Best Hiking Jacket for All-Weather Protection

When it came to choosing the winner of our review, our criteria were simple.

We wanted a comfortable jacket with robust waterproofing, a low pack weight, plenty of breathability, and made with durable materials. It also had to have enough mobility for unrestricted movement in case we decided to mix our hiking up with a little bit of scrambling, ski-touring, or rock climbing.

The Zeta SL ticks all those boxes.

This jacket is made with 40d ripstop nylon fabric, making it one of the most durable in our review. Its use of Gore-tex Paclite technology also makes it among the most waterproof and breathable on our list, second only to the Montbell Versalite. 

There are, however, a handful of other features and design characteristics that make the Zeta SL a true standout. 

We especially liked the trim fit and articulated patterning, both of which made it feel more performance-oriented than other models and resulted in less billowing in windy conditions. The gusseted underarms also made it feel less restrictive, while the soft chin guard saved us the free but unsolicited facials we’ve received from many a jacket in the past.

There’s no getting around the fact that this is a pricey jacket. However, its stellar performance across the board means it offers great value for money nonetheless. There are, of course, more breathable, waterproof, mobile, and lighter models out there. Each of these, however, makes a significant compromise (or two) in another metric – something that can’t be said of the Zeta SL. 

Specs

• Type: Hardshell
• Weight: 10.9 oz.
• Waterproofing: Gore-Tex New PacLite Plus
• HH: 28,000 mm
• MVRT: 15,000 g/m²/d

Heavy rain jackets usually aren’t ideal for high-output activities, but the OR Foray is one standout exception to the rule. 

At 16.3 oz., this is by far the heftiest rain jacket on our list. However, its use of OR’s unique TorsoFlo hip-to-bicep vents means it’s equipped to provide more airflow than the best of the rest when you’re working hard. You get all the protection you’d expect from a heavyweight shell without affecting your performance in more active pursuits.

This design feature also allows you to wear the jacket over a bulky down jacket or even a smaller backpack, so could save you a buck or two on a raincover for your pack. 

Ventilation aside, there are plenty of other reasons why the Foray is among our favorites. In addition to its solid waterproofing and impressive breathability, it boasts a wealth of useful features. The most notable of these are its fully taped seams, harness-compatible pockets, large chest pocket, adjustable hood and cuffs, and an internal front stormflap.

Compared to the next heaviest jacket in our review, the Marmot Minimalist (14.9 oz), the Foray offers similar waterproofing and breathability but has far superior extra features.

Specs

• Type: Hardshell
• Weight: 16.3 oz.
• Waterproofing: Gore-Tex PacLite Plus
• HH: 28,000 mm
• MVRT: 15,000 g/m²/d

Need a simple, low-cost, reliable, and lightweight shell to carry in case you get caught in bad weather? If so, the North Face Venture 2 is well worth considering. 

This cheap-and-cheerful 2.5-layer jacket is made with TNF’s DryVent waterproofing, giving it an impressive hydrostatic head rating of 25,000 mm and a decent MVTR of 12,500 g/m²/24hrs. Compared to the next cheapest option on our list, the Patagonia Torrentshell, this represents a huge upgrade in waterproofing (18,000mm HH) and only a slight drop in breathability. 

In terms of durability, this lightweight hiking jacket is up there with the top performers on our list. If you opt for one of the solid colors, the face fabric is a 40d nylon. Heather-colored models, on the other hand, are made with extra-burly 70d nylon.

The Venture 2 also boasts a set of features on a par with many of its far pricier peers. There are pit zips, an adjustable hood and cuffs, a stormflap with hook-and-loop closures over the front zipper, two hand pockets, and a cinch cord in the hem. 

While there are more technical and performance-oriented jackets out there, this is a great option if you need an affordable, reliable shell for everyday wear or emergency use out on the trails. 

Specs

• Type: Hardshell
• Weight: 11 oz.
• Waterproofing: 2.5-layer DryVent
• HH: 25,000 mm
• MVRT: 12,500 g/m²/d

In our search for the one rain jacket to rule them all, we came across a few contenders that very nearly pipped the Arc’teryx Zeta SL to the throne. None came quite so close as the Black Diamond StormLine Stretch.

