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.

Montane Featherlite Smock

Price: £42
Weight: 110g
Type: Windbreaker
Attributes: Lightweight, packable, stretchy, breathable
Best for: Short to medium distances

This jacket is so light and packable, you could tuck it away in a pocket in your shorts and barely notice it’s there. It’s perfect if you just want something that’ll keep the wind off you and provide a touch of warmth when you start out on your run. The water resistance is adequate enough to keep light rain off and it dries quickly too.

The features, as you might expect from such a light jacket, are very light and basic. You get a zipped chest pocket that doubles as a stuff sack, toggled hem adjustment and a ⅓ length two-way zip for ventilation.

The fabric it’s made from is Pertex Quantum and this has a four-way stretch built into it, meaning the jacket will stretch and adapt to your movements.

Chosen for our Outdoor 100 2021. Read our full Montane Featherlite review.

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Arc’teryx Squamish Windproof Hoodie

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.

Rab Phantom Pull On

Price: £155
Weight: 90g
Type: Waterproof
Attributes: Lightweight, packable
Best for: Ultra running, long-distance running, mountain marathons

This is almost identical to the Montane Podium Pull On only it has the added benefit of giving you a pocket to keep your phone in. It’s also fractionally lighter too. In fact, at 90g this is one of the lightest waterproof jackets you’ll find.

We reckon this will appeal to two types of outdoor enthusiasts. First of all, it’ll suit mountain runners; any people who are after kit that could give them a competitive edge while still meeting the waterproof jacket criteria for a race.

It’ll also suit just casual trail runners who want something that’s light and compact enough to stick in their running vest or even the pocket of their shorts just in case the weather suddenly turns on them. “The ultimate stash and forget waterproof”, Rab call it.

Chosen for our Outdoor 100 2021. Read our full Rab Phantom Pull On review.

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.

On Weather Jacket

Price: £190
Weight: 255g
Type: Windproof with water resistant panels
Attributes: Lightweight, packable, very breathable
Best for: Short to medium distance runs

This is an incredibly well-made jacket with excellent fabrics and an innovative design. The key thing we like about it is the fact it has loads of clever little hidden vents that keep wind and rain out while still allowing hot, moist air to escape. And you also got a good degree of wet weather protection from this thanks to its clever water resistant panels located across the shoulders. It’s by no means a waterproof jacket, but you could wear this for a 20-minute run in light rain and still feel adequately protected.

Features include a little zipped pocket that doubles as a stuff sack, semi-elasticated cuffs, reflective details and then a protective hood with a neat little peak.

Lightweight, stretchy, windproof and water resistant and very breathable. There’s a lot to like here.

Chosen for our Outdoor 100 2019. Read our full On Weather Jacket review.

Patagonia Storm Racer

Price: £220
Weight: 175g
Type: Waterproof
Attributes: Innovative design, compatible with race vest
Best for: Ultra running, long-distance running, mountain marathons

Take one look at this jacket and the first thing you’ll notice is the pretty unique, two zipped design. By throwing this jacket on when wearing a trail vest, the two zips allow you to fold down the font collar of the jacket, improving ventilation and providing access to your hydration flasks. The jacket has also been built with a loose fit to accommodate this, so there’s no need to size up.

The Storm Racer ain’t no slouch in the waterproofing department either, thanks to its three-layer H2No fabric. H2No is, of course, Patagonia’s own in-house waterproof material, which boasts a 100% recycled 30D nylon ripstop face fabric.

Chosen for our Outdoor 100 2020. Read our full Patagonia Storm Racer 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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