Best of the Rest

Berghaus Hyper 140

Price: £190
Weight:164g
Type: Waterproof
Attributes: Lightweight, breathable, protective
Best for: Ultra running, long-distance running.

This jacket, which is available in men’s and women’s versions, has been around for a number of years now and it’s become a popular option for ultra runners due to its impressively light weight.

While the 10,000mm waterproof rating of the Hydroshell fabric is decent enough but not particularly staggering, it more than makes up for that in the breathability department with a stated hydrostatic head of 50,000g/m2. That’s pretty phenomenal – up there with many of the premium membrane technologies.

Unsurprisingly, given the Berghaus Hyper 140’s light weight, there’s a very minimal feature set here. You get elasticated cuffs, a low profile hood and two hip height pockets There’s also a small little stuff sack to stow this away in.

Chosen for our Outdoor 100 2021. Read our full Berghaus Hyper 140 review.

Scott Explorair Light WB

Price: £90
Weight: 230g
Type: Windbreaker
Attributes: Lightweight, packable
Best for: Short to medium distances

This lightweight jacket is a windbreaker, not a waterproof. A PFC-free, water repellency treatment (Scott’s in-house treatment known as DRYOzone DWR) ensures the jacket offers some water shedding and protection against light showers, but this isn’t a hard shell designed to keep you dry in torrential downpours. Instead it’s a jacket for windy days that might see a little drizzle or the odd shower.

Everything you’d ideally expect in a windbreaker is present here. You get an adjustable hood, two zippered hand-warmer pockets under flaps, a dropped tail at the back for a bit of extra coverage over the backside, a drawstring-adjustable waist hem, and elasticated wrist cuffs. It is available in sizes extra-small to extra-large in a variety of bold and two-tone colourways.

Chosen for our Outdoor 100 2021. Read our full Scott Explorair Light review.

Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie

Price: £99
Weight: 144g
Type: Windbreaker
Attributes: Lightweight, packable, durable
Best for: Short to medium distances

We loved testing this. It’s light, it’s breathable and it’s also surprisingly hardy too, all thanks to its impressive Pertex Diamond Fuse fabric.

The Helium features a low profile adjustable hood, a zipped chest pocket that doubles as a stuff sack (with a carabiner loop to clip the jacket onto the back of your hardness) and an elasticated waist and cuffs that offer a good deal of adjustment, particularly so for such a lightweight jacket. Outdoor Research has also made use of clever laser-cut perforations under the arms to promote airflow.

Don’t expect this to protect you in heavy and prolonged rainfall, but it’ll do what you need it to do in any light downpours.

Chosen for our Outdoor 100 2021. Read our full Outdoor Research Helium Hoodie review.

Arc’teryx Squamish Windproof Hoodie

Price: £127
Weight: 140g
Type: Windbreaker
Attributes: Lightweight, versatile, packable
Best for: Medium to long distances in varied weather

One of the lightest windbreakers on this list, yet also surprisingly durable. The Squamish Hoody is an all arounder for runs in unpredictable or shifting conditions. The minimalist construction may not be for everyone, but we found that the Squamish has just enough features to satisfy most runners, with dual hem adjustments and an adjustable storm hood to ensure a comfortable, secure fit. Once that’s achieved, you’ve got yourself a convenient bit of slip-on weather protection that packs down neatly into its own chest pocket.

While not fully waterproof, the Squamish Hoodie performs impressively against a range of weather conditions. The water-resistant build does very well in light rain, and the Tyono 30 nylon proves itself as an extremely effective wind-resistant material, especially for its thinness. Breathable in the heat but a decent insulator in colder climates, this is one of the most versatile running jackets we’ve seen.

Páramo Ostro Windproof

Price: £120
Weight: 116g
Type: Windproof
Attributes: Lightweight, packable, eco-friendly
Best for: Short to medium distance running

This is a very light offering designed for a range of activities, including hiking, climbing and running. It comes pre-treated with a Nikwax solution, making it highly water resistant, just bear in mind that this will need topping up every now and then, something that’s very easy to do at home. What’s more, if you combine the Ostro Windproof with Páramo’s Ostro Fleece, you also get a very effective wet weather system.

Loads of nice features here, including a toggled hood, useful pockets, hem adjustment and reflective details and you can count on it coming from a company with some excellent eco credentials. In fact, Páramo is one of the best brands out there when it comes to sustainability.

Chosen for our Green Gear Guide 2021. Read our full Páramo Ostro review.

How To Choose A Running Jacket

The key things to look for? Go for something that’s lighter than 200g, that’s breathable and that will keep the wind out at the very least. It also helps to have at least one pocket to hold a phone and make sure to check that it’s big enough for the model you have.

Hooded or hoodless, waterproof or just water resistant, that stuff’s all down to personal preference and the conditions you plan to venture out in.

Waterproof Running Jackets Versus Non-Waterproof Running Jackets

When choosing a running jacket and working out what type is best for you, the key thing to think about is the kind of situations and conditions you’ll mainly be using it in. If you tend to only run for a short session before returning home and jumping in the shower, do you really need to have waterproof protection? OK you might want it on cold winter days, but in the warmer and milder months, you’re probably going to end up sweaty and clammy in a waterproof and you’d be better off wearing something that’s just water resistant and windproof.

For long-distance running where you’re venturing far away from the warmth of your home or car, it’s wise to run with a waterproof running jacket, that’s unless you’re absolutely sure there’s not going to be any rain. And if you’re keen to take part in organised trail running marathons or ultra marathons, bear in mind that a waterproof jacket will normally be an essential race requirement.

Other Things To Look For

Pockets are always handy, but too many and the jacket might be on the heavy or flimsy side. In many cases, it’ll be unnecessary to have more than one pocket. Most will have a chest pocket, either on the inside or the outside of the jacket. Those located on the inside will tend to be a safer, drier place to store your phone but the tradeoff is that they can be harder to reach when you’re on the go.

If there’s a hood, check whether it’ll hold and whether there’s a toggle so you can adjust the fit. Some will simply have an elasticated rim, which isn’t often ideal if you’re likely to be using the jacket in very windy conditions. Likewise, check how the cuffs hold as well. Most jackets will simply have elasticated ones but there are options out there with more reliable, albeit heavier, Velcro tabs too.

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