Here’s the ultimate list of the best men’s rain jackets to keep you dry.
The rain jacket is an essential piece that everyone should have in their coat closets, but it’s surprisingly tricky to shop for.
Buying a rain jacket involves a lot more than buying, say, a sweater. Instead of just looking at the design, you have to consider things like performance level, water resistance, fabric weight, and material composition.
In other words, there’s no one type of rain jacket that works for everyone — you have to look for one that suits your specific needs. For instance, if you just need a casual spring jacket to keep you dry during your commute, you won’t want to invest in a technology-packed jacket meant for intense outdoor activity.
A good rule of thumb is to think of rain jackets as existing on a spectrum between style-focused and performance-focused. Generally, the more stylish a rain jacket is, the less it will perform in wet weather. This rule has some exceptions, but it’s a good guideline to use when shopping around.
Thankfully, even performance-focused rain jackets are better looking than ever, so it’s fairly easy to get a heavy-duty jacket that doesn’t make you look like a tent or a traffic cone.
I’ve handpicked 18 of the best men’s rain jackets you can buy today, so whether you need a casual layer or a piece of truly sturdy outerwear, you’ll find something on this list that tickles your fancy.
Quick Take
Here are our recommendations from the list:
The Outdoor Goliath Arc’teryx Beta Jacket stands out as the top all-around rain jacket, excelling in high-performance with full waterproof capabilities for intense activities.
Water-resistant with an adjustable hood, kangaroo pockets, elastic cuffs, and self-stowage, this anorak-style jacket is a budget-friendly option that exceeds expectations.
Made of water-repellent bonded cotton, the Oxford includes a classic collar, throat latch, slash pockets, internal phone pocket, underarm eyelets, and a tab for a liner.
Read on for more info and the complete list…
The Best Rain Jackets for Men
When looking for a rain jacket, there are a few important elements to consider:
- Layer count: The number of layers a jacket has (usually written as 2L, 3L, etc.). The higher the layer count, the more durable the jacket. Jackets with more layers also tend to be more waterproof and insulating.
- Material composition: Most rain jackets will have an exterior made from polyester or nylon. Pay attention to material specs to get a better idea of how the jacket will perform, and keep an eye out for durable water-repellent (DWR) coating.
- Waterproof level: Rain jackets are either waterproof (almost complete protection from water), water-repellent (hydrophobic), or water-resistant (keeps light amounts of water off skin). There are waterproof ratings, but these can’t reliably be used for comparison since there are no real standards.
With that in mind, here are 18 of the best men’s rain jackets organized by category.
Best Men’s Rain Jacket Overall: Arc’teryx Beta Jacket
The Beta Jacket from Outdoor Goliath Arc’teryx is easily the best all-around rain jacket you can buy today. It’s a high-performance juggernaut that is fully waterproof and can hold up to even the most intense activity.
The Beta’s three-layer Gore-Tex construction is tough yet lightweight, weighing in at just 10.6 oz. It’s a jacket that’s casual enough to wear around town but powerful enough to take to the mountains. It’s an investment, but for a jack-of-all-trades rain jacket, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option.
Best Value Rain Jacket For Men: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket
In terms of pure bang for the buck, the Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket comes out on top. For under two hundred bucks, you get a three-layer jacket that’s completely waterproof and finished with a PFC-free coating.
This breathable jacket features an adjustable hood, microfleece-lined neck, and hook-and-loop closures. It’s also extremely packable since it self-stuffs into the left handwarmer pocket. If you need one jacket to do it all and don’t have a premium budget, the 3L Rain Jacket is the one to get.
Best Heavy-duty Rain Jacket for Men: STUTTERHEIM Stockholm Raincoat
The Stockholm Raincoat from STUTTERHEIM looks like it was stolen right from Paddington Bear, but this jacket packs a mighty punch.
This coat is made from a chunky 530-gram cotton/polyester blend and finished with a rubberized PVC coating for a completely waterproof fabric. The double-welded seams add to the coat’s overall robustness, and underarm eyelets provide much-needed ventilation.
Best Light Rain Jacket for Men: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
Many ultralight jackets understandably have to skimp on features. The Helium Rain Jacket from Outdoor Research is exceptional — it packs a ton of performance into just 6.2 oz of fabric.
Even though the Helium Rain is so thin, it boasts a 2.5-layer construction, a water-repellent finish, and reflective design elements. This minimal jacket easily stuffs into its single chest pocket and will take up next to no space in your pack.
Best Sustainable Rain Jacket for Men: L’Estrange London Modular Mac
Finding sustainable rain jackets is a struggle since most are made from virgin plastics like polyester and nylon. Thankfully, L’Estrange London is working to change that by offering the Modular Mac, made from organic cotton and recycled polyamide.
This water-repellent jacket is a refined take on the classic Mac that features a minimal design and elegant silhouette. It’s a fantastic choice if you want an everyday town jacket that keeps you dry and looks great.
Best Affordable Rain Jacket for Men: L.L. Bean Mountain Classic Anorak
It’s no secret that L.L. Bean knows how to make excellent outdoor clothing, but that doesn’t completely explain how the brand is able to offer the hardy Mountain Classic Anorak for a mere $60.
This water-resistant jacket features an adjustable hood, kangaroo pockets, elastic cuffs, and self-stowage capability, all wrapped in a cozy anorak form. While this isn’t the most technical jacket on the market, it’s a rock-solid budget option that punches above its weight.
