When rain is in the forecast, going without a raincoat is always a gamble. If your current raincoat is beginning to deteriorate and no longer keeps you dry, it’s time to upgrade to one of the best rain jackets for men that will wick water away and pack up easily to fit in your travel backpack or work bag. Paired with one of our top-tested umbrellas, you’ll never be rained on again.
1
best overall
Outdoor Research Men’s Foray II Gore-Tex Jacket
Pros
- Lightweight
- Two-way zippers from armpit to hem
- Includes three zippered pockets
- Waterproof membrane
Cons
- No mesh lining or vents
Jackets made with Gore-Tex are typically top-of-the-line when it comes to waterproofing. In addition to its Gore-Tex membrane and polyester shell, the Foray II offers a secure fit and a hood with a drawstring in the back. You can zip the welded one-way zipper up to the chin for extra protection from rain. This jacket aced our water-repellency tests, preventing water from soaking through the outer fabric to the inside, meaning you’ll stay nice and dry in wet weather. There is no mesh lining or vents, but the jacket has two-way zippers that go from the armpit to the hem for breathability.
The jacket is lightweight enough to be folded down for easy packing, although it doesn’t compress into itself. The external material is thin but soft and isn’t as loud as other raincoats we’ll cover elsewhere in this guide. We appreciate the three zippered pockets for holding small essentials like your phone, wallet or keys.
Sizes: S–XXXL | Material: Polyester, Gore-Tex | Weight: 11.9 oz
2
best value
33,000ft Men’s Rain Jacket
Pros
- 4.5-star rating on Amazon
- Budget-friendly price
- Hidden drawcords to adjust the hood
Cons
- Thin material can be noisy
Our style pros noticed this Amazon brand rising in popularity for its affordable price point so we called it in to see how it performed against pricier jackets. For less than half the price of other top-tested picks, you’ll still get a storm flap secured with a hook and loop closure, adjustable drawcords and external pockets. We especially like that the drawcords on the hood are hidden for a more streamlined look and that the coat comes with a travel pouch so you can fold it up into a small bundle.
It has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon with five-star reviews calling it the “perfect rain jacket” that “checks all the boxes” for around $50 to $60, depending on which color you choose. We found the 33,000ft rain jacket to be comparable to a style by Colombia but with a much more affordable price point. Still, the material is on the thinner side and it was a little noisy in testing.
Sizes: S–4XL | Material: Polyester | Weight: Not listed
3
best sustainable
Patagonia Men’s Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket
Pros
- High-quality
- Structured hood
- Pit zippers for breathability
Cons
- Loudest rain jacket in our tests
Patagonia is widely recognized for its sustainable practices, from using renewable materials in packaging to minimizing its carbon emissions. We have included its clothing in our guides to sustainable fashion brands and the best eco-friendly products. The Torrentshell is no different in its sustainable production and top performance. Its high-quality design makes for a great waterproof jacket that can be packed down for travel.
Though it was the loudest rain jacket in our testing, we were impressed with its performance-minded features and it’s water resistance. When we tested water-repellency in the Textiles Lab, water rolled right off the surface of the material instead of soaking through. The hood is structured with a stiff brim and a drawcord in the back as well as two more cords in the front. We appreciate the storm flap cover and its two roomy pockets. And you’ll appreciate the zippers along the armpits for extra breathability on sticky days.
Sizes: XS–3XL | Material: Performance fabric | Weight: 14.1 oz
4
best everyday
Cotopaxi Cielo Men’s Rain Jacket
Pros
- Secure fit
- Spacious exterior pockets with zippers
- Color-block design
- Lightweight
Cons
- No mesh lining or ventilation
- Doesn’t come with a pouch for easy packing
If you hike or climb, you have probably seen a colorful Cotopaxi daypack along the trail or at the gym. Our pros like the brand’s outerwear, including the Cielo Men’s Rain Jacket, just as much as its backpacks. We appreciate the PFC-free DWR finish for added water repellency and its customizable fit thanks to drawcords in the back and loops around the cuffs. Even though the jacket doesn’t have a mesh lining or vents for breathability, it wasn’t as loud as other jackets and had a soft, more substantial feel.
