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

Best 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 

Outdoor Research Aspire 3L

Price: £221
Weight: 435g
Best for: Trail running, fast-packing, mountain biking, high exertion outdoor activities
Key attributes: Durable, very well-ventilated, packable, flexible fit

The Outdoor Research Aspire 3L is made with a three-layer, 100% recycled nylon shell that has a level of flexibility that’s great for running, as well as other high exertion outdoor activities. According to our tests in the Scottish Highlands earlier this year, OR’s proprietary ‘AscentShell’ material felt very breathable when on the move and provided a high level of protection in heavy rain.

The flexible material allows for excellent freedom of movement with three key adjustability points that you can change on the move. Firstly, the elastic drawcord hem keeps heat in and the elements out when you need it to. Secondly, the cuffs are velcro and can be tightened sufficiently around a small wrist. Then finally, the hood cinches in and stays in place when the wind is a bit wild.

Overall, the jacket has a simple, robust design with only the essentials. It keeps you dry and this minimalist design helps reduce weight. The ventilation zip spanning all the way from hem to bicep, on the other hand, is one of our favourite features about this jacket. To improve on this detail, the zip tags under the arms could be made a little larger for ease of operation whilst on the move.

Read our full Outdoor Research Aspire 3L review.

Full Specifications 

100% recycled nylon sell / AscentShell technologies / aqua guard zips / three-layer construction / handy front pocket / large side vents from hem to bicep / elastic drawcord hem / velcro cuffs / adjustable, cinched hood with protective brim / cycle helmet compatible.

Buy The Outdoor Research Aspire 3L: £221 at Valleyandpeak.co.uk

Rab Firewall Light

Price: £200
Weight: 313g
Best for: backpacking, climbing
Key attributes: high spec fabric that strikes a lot of balances, functional hood, good price point

This jacket uses a specially developed fabric from Rab that’s called Proflex. It’s a three-layer waterproof material and it therefore has a high level of durability and protection coupled with breathability too. It’s light as well, coming in at just 313g altogether. 

There aren’t too many bells and whistles here but it still has good functionality. We found the hood held well in strong winds and we liked the fact it can be cinched in with just one hand. The pockets are also well placed so that you can access them when wearing a harness or a backpack with a hipbelt. 

Our tester, Emma, tried this in a women’s L which is her usual size and she said the fit was spot on for her. Most notably, the arms were long and had good articulation so the hem doesn’t lift when you reach up above your head. 

Read out full Rab Firewall Light review.

Full Specifications

Available in UK 8, 12, 16 / 3-layer Proflex fabric / PFC-free fabrics / YKK Aguaguard zips / HH: 20,000 mm \ MVTR: 20000g/m2/24hrs / adjustable hood with stiffened peak.

Buy The Rab Firewall Light:  £200 at Blacks.co.uk

CimAlp Cascade Jacket

Price: £205
Weight: 530g
Best for: Hiking, general outdoor use
Key attributes: Versatile, practical, comfortable

CimAlp’s Cascade jacket is a versatile, practical and great value everyday outdoor/hiking jacket. It employs CimAlp’s own fabric technology, namely 3-layer HardShell with a windproof nylon face fabric and a waterproof-breathable membrane. Construction is commendably eco-friendly, employing organic dyeing, bluesign-certified manufacturing and a PFC-free DWR Teflon EcoElite treatment derived from renewable resources. That’s a tick in the sustainability box then.

The 3-layer fabric is very comfortable, with a pleasant next-to-skin feel. It’s well-made and finished nicely, so we’d also expect this jacket to be more durable than lighter alternatives. You get plenty of features, including water-resistant zippers, ventilation zips under the arms, two handwarmer pockets, two inside pockets and an adjustable hood and hem. Our favourite feature is the adjustable cuffs, since they have a little stretch for a tighter fit to lock out chilly gusts. It means they fit snugly over wrists but also over gloves without the sleeves riding up and exposing any skin.

Full Specifications

Women’s sizes: XS-XXL / 3L HardShell fabric / ventilation zips under the arms / 2 handwarmer pockets / 2 inside pockets / adjustable hood / adjustable cuffs / windproof stretch cuff at wrists / adjustable hem.

