When looking to choose the right women’s waterproof jacket it’s important to consider the type of activity or activities you’ll be needing it for and the environments and seasons you’ll be using it in. For Munro bagging in the Highlands for instance, the best waterproof jacket for women will be one that’s tough and able to cope with very wet weather and cold temperatures, whereas if you need something for trail running in Spain during summer, then you’ll want something that’ll keep the rain out but that will be light and packable as it will probably remain in your bag for the duration. In assessing the suitability of a particular rain jacket, the main factors you want to consider are weight, packability, durability and most importantly, the levels of weather protection and breathability.
There are many different types of waterproof fabrics out there, including Gore-tex, Futurelight, Pertex Shield and Demizax. These all have various advantages and disadvantages over each other, particularly when it comes to breathability. To gain an understanding of the breathability of a jacket before you buy it, it’s worth assessing the MVTR. That’s the moisture vapour transmission rate. With this, the higher the figure, the more breathable the jacket. Ideally look for anything with an MVTR of over 20,000.
Related: Best Down Jackets for Women
Related: Best Women’s Walking Boots
Technical features worth considering, and that we have addressed in these reviews, are how well the hood holds (if it lifts off at the slightest bit of wind it can be useless), pocket options and whether any of them will hold an OS map, how the zips are protected (if they’re not waterproof is there at least a storm flap?) and also adjustment options on the hem, neck and cuffs.
There’s also the fit. Baggy and loose means ventilation and also gives the options for layering underneath whereas a close trim can be more aerodynamic in strong winds and can also offer a lower weight overall.
It’s worth checking out our buyers guide to waterproof jackets if you want to learn more on what to look for when you’re choosing a rain shell. Got an old jacket that you need to get rid of? Our guide on what to do with old or damaged outdoor gear will help you there.
Our Team’s Women’s Waterproof Jackets Picks
We’ve selected our favourite jackets following our tests in the mountains of the UK. Here are the highlights in our top 10.
- Best Overall Women’s Rain Jacket: Arc’teryx Beta LT
- Best Breathable Waterproof Jacket: Páramo Velez Smock
- Best Women’s Waterproof Jacket for Trail Running: Harrier Exmoor
- Best for Durability: Patagonia Dual Aspect
Arc’teryx Beta LT
Selected as: Best Overall Women’s Waterproof Jacket
Price: £550
Weight: 315g
Best for: Climbing, mountaineering, hiking and backpacking
Key attributes: Quality build and durable, breathable materials
Lightweight but still durable, waterproof but still breathable, the Beta LT couldn’t be much better. Canadian brand Arc’teryx are specialists in mountaineering, climbing and snow sports, so you can expect plenty of features designed to help you through the rough stuff – features like a helmet compatible storm hood, protective water-resistant zips and glove-friendly cord locks. It’s top-level stuff and unsurprisingly comes at the top-level price of £420.
Full Specifications
Also available in a men’s version / Gore-Tex Pro 3L Shell / helmet compatible, fully adjustable storm hood / Cohesive cordlocks / harness friendly / chin guard with microsuede / drop tail / adjustable hem / handwarmer pockets / internal chest pocket with zip.
Read our full Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket review.
Buy The Arc’teryx Beta AR: £550 at Ellis-brigham.com
Páramo Velez Adventure Smock
Selected as: Best Breathable Waterproof Jacket for Women
Price: £290
Weight: 315g
Best for: hillwalking, day hikes
Key attributes: long-lasting, breathable, lots of useful details
We’ve used this jacket from British brand Paramo extensively over the years and we rate it very highly. Now technically this thing isn’t waterproof but you can still count on it keeping you protected from the elements. It does in fact stand apart from most wet weather shells out there because instead of using a moisture blocking membrane, which tends to be the common approach by brands, it instead uses a clever blend of water resistant fabrics and Nikwax’s hydrophobic treatment. And what this brings to the table is breathability, because with this kind of wet weather system moisture from rain is repelled and moisture from your own perspiration is allowed to escape too.
