Stay dry and look good with our favorite rain jackets below.

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Travel + Leisure

Unless you’re off for a jaunt to the Atacama Desert in Chile (aka the driest place on Earth), packing a rain jacket is a must for any traveler. A good one will keep you dry in sudden downpours, block the wind on gusty days, and help to hold in warmth when the weather turns cold. But finding a truly good one isn’t as easy as it should be. With so many brands, features, and waterproof materials to choose from, finding the right raincoat can be daunting. 

To help you find the waterproof jacket you deserve, we built a rainfall simulator in our New York City lab and tested 22 models from a wealth of popular brands. Once the waterworks stopped, our testing proved that the Outdoor Research Men’s Foray 3L Jacket was the best overall rain jacket for men. I tested it myself and found it to be a sturdy rain shell that offers outstanding protection from wet weather and wind while remaining highly breathable. We also found other options to travel with that will protect you from inclement weather, no matter where you are around the globe. 

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Outdoor Research Men’s Foray 3L Jacket at Amazon $249 Jump to Review Best Splurge: Arc’teryx Men’s Beta Jacket at Amazon $400 Jump to Review Best Value: SALE Helly Hansen Men’s Seven J Jacket at Amazon $110 $92 Jump to Review Most Packable: GOREWEAR Lupra 2.0 GORE-TEX Jacket at Amazon $260 Jump to Review Best Lightweight: Montbell Men’s Jacket at Montbell.us Jump to Review Best Long: Rains Long Jacket at Amazon Jump to Review Best Color Options: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket at REI Jump to Review Most Breathable: Marmot Precip Lightweight Waterproof Rain Jacket at Amazon Jump to Review

Best Overall

Outdoor Research Men’s Foray 3L Jacket

Credit: Outdoor Research $249 at Amazon View on REI $249 $187 at Backcountry Why We Love It

• Its sturdy construction and breathability make it a great pick for hiking to city sightseeing.

What to Consider

• This jacket’s hood could provide more coverage, and its zippers could work more smoothly.

The Outdoor Research Men’s Foray 3L Jacket is a well-made, waterproof, windproof, breathable coat with the utilities and comfort that travelers and commuters crave. I tested it personally and found it to be well-designed and rugged, offering a true-to-size with something of a European-style fit. If you plan on wearing layers under it, go one size up. Despite its sizing, I found the jacket offered tons of comfort and freedom of movement. Part of this is due to stretch panels built into the sides of the jacket. In addition to the breathability of its waterproof fabric, heat and evaporated sweat have plenty of opportunity to escape from the Foray 3L’s TorsoFlo Venting, which allows both sides of the torso, under the arms, to be unzipped for outstanding ventilation. 

During lab testing, water beaded up and rolled off the jacket almost instantly. That said, its zippers could be improved, since they got caught in the fabric a bit during testing. I also found that its hood doesn’t offer quite as much coverage as the other jackets I tested. However, for the price, you won’t find a better rain jacket on the market today.

The Details: XS-3XL | AscentShell Dry 3L 100 percent recycled nylon 40D | 15.34 ounces | 3 pockets | TorsoFlo venting

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Best Splurge

Arc’teryx Men’s Beta Jacket

Credit: REI $400 at Amazon View on Arcteryx.com Why We Love It

• This jacket is incredibly packable and feature-packed.

What to Consider

• The fabric makes a lot of noise when you move.

The Arc’teryx Beta SL is constructed with Gore-tex ePE and treated with a Durable Waterproof Repellent (DWR) coating. Our tests found it was both breathable and waterproof, with fabric that is so thin that you can see through it when held up to the light (in a good way, though). This makes it lightweight and highly packable. Against all appearances, the Beta SL is as tough as nails. Armpit zippers allow for easy ventilation, and garaged, waterproof zippers ensure the wet stays out of the coat’s pockets and interior. Additionally, the cinches on the rear and sides of the hood allow for a custom fit.

The only drawback? It’s loud. Gore-tex ePE isn’t a soft fabric; walk or lift your arm while you wear it, and it’ll crinkle. But a little bit of noise is a small price to pay for an otherwise outstanding rain jacket that’s ideal for travel.

The Details: XS-2XL | Gore-tex ePE | 12 ounces | Armpit vents | Helmet-compatible hood 

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Best Value

Helly Hansen Men’s Seven J Jacket

Credit: Helly Hansen $110 $92 at Amazon $110 at Backcountry $110 at Zappos Why We Love It

• The Seven J provides high-end functionality at a lower price.

What to Consider

• It’s not as breathable as other options in this guide.

The Helly Hansen brand has been synonymous with cold and wet weather gear for decades. The company has poured all of its know-how into the Seven J Jacket, and it shows. Offering very respectable waterproofing, a tough, abrasion-resistant build, and the ability to pack down into its hood for storage, this shell jacket is a great find at a reasonable price point. During testing, we found the jacket plenty comfortable with extra room to promote easy movement and to wear a mid-layer under. There are drawstrings and velcro closures ensure a custom fit. However, we found that this rain jacket isn’t as breathable as others on this list. It’s a win on cold, wet autumn days, but the Seven J could quickly become uncomfortable during the summer. 