Best Luxury Rain Jacket for Men: Mackintosh Oxford Fawn Bonded Cotton 3/4 Coat
The classy Mackintosh (or Mac) coat is one of history’s most iconic rain jackets. There are all types of Macs out there today, but if you want the OG style, you’ll have to pick up the Oxford Fawn Bonded Cotton 3/4 Coat directly from Mackintosh.
In short, this is the Mac to end all Macs — at least in terms of style. Constructed from a water-repellent bonded cotton, the Oxford features a classic collar with a throat latch, slash pockets, an internal phone pocket, underarm eyelets, and an internal tab for a liner.
Best Waxed Rain Jacket for Men: Barbour Bedale® Wax Jacket
If you just need a sturdy rain jacket around town, you probably don’t need a high-tech coat. Instead, you might want to consider a waxed jacket — specifically, the Barbour Bedale Wax Jacket.
This rain-shedding layer is decked out with some thoroughly practical specs. The corduroy collar can be unfolded to cover the wearer’s neck fully, and the four pockets (two bellows, two hand warmers) offer ample storage.
It’s important to note that since it was designed for the equestrian market, the Bedale is a shorter jacket, but it’s a superb choice if you want a sophisticated, premium jacket for daily wear.
Best Stretchy Rain Jacket for Men: Black Diamond Equipment Stormline Stretch Rain Shell
The competitively priced Stormline Stretch Rain Shell from Black Diamond is an exceptionally stretchy jacket that offers a much wider range of motion than the average raincoat.
This 2.5L jacket is made from stretchy nylon and coated with a waterproof DWR finish. Underarm gussets, a helmet-compatible hood, and pit zips are all technical details that put this jacket comfortably into the performance category.
Best Water-Repellent Running Jacket for Men: On Weather Jacket
Running jackets need to be both breathable and protective. That’s a tough balance to achieve, but On has pulled it off with the Weather Jacket.
This ultralight jacket weighs just 9.79 oz but still offers elemental protection in the form of a 3L waterproof membrane. It also offers superior ventilation, excellent packability, and a healthy dose of stretchiness. You can tell this was designed by athletes for athletes.
Best Stylish Rain Jacket for Men: Norwegian Rain Raincho
The Raincho by Norwegian Rain looks like a designer takes on a poncho, but that description belies the jacket’s impressive technical capabilities. It’s fully waterproof and includes details like an adjustable windstopper under the hood and a whopping six pockets.
Other premium touches here include a cashmere-lined collar, satin lining, and horn buttons. The Raincho is also oversized so that it can be conveniently thrown over just about any outfit. This will cost you a pretty penny, but it’s absolutely worth it for the combination of minimal style, luxury detailing, and technical performance.
7 More Men’s Rain Jackets To Consider
Here are a few other rain jackets that are worth a look:
Vuori Palisades Long Rain Jacket
The Palisades Long Rain Jacket is an impressive combination of style and performance.
This waterproof 3L jacket comes with a roomy hood, storm flap, and three outer pockets for a masterful blend of design and practicality.
ASKET The Zip Jacket
The Zip Jacket from Swedish brand ASKET is a refreshingly minimal take on the rain jacket.
It’s made from a water-repellent recycled nylon and insulated with PrimaLoft® Silver insulation from recycled plastic bottles.
Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 Waterproof Jacket
If you need a fully waterproof jacket but don’t want a lot of bulk, check out the Kinetic Alpine 2.0 Waterproof Jacket.
This 3L jacket is a cross between a softshell and a hardshell that features reinforced construction, an adjustable (and helmet-compatible) hood, and water-repellent YKK zippers.
Mack Weldon Stormchaser Jacket
This might be the best rain jacket that doesn’t look like a rain jacket.
The easygoing and decidedly casual Stormchaser Jacket from Mack Weldon is an unassuming way to keep dry, and it’s fully waterproof and seam-sealed.
Rains Long Jacket
The simply named Long Jacket is a stylish piece at a budget-friendly price point.
With a water-resistant finish, brimmed hood, and fishtail hem, the Long Jacket has more than enough features to satisfy the casual wearer.
Marmot PreCip® Eco Jacket
The PreCip® Eco Jacket has a lot going for it.
You get a lightweight, waterproof layer with an adjustable hood, underarm ventilation, and an elastic drawcord hem for a hundred bucks.
Frogg Toggs All Sport Rain Suit
If you want all-over rain protection and don’t need any fancy materials or technical details, take a look at the All Sport Rain Suit.
This set comes with a jacket and pants, both of which are fully seam-sealed and adjustable.
Rain Jackets FAQ
Need some quick answers to your rain jacket questions? Here you go:
What Rain Jacket Is Actually Waterproof?
The most waterproof jackets available today include the Arc’teryx Beta Jacket, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket, the STUTTERHEIM Stockholm Raincoat, and the Black Diamond Equipment Stormline Stretch Rain Shell.
Is Frogg Toggs really waterproof?
Yes, frogg toggs outerwear is waterproof.
Which type of raincoat is best for heavy rain?
To withstand heavy rain, you’ll want a fully waterproof rain jacket, preferably one with a thicker material and seam seals to keep water out.
Once you’ve got a rain jacket, you’ll need some protective footwear to match. Check out our guide to the best rain boots to make sure your feet stay dry.
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