’t make them look like potato sacks, and they like the high-low hemline. The Arcadia comes in a larger size than the blazers we’ve tried from REI and LLBean. If you are between sizes, we recommend going up a size.
The Arcadia comes in 55 colors, more than any other women’s style on our list, and every tester was pleased with the colors they tried. With options like “Peach Cloud” (a soft orange-pink) and “Spring Blue/Cirrus” (an icy blue), you can express your personality with this jacket. Testers liked the fabric, and while they found it to be thinner and less slippery than the LLBean H2Off, they noted that it was still cool and comfortable. The Arcadia mesh lining also provides breathability in warm weather.
In our opinion, the Arcadia is one of the most affordable jackets out there. We’ve noticed some price fluctuations, but you can usually get it for under $100. This jacket’s mid-weight fabric makes it durable, but it’s not as heavy or warm as the Eddie Bauer Girl On The Go Jacket. Our tester had plenty of room underneath the Acadia, which will help it as it transitions from season to season. They also say the hood provides better full-face coverage for a variety of hairstyles, from buns to thick curls.
The Arcadia is the only women’s jacket we recommend that has Velcro cuffs, and we prefer snaps (although snaps may last longer) because Velcro gives you more control over the fit. The zippered pocket is roomy enough to hold your keys, phone, wallet, and even a water bottle or small umbrella (if you don’t zip the pocket). The Arcadia passed our wear test without issue, and even after three washes, it repels water as quickly and efficiently as our other models.
Downsides, but not dealbreakers: The Acadia lacks some nice extras found in more expensive rain jackets. The zipper feels a little cheap compared to zippers on other jackets we’ve tried. In addition, there is no fly on the zipper to prevent water from entering, and not all seams are taped. While we didn’t find any leaks during our testing, this jacket is probably better suited for light rain than heavy rain and lacks warmth in colder months.
This affordable, thigh-length jacket is as waterproof as jackets three times the price, and is available in a variety of sizes and colors.
Pros: All of the men’s thigh-length rain jackets we tried were reasonably waterproof and had a streamlined, simple design—one tester called them a “well-made mid-length rain jacket.” The Columbia Men’s Watertight II Jacket stands out because it has a better selection of sizes and colors than the other jackets we’ve reviewed. It’s also the best value of all the jackets we recommend, as it’s priced significantly lower than other jackets we’ve tested.
The Watertight II has the widest range of men’s outerwear sizes we’ve found, available in regular, plus and tall sizes, and is 6x expandable. It comes in over a dozen colors, more than any other color we’ve picked, and we think there are plenty of options here to suit both neutral workweek styles and bold, sporty weekend styles.
Testers found the Watertight II to have the least baggy fit of similarly cut jackets (most are similar to slim-fitting jackets), but still have plenty of room to add layers. Because the Watertight II Jacket is cropped, it’s compact enough to be thrown in the car during an unexpected downpour or thrown into your work bag during inclement weather. One Wirecutter employee has owned the Watertight II for several years and particularly likes that the jacket fits into his own bag for easy transport, which he says “comes in handy during trips to theme parks.”
The Watertight II’s seams were taped on the inside for extra leak protection, and the hood was deep enough to keep the rain off my tester’s face. Testers noted that the pockets are a good size and well positioned, making it easy to access items like phones and wallets. This is the thinnest men’s raincoat we recommend, but the nylon fabric feels softest and smoothest, allowing you to move your arms easily without the stiff, tight feeling that often comes with synthetic raincoats. Thanks to its lightweight fabric and mesh lining, the Watertight II is more breathable than our other models—none of our testers had concerns about overheating.
My husband has been wearing the Columbia Men’s Watertight II Jacket since 2019. The Watertight II is great for outdoor activities like mowing the lawn and fixing things—I even saw him chainsaw a fallen tree while wearing the Columbia Watertight II.
He told me it was his favorite jacket because he felt so comfortable in it every day: it had roomy pockets and a comfortable arm angle, and the hood covered his head and kept him out of his eyes. Plus, it’s not too heavy or hot.
My husband wears the Columbia Watertight II Jacket in size XXL and often comments positively on the fit and closure: he says the shape is great because he can wear it open and the hood does its job without covering his face. As with other capes, it must be fully secured for the hood to function properly.
Drawbacks, but not a dealbreaker: The Watertight II’s pockets are made of mesh, which can get keys or small items tangled, and one tester wasn’t confident they’d stay dry. Another tester also wished for an internal pocket. Some of our testers thought the hood was too deep; one said he had to flip it around the front to improve visibility, and another wished there was a tab on the top to help adjust it. Testers also noted that the jacket’s zipper was a little small, difficult to hold, and sometimes got caught in the fabric.
This breathable, waterproof jacket is designed for hiking, mountaineering and other activities. Features like a deep hood and long sleeves keep you dry, while the loose fit makes it ideal for layering over other clothes.
This breathable, waterproof jacket is designed for hiking, mountaineering and other activities. Features like a deep hood and long sleeves keep you dry, while the loose fit makes it ideal for layering over other clothes.
Who’s it for: People who want a rain jacket designed specifically for outdoor activities like day hikes, backpacking trips, or even the occasional ski trip.
Pros: A simple, no-frills rain jacket is one of the key pieces in your outdoor wardrobe. If you want to stay dry, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L (men’s and women’s) performs better than the nine other outdoor options we tried, thanks to a large hood that adequately covers your head and a stiff brim that wicks water away from your nose and chin. .
It used to be a two-and-a-half layer jacket, but the updated 2019 design now features a full fabric lining on the inside, making the jacket a three-layer jacket. This means the printed inner layer, which sometimes peels (the Achilles heel of lightweight, packable hiking jackets), is now covered with breathable fabric that protects it, making the jacket more durable. The trade-off is that it gets more expensive and heavier, but the extra ounce or so won’t make much of a difference for general outdoor use.
Post time: Jan-25-2024