The Details: S-5XL | Helly Tech fabric | 19.75 ounces | 2 pockets 

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Most Packable

GOREWEAR Lupra 2.0 GORE-TEX Jacket

Credit: Amazon $260 at Amazon View on Gorewear.com View on Sportsbasement.com Why We Love It

• The Lupra 2.0 is light as a feather, comfortable, and packs away into a built-in stowaway pocket.

What to Consider

• It does not have any ventilation.

Available in six different colors, boasting outstanding waterproofing, and a useful stowaway pocket, the Gorewear Lupra 2.0 is our favorite packable jacket. It’s constructed using Gore-tex ePE fabric—a slightly stretchy, reasonably breathable iteration of one of the best-known water-resistant fabrics around. In testing, we found it was light, true-to-size, and comfortable while doing jumping jacks. It’s a great option for everyday wear or your next camping trip. This jacket’s hood is made to be worn with or without a helmet, but we did find that it could have covered our tester’s head better. Other features we liked include the two-way zipper, adjustable hem, and helmet-compatible hood. The only downside is that it doesn’t have ventilation, which could be an issue during rigorous activities.

The Details: S-2XL | Gore-tex ePE  | 10 ounces | 3 pockets (one stowaway pocket) |  Helmet-compatible hood 

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Best Lightweight

Montbell Men’s Jacket

Credit: Montbell View on Montbell.us Why We Love It

• This jacket is lightweight and stretchy, making it easy to move around with.

What to Consider

• It’s a little thin to be considered a warm jacket.

Nearly weightless at 6.4 ounces, this jacket from Japanese brand Montbell is a great choice for outdoor activities. Its long armpit zippers provide plenty of ventilation, and its stretchy Gore-tex Windstopper material allows for freedom of movement, whether hiking, biking, or backpacking. The jacket comes with a packable bag to stuff the jacket into, and we found that it compresses to about the size of a soda can. That said, its focus on being lightweight and comfortable is also its Achilles heel: being so thin, it might not be the best option for winter travel, so we recommend layering up underneath for more protection. 

The Details: S-2XL | Gore-tex WindStopper | 6.4 ounces | 3 pockets (one stuff sack pocket) | Armpit ventilation

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Best Long

Rains Long Jacket

Credit: Madewell View on Amazon $125 at Nordstrom View on Rains.com Why We Love It

• This coat features a stylish Scandinavian look that’ll keep more of your body dry.

What to Consider

• The front buttons leave space for moisture to get inside the coat. 

Danish clothier Rains has you covered if you’re looking for a stylish raincoat as opposed to a more rugged jacket. With a thigh-length cut, it's designed to keep more of your body dry in a downpour. Unlike the rest of the garments in this guide, this jacket features buttons instead of zippers, ensuring long-term durability. While we love the classic good looks of the buttons, they do leave some space for water to get into the coat. Even still, the Rains did a great job of repelling water, thanks to the rubber-feeling polyester fabric. While PU isn’t very breathable, this jacket has vents in the armpits and back yoke to get a nice breeze when needed.

The Details: XS-2XL | Polyester | 19 ounces | 2 pockets | Arm and back yoke ventilation

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Best Color Options

Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket

Credit: Dick’s Sporting Goods View on REI $179 at Backcountry View on Dicks Sporting Goods Why We Love It

• There are 10 colors to choose from, ranging from bright orange and green to earthy neutrals.

What to Consider

• It’s heavier and not as packable compared to other coats in this guide.

Patagonia’s Torrentshell 3L Jacket is fully waterproof but still breathable thanks to the brand’s H2No fabric and DWR finish. It’s also made in a Fair Trade-certified factory, which means workers are paid fairly and work in safe conditions. We found that you can expect it to keep you pretty dry, especially since it’s breathable enough that the vapor from your sweat can be whisked away through the coat’s waterproof fabric. Available in a multitude of colors, this is a reasonably priced, stylish choice for commuters, car camping, or travel that doesn’t involve backpacking, where you’d want to pack lighter than this 14.1-ounce jacket. We also love that Patagonia sells this jacket, used and re-certified on their website, which is a win for the environment and your wallet.

The Details: XS-3XL | H2No fabric with DWR finish | 14.1 ounces | 2 pockets (micro-fleece lined) | Armpit ventilation

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Most Breathable

Marmot Precip Lightweight Waterproof Rain Jacket

Credit: Amazon View on Amazon $120 $100 at Zappos View on Marmot.com Why We Love It

• The underarm vents and NanoPro membrane ensure a constant breeze while hiking, biking, or walking.

What to Consider

• We wish it had one more drawstring on the bottom as a backup (it just has one). 

This rain jacket from Marmot is a superb choice for travelers who run warm. Between its weight, outstanding breathability, and reasonable price, we think this is a great jacket for casual hikers, bikers, and sightseers who don’t want to break the bank to stay dry. “My favorite feature might be the generously sized vents underneath the arms. As someone who often sweats in rain jackets, I found the extra airflow very appealing,” our tester raved. Unlike most of the rain jackets in this guide, the hood on the Precip Eco can be stowed away when not in use. It's incredibly breathable with a Nanopro membrane that is specifically designed to keep air flowing and water out. And when you’re not wearing it, it can be stuffed away into its pocket. It’s available in multiple colors and has a regular fit that makes it great for wearing layers underneath it.