Prepare yourself for a few minutes of unmitigated, gushing praise…

The Stormline is, simply put, a game-changer in the world of outdoor apparel.

When the wizards at BD put this incredibly versatile jacket together they essentially upended longstanding notions of what a rain shell could be. Using an elastane-nylon blend over a waterproof-breathable membrane no longer would mobility have to be sacrificed in the name of waterproofing. Waterproof jackets, finally, could be just as comfortable as softshells. 

Beyond its awesome mobility, the StormLine has a lot more going for it, too. It also has an adjustable hem and cuffs, waterproof zippers, a helmet-compatible hood, underarm vents, and packs away into its own pocket. Not bad for such a reasonably priced jacket…

While we would have appreciated a little more adjustability in the hood and would opt for the Zeta SL or Montbell Versalite when expecting seriously wet conditions, this is very nearly the perfect hiking jacket. 

Specs

• Type: Hardshell (with a twist!)
• Weight: 11.3 oz.
• Waterproofing: BD.dry waterproof-breathable laminate
• HH: 22,000 mm
• MVRT: 22,000 g/m²/d

The Marmot Minimalist has been around for a while now, and over the years has received plaudits from thousands of wet-weather hikers the world over. 

At 14.9 oz., this is far from being the most lightweight jacket on our list – the Montbell Versalite is half the weight and the winner of our review, the Zeta SL, is a whole 4 oz. lighter. However, the Minimalist offers comparable waterproofing to the Zeta SL, is much cheaper, and is far more durable and rich in features than the Versalite.

The Minimalist’s 28,000 mm HH rating and 15,000 g/m²/24hrs MVRT make it among the most waterproof and breathable models in our review. This means it’s a great jacket for hikes in even the most biblical of downpours and capable of keeping you cool and sweat-free when you’re hiking in warmer conditions or on steep, uphill sections of trail. 

Compared to the other “heavyweight” hiking jacket in our review, the OR Foray, the Minimalist is a little less rugged and lacks the oh-so-endearing add-on of full-length pit zippers. On the plus side, it’s a fraction cheaper, 1.5 oz. lighter, and a little more mobile thanks to its use of “Angel-Wing” underarm gussets.

Specs

• Type: Hardshell
• Weight: 14.9 oz.
• Waterproofing: GoreTex Paclite
• HH: 28,000 mm
• MVRT: 15,000 g/m²/d

The latest iteration of OR’s Helium is the ideal pick for trail runners, gram-counting hikers, or anyone else who wants a reliable emergency shell that keeps weight to an absolute minimum. 

Weighing in at just 6.3 oz. this is the lightest jacket in our review, beating the Montbell Versalite by 0.1 oz. and the next closest competitor, the Zeta SL, by over 4.5 oz. Nevertheless, this is a tough little cookie. Thanks to its 30d ripstop nylon fabric, it’s as durable as many models that weigh twice as much and more resistant to tears than its predecessor, the Helium original. 

To keep the weight down, however, makers OR sacrificed a few features found in other jackets on our list. There’s only one chest pocket, no pit zips, no articulation in the sleeves, and no underarm gussets. These omissions make the Helium II less convenient than other models, but don’t detract from its standing as a solid emergency shell. 

The Helium II has the most athletic, slim fit of all the jackets on our list. As such, it’s wise to size up if you plan on wearing substantial layers underneath.

Specs

• Type: Hardshell
• Weight: 6.3 oz.
• Waterproofing: Pertex Shield Diamond Fuse 2.5L
• HH: 20,000 mm
• MVRT: 20,000 g/m²/d

If your outdoor gear closet is lacking a tough, cozy, water-resistant jacket that works well both as a mid-layer and a standalone outer, the Columbia Ascender is well worth a look. 

Made with 100% polyester, the Ascender has a little more stretch than most other jackets in our review, the exceptions being the Rab Kinetic and BD StormLine. It offers impressive wind resistance, too, but is the only jacket reviewed with no waterproof membrane. While billing it as a “rain jacket” is a bit of a stretch, we did find that it kept us dry in short-lived, lighter showers. 

