The 5 Best Men’s and Women’s Waterproof Running Jackets

Picture this: it’s just you on a trail. Brown leaves and rocks under your feet and above you is a canopy of yellow, red, and green leaves still hanging precariously on tree branches. You’re gaining in elevation so you can hear your breath more noticeably. You continue, you vow not to stop. You feel the burn. Now you are above the tree line with your eyes on the peak. You reach your peak and your heart fills with pride and joy. Maybe you stop for an instance to enjoy the view – or the non-view because it’s actually pouring rain. But, you are dry inside because we helped you find your perfect waterproof running jacket. Your feet are dry, too, because we also helped you find your perfect waterproof trail running shoes. We know, you’re welcome.

Finding the right waterproof running jackets is really hard. Trust us. It took us forever. We did a lot of researching to understand the different ways a jacket is waterproof and, equally important, breathable. If you’re planning to run the UltraTrail Mont Blanc (and who doesn’t have that dream), you are required to pack a waterproof jacket with a hydrostatic head (HH) rating over 10,000 mm. This rating determines how waterproof a fabric is, so a jacket that has a HH rating of 10,000 mm means that it can hold a column of water that is 10,000 mm tall, which makes it completely waterproof. Another very important aspect to a waterproof running jackets is its breathability because if it’s not breathable enough, then you’ll find yourself wet just under the shell from condensation, and that’s a terrible feeling. So, we wanted to list jackets that had the HH rating AND breathability rating, which determines how much water vapor in grams can pass through a square meter of material. This way, you can be sure that not only do you meet race regulations, but you also stay dry inside and out.

The Best Men’s and Women’s Waterproof Running Jacket is:

Top 7 Products

Waterproofness

Since we would like to help you find the perfect waterproof running jackets, the jackets that we select have to be completely waterproof. Additionally, some races, like the UTMB require a waterproof rating of 10,000 mm, therefore, we have selected jackets that provided this rating. This way, you can be confident that your jacket will keep you dry from any downpours during your long hard run.

Breathability

We know how annoying it is to run with a jacket that although can keep you dry on the outside, causes condensation to build up on the inside, getting the layer under your shell wet. This is why we chose jackets that were made with breathability in mind and made particularly for activities like running. Shells made for hiking will never be as light nor as breathable as shells specifically designed for running, so it’s important to run with the right jacket. Read this gear review on a great waterproof hiking shell but that is terrible for running.

Quality

If you’re willing to run in the rain, it’s clear that running is your passion. So we want to suggest the best jackets that are made with the highest quality materials and built. This means we look at dependable time-tested materials and brands. We also look at how many satisfied runners have gone running in the jacket and absolutely love it, because we want you to feel the exact same way.