Best Lightweight Rain Jackets for Hiking and Backpacking

A reliable waterproof or water-resistant jacket is essential for any hiking adventure.

Even if you’ve never been caught out in a crazy storm while on a hike, your luck will run out at some point.

If you’re ready for rain, a day hiking under some clouds can be fun. The most essential piece of gear to be wet-weather-ready is a waterproof jacket. But what makes one model a better option than another?

In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know to help you find the best model for your needs, budget, and adventure type. Before that, we’ll introduce you to our 12 favorites on the market today. 

From mobile and durable hardshells to ultralight options for high-alpine adventurers, our list has something for everyone!

Top Choices by Category

Most waterproof: Montbell Versalite, Montbell Storm Cruiser, and Ultimate Direction Ultra
Best for breathability: Enlightened Equipment Visp, Montbell Versalite, and Montbell Storm Cruiser
Lightest: Patagonia Houdini Air, Enlightened Equipment Visp, Outdoor Research Helium, Montbell Versalite, and Ultimate Direction Ultra

Best Lightweight Rain Jacket for Hiking: Our Top 12 Picks

How to Choose Lightweight Hiking & Backpacking Rain Jackets

When searching for the perfect rain jacket, there’s a lot to consider. In truth, however, you just have to figure out what you want your jacket to do for you, then find the jacket that does all those things within your budget. 

We’ve broken down some considerations below. This should help you find the perfect balance of features and attributes you need. 

If you’re going backpacking on the Appalachian Trail during the rainy season you’ll probably want a more durable rain jacket with high levels of waterproofing. On the other hand, if you’re going out in the California desert you can probably get away with a more lightweight, minimalist shell since you likely won’t be needing it much. 

Weight

Lightweight wet weather clothing is important since you’ll be carrying it on your back when it isn’t raining. We tested products ranging from 4 to 13 ounces in this roundup. So while nothing in this review is particularly heavy, there is still a wide range in weight represented here. 

If you’re backpacking, alpine climbing, or riding your bike across the country, weight should be one of your primary concerns. 

While weight savings are important, you shouldn’t skimp on protection. What’s the point of carrying waterproof gear all that time if it doesn’t do what you need it to do when needed?

The lightest model in our review is the Patagonia Houdini Air (4.1 oz.), which relies on a DWR coating for weather resistance. The lightest of the rain shells is the Outdoor Research Helium, which weighs 6.3 oz and offers good enough waterproofing for 3-season hiking.

Packability

Packability could be considered a subcategory of weight. Look for a very packable rain jacket, ideally one that packs into its own pocket. If it’s packable, after all, you’ll not only save space but also be more likely to bring it with you.

If something is extremely packable you can just leave it in your bag and forget about it. For multi-day backpacking trips packed size is even more important. The smaller your jacket, the more room you’ll have for other goodies! 

Waterproofing

A rain jacket’s most important job is to keep you dry. No matter what the activity, that’s why you wear it. You can have the most breathable or lightest rain jacket in the world, but if it doesn’t keep you dry then what’s the point?

There are many different waterproof fabrics and treatments used in rain jacket construction, and we’ll go through some of the most common below. But first, we want to touch on the method used to rate the waterproofing qualities of a fabric, Hydrostatic Head. 

Hydrostatic Head 

Hydrostatic head is the standard way of measuring how waterproof a fabric is. The measurement is given in millimeters and measures how high a column of water on the fabric can be before the water starts to penetrate the fabric. This is pretty technical, I know. Think of it this way: the higher the number, the more waterproof the fabric will be. 

Generally, fabrics in the range of 16,000-20,000 mm (EE Visp, Marmot Precip Eco, OR Helium) tend to be adequate for all but the most torrential downpours. Above 20,000 mm (Montbell Storm Cruiser, Arc’teryx Zata SL, Montbell Versatile, REI Drypoint, REI XeroDry, MH Exposure/2, Ultimate Direction Ultra) is only necessary for extremely heavy rain – think extended monsoons with strong winds. 

DWR-Coated Fabrics

DWR (durable water repellent) is a treatment applied to the outside of rain gear during manufacturing. This makes the water bead up when rain lands on your jacket and thus allows it to shed that moisture. 

The treatment keeps the fabric from saturating with water. If your garment doesn’t shed moisture adequately, it will feel colder, heavier, and won’t be as waterproof until it dries. Both nylon and polyester are hydrophobic, but if they aren’t DWR-treated the jacket will eventually “wet out”.

DWR-coated fabrics do require some maintenance. They need regular cleaning with tech wash to help refresh the DWR coating. You’ll also want to apply a new DWR coating to your breathable rain jacket when it starts to saturate with water. DWR sprays are best for this because they only deposit the waterproof coating on the outside of the jacket. 

Laminate Fabrics

Laminated fabrics are multiple layers of fabric that are laminated together. These fabrics are usually three layers, with the middle layer being the most waterproof. The outer layer is often the most durable and is treated with DWR, while the inner layer wicks moisture and provides a softer next-to-skin feel.

Gore-Tex is the most well-known laminated waterproof fabric, but not the only one. All laminates tend to work in the same way and these fabrics are traditionally the most breathable. 

Laminate fabrics also require regular cleaning and reapplication of DWR coatings. 