The Details: S-2XL | NanoPro Eco fabric | 11 ounces | Armpit ventilation | Stowaway hood

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Other Rain Jackets We Liked

While researching and testing rain jackets for this guide, we considered a number of weather-resistant coats that we liked. But they couldn’t match our top picks, for one reason or another. If the rain jackets our testers love don’t ring your bell, one of these options is certain to do the trick.

Gisam Mens Windproof Waterproof Jacket: It doesn’t get much less expensive than this rain jacket. It’s durable and comes with a detachable hood, mesh lining, and an interior pocket. Unfortunately, this jacket isn’t what you’d call breathable. Perhaps stick to wearing it in cold weather if you choose it.

Columbia Men’s Glennaker Lake Rain Jacket: The Glennaker’s stylish looks make it a fine choice for wearing in the city. During testing, we found that water beaded up nicely and rolled right off this jacket’s fabric. We do, however, question the long-term durability, and we found that its zipper often snags when doing up the coat. Columba has since come out with a Glennaker II jacket, which is now PFAS-free, unlike the older version above.

Our Testing Process

In order to test the rain jackets in this guide, we turned our lab space into a testing-focused water park, designed to evaluate the different facets of functionality that make for a great raincoat. 

To start, our testers put on each of the jackets and tested how comfortable they were to wear. We paid attention to whether they were true to size and offered a good range of motion. The T+L crew did 10 jumping jacks while wearing each of the jackets, zipped up with the hood raised. During this part of our time in the lab, we also looked at the build quality each of the coats offers, how well their zippers worked, how adjustable their hoods were, and whether or not nice-to-have features, like pit zips, were included in the garment's design. 

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Next, we moved on to testing the main purpose: waterproofing. If it can't keep out the wet, there's no sense in forking over your hard-earned cash for it. Lying each of our jackets flat, we spritzed them with water to simulate gentle rainfall. Our goal for this test was to test the DWR coating. As the water from our spray bottle hit each coat's fabric, we paid attention to how quickly water beaded up on top of the fabric, whether liquid was keen to roll right off, or if there were any signs that the sprayed area of fabric was being permeated. With this done, each tester put their jackets back, placed tissue paper inside them, and zipped them up. This prepared us to be pitted against our rainfall simulator. Each jacket was worn for 5 minutes under a simulated heavy downpour. During our time in the simulator, we looked to see whether any water was able to enter the jacket through its collar, if the hood provided adequate coverage, and if ventilation features like pit zips allowed water to get in. When we turned off the waterworks, we examined the tissue paper to see if it remained dry.

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To end each lab test, we shook the jacket dry to see how much water it would shed—a great sign that its DWR is working as it should. At the end of our day of our day in the lab, we took the jackets home and will continue to wear each of the coats for six months, as part of their daily routines, and file reports on the garment's quality.

Tips for Buying Rain Jackets for Men

Think about how you plan to use it

It’s important to match your rainwear to the activities and places you plan on using it. If you prefer to travel light or like to be prepared, no matter where you roam, you’ll want to invest in something lightweight and packable. If you want to do some high-impact activities or wear your raincoat in a warm environment, then breathability and ventilation are key. No matter what you choose, you’ll have to be prepared to weigh cost and features. A tough jacket that’s abrasion-resistant is going to weigh more or cost more if you also want it to be lightweight. An ultra-light jacket may be less resilient and come with fewer features than something designed for commuters or those looking to do a bit of car camping. 

Look for waterproof, not just water-resistant

Waterproof and water-resistant might sound like the same thing, but there’s a world of difference between them. A waterproof jacket won’t let water in, period. This may be accomplished by using an impermeable fabric like rubber or polyurethane, or a breathable membrane like Gore-tex, combined with a chemical Durable Waterproof Finish (DWF). A coat’s DWF will make water bead up and roll off of it like grease dancing around on a hot skillet. But its effectiveness diminishes over time. To restore it, the rain jacket needs to be treated with a wash-in water repellent like Nikwax, now and then. 

When someone says that a garment is water resistant, it means that, in a light rain or a bit of drizzle, you won’t get wet. But when the fabric is faced with a serious downpour or is exposed to the rain for a long time, sooner or later, moisture will seep through it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Trust Travel and Leisure

Travel + Leisure contributor Séamus Bellamy has tested raincoats and other outdoor gear for almost two decades. He’s a passionate, full-time nomad who has put coats, boots, and backpacks through their paces everywhere from the Sahara Desert to Spain’s Camino de Santiago and Canada’s Rocky Mountains. Séamus participated in T+L’s lab testing, where he tried the Outdoor Research Men’s Foray 3L Jacket and the Arc’teryx Men’s Beta SL Jacket. He combed through testing notes and used his extensive outdoor gear knowledge to put together this list of rain jackets. 

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