Related: Best Sports Bras for Hiking
We found the details on this jacket to be great too. You get a wire-stiffened hood, a big kangaroo pocket big enough for maps and more and a bunch of venting zips as well.
If you’re looking for a jacket for day hikes, this is a useful option – particularly in the cooler seasons. For stuff like summer backpacking, we have found that it is a little on the hot and heavy side. Something to bear in mind.
Full Specifications
Nikwax Analogy® fabrics/ S-XXL/ red, blue & black colour options/ two-way main zip/ zipped vents throughout/ adjustable and wire-molded hood/ harness, pack and helmet compatible/ reflective details/ valuables pocket/ scooped hem with draw-cord adjustment
Selected for our Outdoor 100 2021/22. Read the our full Paramo Velez review.
Buy The Páramo Velez Adventure Smock: £290 at Paramo-clothing.com
Harrier Exmoor Jacket
Selected as: Best Women’s Jacket for Trail Running
Price: £95
Weight: 340g
Best For: Trail running, fast-paced hiking, just-in-case jacket
Key attributes: Compatible with race vests, plenty of venting options, fantastic price point
The Exmoor is constructed from a Polyester outer, a PU membrane and then a sprayed on PU backer. It has a lot of stretch to it, almost softshell jacket-type levels, but the material does come rated with a decent 15,000mm hydrostatic head. This, we found, will cope with heavy rain, without compromising too much on breathability.
The seams of the jacket are all fully taped, to comply with FRA race requirements. Integrated pit zips and press studs down the main zip seam allow plenty of venting options. The back panel of the jacket is nicely shaped to fit a race vest underneath, which we appreciated, and it’s constructed with not one, but two front zips.
Other features include the peaked hood, thumb loops at the end of each sleeve, silicone front strips (prevents race vest slipping), three zipped pockets on the front and one on the back.
Full Specifications
Polyester outer / PU membrane and PU backer / hydrostatic head: 15,000mm / fully taped seams / integrated pit zips / press studs / peaked hood / thumb loops at the sleeves / silicone front strips / three zipped pockets at front / one back pocket / trail running vest compatible.
Read our full Harrier Exmoor review.
Buy The Harrier Exmoor Jacket: £95 at Harrierrunfree.co.uk
Patagonia Dual Aspect
Selected as: Best Women’s Waterproof Jacket for Durability
Price: £315
Weight: 465g
Best for: Technical assaults, stormy weather, alpine climbing
Key attributes: Eco-friendly, fully-featured, protective, stormproof
In an era of so-called ‘green-washing’ by many consumer brands, it’s refreshing to think that Patagonia walks the walk as well as talking the talk. The latest Dual Aspect jacket is a case in point, employing a 3-layer H2No Performance Standard fabric made from a 100% recycled nylon ripstop face with a slick jersey backer, a waterproof/breathable PU-based membrane and a PFC-free durable water repellent finish. The garment is also Fair Trade Certified sewn in Vietnam, with the membrane supplied by Toray industries in Japan. Both factories are audited and monitored for their ethical standards.
All the details that you’d expect in a technical mountain shell are present and correct. That includes a helmet-compatible hood with a laminated visor and reinforced brim, plus two-way adjustment. There’s a two-way main zip, two chest pockets with storm flaps; two watertight handwarmer pockets, two-way pit zips for ventilation, engineered underarm gussets, low-profile Velcro cuffs, a hem drawcord and a built-In RECCO avalanche reflector. All that in a shell that tips the scales at under 500g.
Read our full Patagonia Dual Aspect jacket review.
Full Specifications
Eco-friendly brand / 3-layer H2No Performance Standard fabric made from 100% recycled nylon ripstop face / waterproof-breathable PU-based membrane / PFC-free DWR finish / Fair Trade Certified / helmet-compatible hood / laminated visor / two-way main zip / two chest pockets with storm flaps / watertight handwarmer poackets / two-way pit zips / underarm gussets / Velcro cuffs / hem drawcord /built-in RECCO avalanche reflector / 30-denier ECONYL nylon face fabric.
Buy The Patagonia Dual Aspect: £315 at Patagonia.com