Breathability

Breathability is important when working hard in stormy weather. The more active you’ll be, the more you’ll need breathability. What’s the point in keeping you dry from wet conditions only to make you soaked in your own sweat? Breathability allows your jacket to “dump heat” as your body warms up during exercise. It’s as simple as that. 

Breathability ratings are often determined by material manufacturers. These ratings, called moisture vapor transmission rates (MVTR), are measured in grams per square meter over 24 hours (g/m²/24hr). Basically, MVTR attempts to measure how much moisture can pass through a fabric. 

What really matters here is real-world application, so it’s best to read these numbers skeptically. They will give you a general sense of how breathable a fabric is, though. The higher the number, the more breathable a fabric will likely be. There are some extremely high MVTR ratings on some of these jackets. You’ll see ratings ranging from 15,000 (Zeta SL, REI XeroDry) to 75,000 (Enlightened Equipment Visp) here. But what is most important are real-world results, not lab tests. 

For high-output activities, look for breathability from 20,000 to 30,000+ g/m²/24hr. For general hiking, 12,500 to 20,000 g/m²/24 hr should be sufficient.

Ventilation

Ventilation is often considered in conjunction with breathability. Because, when your body builds up heat, you can open your jacket for mechanical venting. This is a 100% reliable way to cool off when you’re working hard. 

Ventilation comes in the form of armpit zips, side zippers, core vents, mesh pockets, the main zipper, or other various ventilation holes built into a jacket. They’re all useful to increase airflow and cool you down. And they allow some moisture to escape so that the breathable membrane won’t have to work as hard. 

Pit-zips will allow more moisture and heat to escape than any other type of ventilation. And with pit-zips, you can generally use them even when it’s raining.

Mobility

You don’t want something that inhibits movement unless you’re just going to be standing around in it. You want a jacket that moves as comfortably as you move. When hiking, mobility isn’t as important of a consideration as it is for climbing, but it’s still very important for general comfort. 

Look for rain jackets that aren’t too tight. Articulated arms are great as well, while stretch fabric like that used in the MH Exposure/2 is the crème de la crème. If you’re in between sizes we recommend sizing up, then you’ll have room to move and options for layering underneath your outer shell.

Durability

A rain jacket with a hole won’t keep water out, so durability is especially important for hikes with a lot of bushwhacking or scrambling, or for other high-abrasion activities. So, if you’re going to be putting your jacket through a lot of abuse, get a durable one. Generally, this means jackets made with 20d or thicker ripstop outer fabric. 

Wearing a rain jacket with a backpack often will cause the outer fabric to wear out faster on top of your shoulders. And the DWR will wear off quickest where the backpack rubs, too.

Most rain jackets are frankly not that durable, especially if they are breathable too. You’re likely better off going with a lighter-weight rain jacket and only wearing it in when it’s actively raining. Using it less often will increase the lifespan of your investment. 

But don’t fear, even if you do tear your rain jacket you shouldn’t have been bushwacking with, you can always repair it with one of these stick-on patches. 

Features

Last but not least is features: a catch-all category of everything you’ll want to look for in a rain jacket. 

Pockets

Zippered hand pockets have a high utility, but many of the best ultralight rain jackets don’t have them. They do add weight, after all. Consider if you use the pockets on a rain jacket while hiking. If you don’t, you can go without them and save some weight. If you do, look for water-resistant zippers to ensure no rain sneaks in when you’re not using them. 

Often, hand pockets aren’t accessible if using a backpack with a hip belt. Even worse, the zipper pull might dig into your hips under your hip belt. Many of the ultralight jackets on this list are hip-belt compatible, but not all of them. 

Hood Adjustability

Make sure your hood has a cinch cord that wraps around the crown of the head. Ideally, it will have at least 2 adjustment points, but 3 is better. You want a hood that’s fully adjustable to ensure it doesn’t block your peripheral vision. 

Look for a good bill (aka ‘wired peak’), too. It will keep water from dripping onto your face. 

Closures (Cuffs, Waist, Neck)

Closures will ultimately dictate how well you can batten down the hatches with a jacket. Because when it’s pouring down, you’ll want to tighten your sleeves, hood, and waist hem to stay as dry as possible. And when things warm-up, you can release those hatches to let in a little air. For this reason, adjustable closures (adjustable hem, neck, and cuffs) are the way to go.

Chin protector

Finally, does the jacket you’re considering have a chin protector and wicking fabric? Because if it doesn’t you might end up with some chafing on your chin!

Best Lightweight and Ultralight Rain Jackets: The Verdict

Looking for a true all-rounder that won’t weigh down your pack when not in use? If so, the ultralight Montbell Versatile’s our top pick.

Need a reliable rain-blocker that won’t break the bank? The tried-and-true REI Co-op XeroDry and Groundbreaker are solid options if breathability isn’t a high priority.

Using your jackets for high-output hiking, trail running, or ski-touring? If so, the ultra-breathable Enlightened Equipment Visp is the shell for you!

We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best lightweight jackets for hiking and backpacking. 

What did you think of our recommendations? Leave a comment below if you have any questions or if we missed your favorite! As always feel free to share this article with friends and family looking to upgrade their hiking wardrobe.