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.


0
4 shares

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.

Mystery Solved!

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

Columbia OutDry Ex Featherweight Shell Jacket

Why we love it?

  • This waterproof running jacket is used by elite sponsored trail runners at the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc race to run over a hundred kilometers and over several thousands of meters of elevation gain. 'Nuf said, probably. But we also like the fact that Outdry membrane doesn't use a DWR finish so it doesn't require maintenance and doesn't harm the environment. So, this jacket gets points for saving the planet.
18

SOURCES UNCOVERED

330

SCUTTLEBUTT CONTEMPLATED

59

HOURS INVESTIGATING

13

PRODUCTS INSPECTED

Top 7 Products

Columbia OutDry Ex Featherweight Shell Jacket

Columbia OutDry Ex Featherweight Shell Jacket

GORE WEAR R7 Shakedry Running Jacket

GORE WEAR R7 Shakedry Running Jacket

Ronhill Infinity Fortify Jacket

Ronhill Infinity Fortify Jacket

La Sportiva Odyssey GTX Running Jacket

La Sportiva Odyssey GTX Running Jacket

Craft Repel Running Jacket

Craft Repel Running Jacket

Awards
Price 187.75$ View On Amazon 299.99$ View On Amazon 200.00$ View On Amazon 229.00$ View On Amazon 174.99$ View On Amazon
Overall Rating 9.7 10 9.7 9.3 8.3
Pros Totally waterproof, Breathable, Super lightweight and packable, Waterproofing doesn’t require maintenance, Zippered pit ventilation Extremely breathable, 100% waterproof, Super lightweight, Does not overheat Totally waterproof, Breathable, Super lightweight and packable Lightweight, 100% Waterproof, Breathable Waterproof, Not as expensive, Breathable with sweat zone vents
Cons Not as breathable as Gore-Tex, More environmentally friendly, no DWR finish Pricey, Uses DWR finish, which requires maintenance and is bad for the environment, Only in black Not much information about product specs, Not enough raves, Ronhill fabrics not as diffused as others Not enough raves, Uses DWR finish, which requires maintenance and is bad for the environment, Boxier fit May be less breathable, Not enough raves, Information about waterproof technology unavailable
Bottom Line If the elite runners swear by this waterproof shell to get them through a grueling hard core race, you can expect this jacket to perform well in keeping you dry inside and out on your hard run in the rain. It’s Gore Wear’s own Gore-Tex Active membrane. Can’t get any better than that if you’re looking for a Gore-Tex jacket. Fell runners in wet and rainy northern England use it to keep them dry on their runs and races so we can trust that this jacket performs beyond our wildly rainy running dreams. It functions like the Gore Wear R7 Gore-Tex jacket at a lesser price, but it doesn’t look as nice. It’s waterproof and has lots of vents to improve breathability, plus, it’s not as expensive.
Waterproofness 10 10 10 10 10
Breathability 9 10 10 10 8
Quality 10 10 9 8 7

2. GORE WEAR R7 Shakedry Running Jacket

10
Waterproofness
10
Breathability
10
Quality
10

Best offers

Pros

  • Extremely breathable
  • 100% waterproof
  • Super lightweight
  • Does not overheat

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Uses DWR finish, which requires maintenance and is bad for the environment
  • Only in black

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Gore-TEX? You think high quality and waterproof, right? Gore-Tex is synonymous with waterproof and Gore Wear came out with this fantastic waterproof running jackets with their Gore-tex shakedry technology. It does it was it says, too, you just shake the water beads off your jacket and you’re completely dry. It’s also extremely breathable so you’re still dry on the inside, too.

3. Ronhill Infinity Fortify Jacket

9.7
Waterproofness
10
Breathability
10
Quality
9

Best offers

Pros

  • Totally waterproof
  • Breathable
  • Super lightweight and packable

Cons

  • Not much information about product specs
  • Not enough raves
  • Ronhill fabrics not as diffused as others

Ronhill is a British brand specialized in running apparel. This waterproof running jacket is a favorite among fell runners who are used to climbing in elevation in climates as cold and rainy as Northern England.

4. La Sportiva Odyssey GTX Running Jacket

9.3
Waterproofness
10
Breathability
10
Quality
8

Best offers

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • 100% Waterproof
  • Breathable

Cons

  • Not enough raves
  • Uses DWR finish, which requires maintenance and is bad for the environment
  • Boxier fit

La Sportiva has developed this Gore-Tex waterproof running jackets to be just as light and breathable as the Gore Wear R7 jacket. You can be confident that you’ll be dry on your next run during a downpour and be happy that you didn’t spend as much, too.

5. Craft Repel Running Jacket

8.3
Waterproofness
10
Breathability
8
Quality
7

Best offers

Pros

  • Waterproof
  • Not as expensive
  • Breathable with sweat zone vents

Cons

  • May be less breathable
  • Not enough raves
  • Information about waterproof technology unavailable

Here’s a reasonably priced waterproof running jackets that offers ventilation through flap openings at sweat zones. This running jacket has been rated to be 100% waterproof and offer some breathability, a great jacket for starters who don’t want to burn a hole in their pocket.

Criteria for Selecting our Best Men's Fleeces

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.


Like it? Share with your friends!

0
4 shares

And what do you think? Let us know in the comments!

avatar
Detective Anne
“The mountains are calling and I must go.” - John Muir If I'm not doing something related to being in the mountains, going to the mountains, writing about the mountains, then I'm baking cookies.