How To Choose the Right Rain Jacket

A rain jacket is one of the first pieces of performance outdoor equipment many outdoor enthusiasts purchase. The primary reason is that a waterproof shell is among the most important pieces of gear for comfort and safety when a storm rolls in or the wind starts to howl. The models tested in our rain jacket review span affordable rain protection options for day hikes and general around-town use, as well as ultralight rain protection for climbing, long-distance backpacking, and trail running. Whether you’re searching for your first jacket, a modern replacement for an old favorite, or an ultralight model to add to your quiver, you’re in the right place.

Construction 101: 2, 2.5, and 3-layer Fabrics

Nearly every manufacturer clearly lists how many layers their jacket is constructed with, but if you’re like many people, you’ve likely wondered, What does that even mean? Are more layers better? Worse? What are the pros and cons of each, and most importantly, how should this affect what products you consider?

Most rain shell fabrics use a 2, 2.5, and 3-layer construction, even though nearly all of them only look like a single layer when you hold them at the store because these layers are tightly-sandwiched and laminated together. Whether a 2, 2.5, or 3-layer fabric, these designs share most of their construction qualities, with only a small difference generally presenting on the inside facing side of the garment. All three styles feature an outer shell fabric, commonly referred to as a face fabric, which is coated with a chemical Durable Water Repellent (AKA: DWR, more on this below) finish to help keep the outer layer from absorbing water.

The second, or middle layer, is the actual waterproof layer, whether eVent, Gore-Tex, another proprietary membrane generally made of polyester or nylon, or a coated fabric.

3-Layer Fabrics

Three-layer builds feature an external DWR-treated face fabric with a waterproof, breathable membrane in the middle (that could be any of the types listed above), in addition to a super-thin polyurethane (PU) film or other similar backing on the inside of the product. The goal of the third layer is to keep sweat and oils from clogging the microscopic holes in the waterproof-breathable layer. This reduces breathability and will likely make the user feel wet from sweat, that they might think is coming from the outside.

The advantage of a three-layer build is that they are typically the most durable because the innermost layer, which protects the waterproof membrane’s pores from clogging (at least for longer), thus maintaining better breathability between washings. The disadvantage of three-layer pieces is that they are not always as breathable and are often slightly heavier than many of their 2 or 2.5 layer counterparts.

2.5-Layer Fabrics

Outerwear with a 2.5 layer construction looks similar to those with a three-layer design but may feel slightly lighter in hand. Jackets made of a 2.5 layer material still have the same outermost layer (the face fabric) treated with DWR, which minimizes how much water is absorbed by encouraging moisture to shed, thus helping to protect the waterproof layer below. A “middle” waterproof layer applies as well. However, in the case of three-layer builds, this can be anything from an ePTFE membrane to a coated piece of nylon. In contrast, in 2.5-layer jackets, it is generally a treatment that’s “painted on” instead. This is why it’s considered a half layer (yes, the painted on layer is the half-layer), even if it covers all of the inside surface area. Such a strategy makes for a much thinner and lightweight result than what most 3-layer garments can offer.

Jackets with a 2.5 layer construction also offer similar degrees of breathability to what is seen in 3-layer jackets, though they may occasionally feel marginally clammier, depending on the innermost lining fabric. Why? The innermost layer doesn’t do quite as good of a job at “absorbing” and transferring sweat compared to the innermost lining fabric featured on most three-layer models. 2.5-layer jackets are typically slightly lighter and more packable, but often are not quite as durable (and must be cleaned more frequently to maintain a similar level of breathability). It is worth noting that this portion of the market has grown substantially over the past few years, showing more updates and improvement in design. Some 2.5 layer jackets now deliver a far less clammy experience than what was notable in earlier iterations.

2-Layer Fabrics

There has been a big change in 2-layer fabrics in the last year or two. Traditionally, 2-layer products would have the same DWR face fabric bonded to a waterproof-breathable layer but include a loose (typically mesh) liner hanging on the inside. This style fell out of favor as 2.5-layer models became more affordable, and 2-layer garments with their hanging mesh liner were heavier, bulkier, and generally less comfortable.

Recently Gore-Tex has re-introduced a 2-layer design in the form of Gore-Tex Paclite Plus. Paclite Plus has the same exterior face fabric laminated to a waterproof membrane. Still, instead of a laminated layer (like a 3-layer) or spraying on a protective coating (like a 2.5-layer) Gore has instead textured the inside of the waterproof membrane in such a way to increase its abrasion resistance, rendering a half-layer treatment or full third layer unnecessary. Sticking with only two layers means that such a garment is more breathable than many, as moisture has less fabric to travel through. It also reduces overall weight due to the decrease in materials. It’s worth noting that Paclite Plus is made of a different construction than the older Gore Paclite, which used a traditional 2.5-layer construction. Other 2-layer materials may not yet claim the same performance upgrades.

Waterproof Membrane Types

ePTFE Fabrics:

Gore-Tex is an ePTFE waterproof-breathable fabric that is the oldest and most widely known and has become somewhat of the Kleenex of the waterproof-breathable fabric world. On a fundamental level, Gore-Tex is a polytetrafluoroethylene (or ePTFE for short) membrane stretched to a specific dimension. At this dimension, water vapor can escape. Still, liquid water cannot enter due to both the sizes of the pores (which are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet) and the material’s extremely low surface tension, which cannot absorb liquid water without tremendous pressure. Kinda cool, right?

Polytetrafluoroethylene is a huge word, but you might have heard it because of its slightly better-known name from the DuPont brand: Teflon. W.L. Gore always tries to improve their products and understands the valuable market share the Gore-Tex brand occupies. They want to do their best to maintain that good reputation. To better achieve that end, the company has strict rules and restrictions for manufacturers that want to use their product. For example, they set rules on face fabrics, interior fabrics, zippers, and, in some cases, applications to help maintain their reputation of “Guaranteed to Keep You Dry.”

Gore-Tex with Paclite technology is now slowly evolving into Gore-Tex PacLite Plus. Its earlier iteration was known as Gore-Tex Paclite, a 2.5 layer fabric with a normal Gore-Tex membrane paired with a proprietary super-thin half layer that completely covers the inside. Gore keeps exact specifications pretty locked up, but it more or less has the same properties as most 2.5 layer models (being lighter, more subtle, and slightly more breathable) but uses Gore-Tex as the waterproof membrane. Gore-Tex PacLite Plus is the next evolution, as it replaces the innermost layer of the older Paclite material entirely and instead textures the inside of that waterproof membrane in such a way to resist dirt and grime while increasing durability.