The 11 Best Raincoats of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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Rain, rain, come again, let me wear my cute jacket again.

In This Article

InStyle / Joy Kim

Whether it's raining or not, business still needs to run as usual. You need to head to the grocery store, pick up the kids, and even go running. And as much as you love to watch the rain fall from the safety of your reading nook, you don’t want it soaking your clothes as you check off your to-do list. Umbrellas can be useful, but they’re not as practical, says fashion and celebrity stylist Bronagh Meere. “Since having children, I’m all about the raincoat,” she says. “It’s very tricky to hold an umbrella when you're pushing a pram or holding a little hand.”

Which is why we spent dozens of hours putting countless rain jackets and coats to the test to see which outperformed the rest. And when we say “put to the test," we literally stood under a shower and observed how the droplets rolled off, inspected if any water made its way through to the interior, and took note of any additional perks (like extended hoodies or cinched waists). We then picked the winning jackets and wrote about our personal experiences to bring you the best rain jackets to shop right now.

What We Love: It's high-quality and completely waterproof; even the zippers are lined with a waterproof material.

What We Don’t Love: It’s not very breathable.

Our best overall pick is stylish, long, and completely waterproof, so it's an everyday winner. We picked this option because we’re most likely going to wear it any day it rains for simple activities. The long hem covered our backside properly and the zip came all the way up to our chins, allowing us to almost perfectly cover our heads with the hood up and fastened.

We were also blown away by the quality—there’s no doubt in our minds that this would last well over a decade. When we placed water droplets on the jacket, it was almost as if hitting glass—completely impermeable. There are only three exterior zipped pockets and no inside pockets, which we felt was a missed opportunity. Still, all the zippers had waterproof lining as well, ensuring nothing would seep through. While that makes this raincoat perfect for strolls through the city and running errands in town, it’s not the best for sports. Its breathability was close to zero, so it got pretty hot when we did some jumping jacks in it. If you’re looking for a rain jacket to go running in, keep scrolling.Materials: Polyester | Colors: 11 | Size: XS–5XL | Length: Midi

What We Love: The hood keeps you well protected and there are zippered arm vents for breathability.

What We Don’t Love: We wish it came in more colors.

Yes, this rain jacket comes with a bit of a steep price, but considering we could do cartwheels in a rainstorm and still stay dry in it, we think it’s well worth the cost. This jacket excelled in four key areas. First, the hood with its adjustable drawstrings covered our entire head and foreheads, so much so that it could be pouring rain and the water would just slide right off the hood and never touch our face, hair, or neck.

Second, there are zippered armpit vents keeping things breathable and cool on the interior. This became especially handy when we were hiking up a mountain. The jacket is so lightweight and mobile, we had no issues doing jumping jacks in it without it restricting our movements.

Third, there are adjustable cinches on the wrists, hem, hood, and waist—any place where water could potentially creep in can be blocked out.

And lastly, it’s packable! Yes, it comes with a little pouch that we could easily roll the jacket into, making it perfect for travel. Not even travel, but should the rain stop midday, we feel happy knowing we could store it in our purse without soiling the rest of our items. Considering how functional this jacket is, we just wish it came in more colors, especially some basic tones like black.Materials: Polyester | Colors: 1 | Size: XS–XL | Length: Standard

What We Love: It’s extremely lightweight, so it's easy to pack and comfortable to wear.

What We Don’t Love: We wish it was longer in the back for extra coverage.

Considering it’s not an item you wear on the daily, we can totally understand the hesitation of spending a ton of money on a rain jacket. This option, despite its affordable price point, exceeded our expectations in how well it protected us.

The looser fit gave us access to our full range of motion, allowing us to do jumping jacks without it pulling against our chests. While exercising, the lightweight jacket felt breathable, saving us from feeling stuffy or overheated. There’s only one layer to it, and the lack of inner linings made it light, easy to fold, and packable for travel.

The jacket was also perfectly leak-proof—all it took was one shake and every droplet came right off the surface. Even items in the mesh pockets were properly protected. The only thing we wish we could change was the length—a little extra coverage around the bum would be nice.

Materials: Polyester, nylon | Colors: 10+ | Size: XS–3XL | Length: Standard

What We Love: It’s lightweight but well insulated, keeping us warm through cold weather.

What We Don’t Love: We wish the hood was a little larger so it could protect our face better.