We also like the three spacious zippered pockets. The jacket has a storm flap and collar that zips all the way under your chin to prevent any water from getting inside. The color-block design is more stylish than some raincoats too. While the jacket is lightweight and therefore easy to travel with, it doesn’t come with a pouch for simplified transport.
Sizes: XS–XXXL | Material: Polyester | Weight: Not listed
5
best packable
Eddie Bauer Men’s Packable Rainfoil Jacket
Pros
- Takes up minimal space in suitcase
- Double layer shell with DWR finish
- Can zip all the way up to your chin
Cons
- More substantial fabric
If there’s one thing our packing pros recommend always bringing on a trip, it’s a rain jacket. You never know when the weather will take a turn and it’s better to be prepared. By design, raincoats are already more packable than your winter jacket but some are still easier to pack than others. You can fold this jacket into its own mesh pocket! The raincoat basically turns into its own packing cube to take up minimal space in your suitcase.
In addition to this helpful feature, the Rainfoil Jacket also comes equipped with almost every standout feature you’ll need to keep dry. It has a two-layer polyester shell with a DWR finish, drawcords for a better fit, sealed interior seams and velcro cuffs. We found the material heavier than the Cotopaxi featured in this round-up, but we like that you can also zip it up to your chin.
Sizes: S–XXL | Material: Polyester | Weight: Not listed
6
best lightweight
Outdoor Research Men’s Helium Rain Ultralight Jacket
Pros
- Easy to fold
- Made from durable ripstop and pertex
- Drawcord along hem and hood
Cons
- Only one chest pocket
Per its name, the Helium Rain jacket is indeed ultralight. Our analyst said it was the lightest rain jacket she has evaluated thus far, although she notes that it has a simple design. Still, the jacket can fold up easily so you can take it with you anywhere. It’s made of nylon ripstop and Pertex Diamond Fuse fibers for even more durability. We did find the fabric to be a little noisy in Lab testing, and the material is on the thinner side, so it didn’t perform as well as other jackets in our water-repellency evaluations. It soaked through more quickly than some of the other materials we tested.
The jacket features drawcords at the hem and the back of the hood for a secure fit that will help keep the rain out. We like that the hood also has a structured brim so it will hold its shape in heavy rain or wind. Note that there is only one external chest pocket which doesn’t allow as much storage. Given the lack of extra features, it does come in at a lower price than our best overall pick from Outdoor Research — which is definitely a pro if you want something more budget-friendly.
Sizes: XS–XXXL | Material: Nylon, pertex | Weight: 7.05 oz
7
best waterproof
Helly Hansen Men’s Moss Raincoat
Pros
- Snaps on cuffs and storm flap
- Adjustable drawstrings
- Back vent for breathability
Cons
- On the bulkier side
If you hit the slopes come snowy season, then you are probably familiar with the popular brand Helly Hensen for its skiing outwear. Available in classic yellow or a versatile navy, this raincoat by Helly Hensen stood out in our tests for its waterproof design. It has snaps on each cuff and pocket as well as drawstrings on both sides of the hood. The jacket also has a storm flap with silver snaps. While there is no mesh lining, there is a vent with small holes in the back for some breathability on a wet, humid day.
We found the Moss Raincoat to be a bit heavy and bulky and thus harder to pack into a bag or luggage. It’s also on the thicker side and almost has the texture of rainboot, found our analyst. Even though it may not be our first choice to bring on vacation, it’s a stellar option to keep in your coat closet at home for local downpours. It aced our water-repellency evaluations, meaning no water soaked through the material to the inside of the jacket, resulting in a dry and ultimately more comfortable feel.
Sizes: XS–2XL | Material: Polyurethane | Weight: 1.6 lbs