Read our full CimAlp Cascade Jacket review.

Buy The Cimalp Cascade Jacket:  £205 at Cimalp.co.uk

Montane Pac Plus XT

Price: £210
Weight: 375g
Best for: Climbing, scrambling, hillwalking
Key attributes: Light but tough, eco-friendly aspects, good feature set

The Pac Plus XT is an evolution of the Montane Pac Plus jacket, which was released a couple of years ago. The main changes are that the face fabric has been toughened up from 30-denier to 40-denier and it’s now made from 100% recycled nylon. That’s a tick for sustainability and for lifetime durability too.

This is a jacket for fast and light adventures, whether that’s climbing, scrambling or trekking. Expect two-way YKK Aquaguard pit zips, a helmet-compatible hood with three-way adjustment and a stiffened peak, 3 useful external pockets (including two map-sized, mesh-lined hand pockets with YKK Aquaguard zips), adjustable cuffs and hem, and a full-length two-way front zip with internal storm flap. That’s a great array of features, particularly for a jacket that still weighs under 400g.

Read our full Montane Pac Plus XT jacket review.

Full Specifications

Available in women’s (8-16) and men’s (S-XXL) versions / Gore-tex Paclite Plus / helmet-friendly hood / 3 pockets / two-way main zip / two-way pit zips / cuff and hem adjustment / 100% recycled 40D face fabric.

Buy The Montane Spirit (very similar to the sold out Pac Plus):  £210 at Ellis-brigham.com

OMM Kamleika

Price: £200
Weight: 225g
Best for: trail and ultra running
Key attributes: Stretchy, breathable and quiet fabric

This offering from the mountain marathon specialists is made from a waterproof fabric that’s lightweight and that also has a bit of stretch to it. We’ve tried it out in a number of jackets that use it and it’s never failed us. One for the runners, OMM’s jacket has a practical design to help you comfortably and quickly cover ground in bad weather. It has an aerodynamic close fit, pockets that double up as vents, thumb loops to stop the sleeves from riding up and a hood that holds closely and comfortably.

Read our full OMM Kamleika Jacket review.

Full Specifications

Available in a men’s version / 20,000mm hydro head / 4-way stretch – YKK Aquaguard zip / fully adjustable peaked hood / reflective detail / adaptable cuffs / zipped hand pockets / reflective detail / drop tail / available in black red or purple.

Buy The OMM Kamleika:  £200 at theomm.com 

Klättermusen Allgron 2.0

Price: £499
Weight: 625g
Best for: Climbing, mountaineering, hillwalking, hiking
Key attributes: Eco-friendly, high-spec, well-built

This jacket is aimed at mountain-loving climbers, with features designed for technical use. This includes RECCO reflectors in case of avalanche, while the pockets and main zip, for example, have been deliberately positioned so as to not interfere with a climbing harness and the arms are articulated to allow high, unhindered reaches. You also get a 3D-adjustable peaked hood and underarm ventilation. The sleeve cuffs feature adjustable toggles and elastic sleeve ends, so they can be worn over the wrist or as little thumb loops to help the sleeves stay put.

The Klättermusen Allgron 2.0 is made from Ultramid Biomass Balanced Polyamide, which is a more sustainable way to produce synthetic fabrics. It also has a PFC-free durable water repellent coating. The fabric has a slight bit of stretch to it but it also feels hardy. During our tests, this was able to stand up to most abrasion and we expect it to last a long time.

Read our full Klättermusen Women’s Allgron 2.0 jacket review.

Full Specifications

Unisex XS-XXL / 3L Cutan made from 50% Ultramid Bio-Mass Balanced Polyamide and 50% Polyamide / bluesign approved fabric / PFC-free / water column rating: 20,000 mm, MVTR: > 20,000 g/m/24h / fixed adjustable peaked hood / venting zips underarms / RECCO reflector.

Buy The Klattermusen Allgron 2.0  £499 at Absolute-snow.co.uk