Lands’ End products never skimp on quality, and that’s very evident with this raincoat. We placed a tissue in the interior and then doused water on the jacket, but the tissue came out untouched and dry. While wearing the coat, we were impressed with just how lightweight it felt, despite the substantial material. We had no issues moving around freely and felt amply protected by the longer hem and hood—although we will say, the hood did not go past our hairline, so some droplets reached our faces. Thanks to the drawstrings around the waist, the jacket allowed us to define our shape and adjust for snugness.

We also noticed how well-insulated the jacket was. We would feel comfortable wearing this in cold weather knowing that our bodies will stay warm and dry. That does mean it’s not the most breathable jacket. Although there is a mesh lining, there aren’t any air vents in sight, making this most certainly not the jacket for running.

Materials: Polyester | Colors: 5 | Size: XS–XXXL | Length: Midi

What We Love: The jacket has three pockets for convenience and easily packs up into the included pouch.

What We Don’t Love: The zippers are not very smooth.

Two reasons why rain jackets should be packable: the first is that we don’t use them often, so we don’t want them taking up much space. The second is that when they are wet, we want to keep them from wetting the other items we’re throwing them together with. Luckily, this option comes with a little pouch to hide the jacket in.

No rain or mist reached our skin while wearing this jacket, thanks to its waterproof exterior. As we jumped and hopped around, we didn’t even break a sweat due to how lightweight and breathable the material was. It gave us access to our full range of motion, so much so that we would feel comfortable wearing this out on a run. It even comes with a ventilation zip under the armpits.

The jacket has three pockets, two on the exterior and one hidden inside—all of which have a waterproof lining on the zipper as well. However, we noticed the zippers didn’t have the smoothest of glides. If not positioned correctly, they got caught in their own ridges. When we were ready to store the jacket away, the structurally flexible material was easy to roll up and place in the provided pouch.

Materials: Polyester | Colors: 13 | Size: XS–XXXL | Length: Standard

What We Love: It’s bulletproof to any moisture and light enough to bring just about anywhere.

What We Don’t Love: It’s very form-fitting, so if you want to use it as an outer layer, size up.

There are a number of reasons to opt for a lightweight rain jacket, the biggest and most important reason being that it’s easier to pack and bring along on trips.

The jacket has no venting or mesh lining to make it feel breathable, but because its single layer makes it so lightweight, it didn’t feel like we were overheating in it.

This one was bulletproof to any and all moisture. No amount of water or mist made its way past the surface, even as we let it sit there for 10 minutes—it was remarkable to watch, honestly. We loved how the zippers were waterproofed as well, ensuring anything in our pockets would be completely safe. With a mock neck and drawstrings on the hood, our necks and hair were properly protected. It’s a slim jacket that’s neither warm nor cold. If you plan on layering sweaters underneath, we recommend sizing up.

Materials: Polyester | Colors: 10+ | Size: XS–XXXL | Length: Standard

What We Love: The jacket provides extra space in the chest area to better fit curves, and you can unzip the armpits for even more room (and ventilation).

What We Don’t Love: The zipper gets stuck sometimes.

We’ve had some cumbersome experiences in the past where rain jackets felt restrictive against our larger chests—that was not the case with this option from Marmot. The chest area is cut a little larger, subtly following our curves and making it easier to move around in it without feeling pressed against the fabric. For additional space and ventilation, we could even unzip the armpits. Although we do have to say, sometimes the zipper got stuck for no reason, making it less than a smooth experience.

Like all the other jackets we’ve included in this list, the material absorbed none of the water we splashed on it. That being said, the hood was on the smaller side, and we had to tighten the strings in order for it to properly cover the face and stay put.

Materials: Recycled nylon | Colors: 7 | Size: XS–XXL | Length: Standard

What We Love: The jacket is lightweight and the side zips open it up almost all the way for ventilation.

What We Don’t Love: A longer length would make it even better suited for heavy rain.

While most rain jackets will suffice for a little drizzle, this one is good to go under even the most torrential of downpours. Even as we let the water shower on this sturdy jacket, droplets slid right off. It’s double-layered and the material is very strong. We trust it to keep us warm during said downpour. Meere emphasizes the importance of a large hood capable of covering all your hair, and this one does just that. It’s very protective, coming all the way over our foreheads and then tightening with its adjustable straps. We completely covered our noggins safely. Additionally, velcro cuffs and adjustable drawstrings on the hem along with the hood kept water completely out of the interior.

Should the weather lighten up, however, we could open the zips on each side of the jacket to get some airflow going. Despite its strong makeup, it’s still impressively lightweight, so it didn’t weigh down on us. While it did offer some coverage to our backside, we wish the jacket was longer for even better protection.

Materials: Polyester | Colors: 10 | Size: XS–XL | Length: Standard

What We Love: The four-way stretch panels increase mobility and it has a large hood.

