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The Packable Lightweight Rain Jacket

Essential Trail Gear

The best packable lightweight rain jacket is made in waterproof or water-resistant material and comes with other foul-weather performance features. If you enjoy adventures outdoors, you already know a packable lightweight rain jacket is indispensable, but not all of them are the same. You’ll want one that’s compact and portable, meaning you can stuff it inside a pocket or pack and then pull it out when you need it—and expect it to actually keep you dry in the rain. Let’s explore the design features.

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Must-Have Features In A Rain Jacket

Seam Taping

A jacket is only as waterproof as its seams. Look for taping or welding, and note that a water-resistant jacket can also have taped seams.



Zippers

Look for a rubberized coating or storm flap to keep water out. The zippers should also have a ‘garage’ to shield the hole at the end of the zipper track.



Hood

A jacket MUST have a hood if you plan to wear it in the rain. The hood can include a brim, an adjustable opening, and can zip or snap off, or roll up and stow away.



Pockets

More pockets equal more storage. Some packable rain jackets have so many you can leave your pack at home for a brief outing. If you need to protect a phone or other small essentials, choose a jacket with an interior pocket. Some designs pack down inside their own pocket so you can drop the entire bundle into a bag for extra convenience.



Vents

Ventilation can refer to fabric qualities like mesh sewn into strategic areas of the jacket, but rear venting and zippers in armpits are other examples. These features make the jacket more breathable to help keep you cool and comfortable in the heat.



Adjustability

Look for a rain jacket with a drawstring in the hem and hood to cinch closed for extra protection; ditto adjustable closures at the wrists. Some longer jackets also come with a drawstring waist to customize the fit.



Fit

Choose the right jacket size based on your outdoor activities. Make sure it’s comfortable for reaching, stretching, or wearing a backpack. Choose a looser jacket if you plan to wear layers under it. Remember that a looser fit is also more breathable than a snug fit.



Packability

While a heavy rain jacket can have lots of performance features, it may not pack well. But remember even a lightweight, packable jacket can function as well as a heavier one.

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Waterproof Versus Water-Resistant

A waterproof jacket keeps water on the outside, but its degree of ‘waterproofness’ is rated on a scale. For example, a jacket fabric that withstands 20,000 millimeters of water has a 20K rating. Other benchmarks include seam construction and the type and thickness of the fabric. Only a truly waterproof jacket will stand up to a squall.


A water-resistant jacket does exactly what its name implies—resists and sheds water in light to moderate rain. A water-resistant jacket has no waterproof membrane. While it is breathable and works well in a brief shower, it’s less ideal for steady or wind-blown rain. Treating it with a repellent will encourage water to bead up on the surface of the fabric so it works better in the rain.


Tip: If a jacket is waterproof, it is also windproof, but it is possible for a jacket to be windproof and only water-resistant.

What Are Durable Water Repellent (DWR) Rain Jackets?

Durable Water Repellent, or DWR, refers to a preparation applied to the outer fabric of a rain jacket. It causes rain to bead up and roll off the material, similar to the way applying wax to a car windshield makes rain bead up and roll off the glass. DWR makes a jacket water-repellent, which is not the same as water-resistant or waterproof. The DWR treatment on a jacket is a maintenance item, so you’ll need to reapply or ‘reproof’ it once in a while for the material to repel water like it did when the jacket was new. Reproofing your jacket with a fresh layer of repellent is a fairly simple process.

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How Is a Rain Jacket Waterproof & Breathable?

The terms ‘waterproof’ and ‘breathable’ are not mutually exclusive—the secret’s in the fabric. A special, technically advanced waterproof membrane or laminate layer with super-small ‘pores’ keeps water from getting through from the outside, but still allows vapor to escape from the inside. The scientific term for the process is moisture vapor transfer, and it’s what keeps you comfortable when you sweat. ‘Breathability’ simply describes the jacket’s ability to do this. Old-style yellow rain slickers were definitely waterproof, but made you sweat like crazy after any kind of exertion because they were not breathable.


While today’s rain jackets can come with all kinds of fancy features, make sure the one you choose has these three at a minimum—good seam taping, a DWR coating, and a secure hood—before you head outdoors.

Fast Fact: The first waterproof membrane was pioneered by W.L. Gore and Associates in 1969 and called GORE-TEX® but many other similar materials have emerged in the intervening decades.

Stay Dry Out There

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