When you find yourself outside in the rain, it really pays to have a rain jacket. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a little rain in the summer time, it can even be a welcome relief if it’s been a particularly hot and sweaty day. But in colder temperatures the last thing you want to be is wet. And men’s and women’s rain jackets will do the job of keeping you dry. Just remember that not all rain jackets are made equal, and some will keep you dry longer than others.
Women’s Rain Jacket
What to look for when you're looking for a new rain jacket.- Material – One of the more important things to pay attention to when buying a rain jacket is the material. A DWR coated nylon rain jacket will keep you dry, up to a point, but a material like 3-ply Gore-Tex, or eVent, will keep you dry a lot longer.
- Venting – An important feature to have on any rain jacket is ventilation. Keeping rain out is important, but your jacket needs to allow sweat and other built up moisture to escape. Pit zips, which are zippered ventilation under the arm pits, are a particularly useful and common form of ventilation.
Best Women’s Rain Jacket
Some of the better women's rain jackets available to hikers, backpackers and campers.- Arc'Teryx Theta AR Jacket - If you're looking for a good, quality Gore Tex jacket to keep you dry all day long in the pouring rain, then the Theta AR is an excellent option. It uses the high quality Gore Tex 3L Pro fabric, which is both waterproof and breathable. Features like extra length, pit zips, articulated elbows and fully seam sealed zippers are what make this one of the very best women's rain jackets on the market.
- Marmot Super Mica Jacket - If you would prefer something lightweight and compact for backpacking, hiking and camping, the Super Mica is an excellent option. It's a unisex jacket, and uses Marmot's proprietary waterproof, breathable membrain to keep you dry. It has the basics, like pit zips, and a few features that backpackers and hikers will really enjoy, like reinforced patches on the hips and shoulders where backpack straps will rub. A great choice for those that like to enjoy the outdoors with a backpack on.
- Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Tarp-Poncho - Another rain jacket option for backpackers, campers and hikers is a poncho. It keeps both you and your backpack dry, and you wont ever have to worry about a lack of ventilation when wearing a poncho. It's probably not what you want to wear around town, but on the trail it's an excellent choice. This particular poncho is great because it also doubles as a tarp to shelter under, ideal for lightweight backpackers looking to save weight, or those who want to take along an emergency shelter.