What We Don’t Love: We wish there were more universal colors like black and gray.

Those who like to run in the rain will need more than just a waterproof jacket, but a breathable one as well—no one wants to get overheated by their own body heat. We found this jacket to be extremely lightweight, and it's made of high-quality four-way stretch panels for superior mobility. Unlike the previous Outdoor Research jacket we discussed, this one comes with the added benefit of being somewhat stretchy and easy to move around in.

InStyle’s Senior Beauty Editor Shannon Bauer, who also happens to be a marathon runner, emphasizes the importance of zippered venting under the arms to avoid overheating, which this jacket has. The large hood can also be tied around the face, making it not only block rain out but stay in place as we jump around. Overall, the jacket is thin, breathable, movement-friendly, and durable. As a great all-around jacket, we wonder why it’s not offered in a more standard color like black or gray.

Materials: Nylon, polyester | Colors: 3 | Size: XS–XXL | Length: Standard

What We Love: It's stylish and the length protects our legs and backside.

What We Don’t Love: Heavy-duty rain can seep through the button placket.

If you’re looking for something a little more stylish, then we recommend this long coat from Rains. It’s different from the others as it doesn’t have the same crinkly texture that rain jackets are well known for. Instead, it has a very sleek, soft, and muted feel to it, despite being an impressively heavy-duty jacket. It’s the kind of coat you could easily style up and still look chic, rather than looking like you just came trekking down a mountain.

Another interestingly different detail about this jacket is that it’s a button-down, rather than a zip-up. When we stood under a shower with it, some water did seep through the open space between each button. That being said, showers have a very targeted downpour—we’re confident that some simple rain in the city would be harmless. It’s also one of the few longer options we tried, and it protected our legs along with our upper bodies as well.

Materials: Polyester, polyurethane | Colors: 12 | Size: XS–XXL | Length: Long

What We Love: The design lets you adjust the waist and covers the butt well too.

What We Don’t Love: It’s not the most ventilated option.

Rain jackets shouldn’t look like you’re wearing a large plastic garbage bag, and Kühl agrees. The little bit of cinching around the waist made us feel elegant and put together despite the rain. Since it’s adjustable, we were able to customize the hourglass look as well. The jacket is also a little longer than a standard length, covering the backside properly. The sleeves were long and the hood was large, making it easy to fully hide our bodies from the storm.

An important feature to note was how stretchy the jacket was. It made movement that much easier. We still wouldn’t go running with this, as it is longer and less ventilated, but for long hikes in the woods, it does not get better than this.

Materials: Polyester | Colors: 5 | Size: XS–XXL | Length: Midi

We began by searching the internet for the best-rated rain jackets. From there, we pulled 23 options into our testing site and vetted them rigorously. Each jacket had to be worn under our portable showers, doused with watering cans, and misted with spray bottles. We observed whether or not any droplets were absorbed into the surface or if they rolled right off. By placing tissues inside the jacket, we took note of whether or not the interior got wet during these tests. We also evaluated how the jacket felt on—by doing jumping jacks, we tested our range of motion and whether we heated up immediately or whether there was some ventilation to keep us cool. Lastly, we measured how long it took for the jackets to completely dry off.

There are different levels of waterproofing that depend on the materials used. Labels such as “water resistant,” “water repellent,” and “waterproof” all offer different layers of protection. Tennant breaks down these descriptors for us.

Though some products require specific care and you should always read the instructions on the website or clothing label, here are a few general rules of thumb from a technical designer. “Machine wash cold, delicate, and separate, use a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly and tumble dry low for best results,” explains Tennant. “You shouldn’t iron or steam, dry clean, bleach, or use fabric softeners on a raincoat.” Or if you want to keep things simple, Ashcroft occasionally takes hers to the dry cleaners to freshen the inside and then handwashes the exterior at home.

Bianca Kratky is a commerce writer, covering fashion and beauty since 2019. Having hiked through the wetlands of New Zealand, she appreciates a well-designed rain jacket and knows first-hand what kind of details to look for. In order to write this article, she dug deep into the feedback provided by the testers. She also consulted fashion and celebrity stylist Bronagh Meere, U.K.-based mother and influencer Daisy Ashcroft, and senior commerce editor and marathon runner Shannon Bauer for deeper insights into what to look for when shopping for rain jackets.

Linne Halpern is a freelance fashion, beauty, and lifestyle writer who helped contribute to this article, interviewing Tasha Tennant, senior designer at Eddie Bauer, for technical commentary about weatherproofed materials.