The Ascender’s main selling points are its warmth and comfort. Unlike the hardshell jackets in our review, this one offers enough insulation to keep you warm on shoulder-season hikes or during more intense, high-output winter hikes. It also feels far softer against the skin.

Features-wise, the Ascender offers more or less what you’d expect from such an affordable jacket. There’s a trio of zippered pockets, adjustable alpine cuffs, and an adjustable hem, but no articulation in the sleeves or underarm gussets. This is also the only shell in our review that doesn’t have a hood. 

Specs

• Type: Softshell
• Weight: 12.35 oz. 
• Waterproofing: N/A
• HH: N/A
• MVRT: N/A

Over the years, British brand Rab has earned a rep for producing exquisitely dialed-in, high-quality technical garments for the mountain-going public. And in the Kinetic Plus, they have delivered what has to be one of our favorite wet-weather jackets ever. 

The Kinetic Plus is made with Rab’s proprietary PROFLEX fabric, a polyester blend that provides outstanding mobility and next-to-skin comfort. 

Unlike most other softshells in its weight class, this hiking jacket also boasts a flexible waterproof membrane with a hydrostatic head rating of 10,000 mm and MVTR or 30,000 g/m²/d. This makes it just as waterproof as hardshells like the Patagonia Torrentshell and among the more breathable models in our review. 

In terms of features, the Kinetic Plus is up there with the best of them. While there are no underarm gussets (the fabric has enough stretch that they aren’t needed) or pit zips, it has a stretch-on hood with a laminated and stiffened peak, three pockets, an AquaGuard VISLON front zip, and adjustable cuffs.

Specs

• Type: Softshell
• Weight: 11 oz. 
• Waterproofing: PU membrane
• HH: N/A
• MVRT: N/A

The Torrentshell has been a regular fixture on our list of the best waterproof hiking jackets for half a decade. Here’s why…

This 3-layer hiking jacket does everything the average hiker needs an emergency rain shell to provide. It’s lightweight, highly breathable, comfortable, impressively durable, and waterproof enough to keep you dry in moderate and sustained rain showers. 

The Torrentshell’s three-layer construction makes it one of the most durable and comfortable options on our list, with the burly outer layer providing extra protection against wear and tear and the soft lining a cozier feel than most of its 2- or 2.5-layer competitors. 

The Torrentshell’s feature set is similar to most other hardshells in its price range and performance class. There’s a two-way adjustable hood, hook-and-loop cuff closures, a microfleece-lined neck, pit zips, and a duo of handwarmer pockets. There are, however, no underarm gussets and nothing in the way of articulation.

For performance, the Zeta SL, Montbell Versalite, OR Foray, and Marmot Minimalist are better options owing to their superior waterproofing and breathability. If you need a reliable, comfortable, and much more affordable shell for general hiking, however, the Torrentshell is well worth adding to your shortlist.

Specs

• Type: Hardshell
• Weight: 11 oz.
• Waterproofing: 3-layer H2No 
• HH: 10,000 mm
• MVRT: 15,000 g/m²/d

For fast-and-light adventures, thru-hiking, trail running, or hikers who balk at the idea of carrying any more weight than is necessary, the Montbell Versalite is a great jacket for hiking. 

This ultralight jacket is made with Gore-Tex’s Infinium fabric. While Infinium is not technically waterproof, the addition of a tightly knit ripstop nylon face fabric gives the Versalite an impressive hydrostatic head rating of 30,000 mm.

Ratings aside, we found the OR Helium II provided slightly more solid protection in heavy downpours, though the Versalite breathed better when moving fast. And while the Versalite’s 10d ripstop nylon fabric is reasonably tough for the weight, it falls a long way short of the Helium in terms of durability and resistance to scuffs, scrapes, and tears.

Weighing just 6.4 oz., this is the second lightest jacket in our review. Nevertheless, it boasts an impressive set of features, including a duo of zippered hand pockets, pit zips, a fully adjustable hood, adjustable alpine cuffs, and articulated arms. 

Specs

• Type: Hardshell 
• Weight: 6.4 oz. 
• Waterproofing: Gore-Tex Infinium
• HH: 30,000 mm
• MVRT: 43,000 g/m²/d