10 best women’s waterproof jackets to beat every drizzle and downpour
A good waterproof can be expensive, but you’ll find that buying the very cheap ones is a false economy as (a) they don’t perform very well and (b) you’ll need to buy another one in a few years. But if you look after a high-quality waterproof it can last for decades, so see it as an investment piece.
A jacket’s hydrostatic head (HH) rating will tell you how waterproof it is – the minimum to be considered rainproof is 5,000mm, which would be able to tolerate being caught out in the rain without your trusty umbrella for a while. At the other end of the scale, 20,000mm or higher will keep you dry, no matter what, and in between the two will suffice for day-to-day waterproofing.
Breathability is also a major consideration. If you want to run in it or exert yourself heavily such as hiking up mountains, it will quickly start to feel clammy if it’s not very breathable. If you’re walking the dog, you don’t need to worry so much. Many brands will rate the breathability between 5,000g/m² and 15,000-20,000g/m² with the latter being best.
You also want your jacket to be “seam-sealed”, which means that it stops water seeping in, and ideally, you’ll want it to have three layers – an outer layer, the membrane and a fully bonded inner layer.
The environmental cost of waterproof jackets can be high, with the chemicals used for waterproofing (PFCs) being known to damage the environment, not to mention the impact of the materials used and what happens to them once you’re done with it. Many brands are going some way to rectify this, so we’ve chosen several jackets with good eco credentials.
How we tested
We tested during a couple of cold and wet months, putting the jackets through their paces for the uses they were designed for – for instance, those designed for hiking in the hills were taken for long walks on wet days. We were looking for jackets that kept us dry (obviously), but we also considered the fit – that is, did they need (and allow) for layers underneath. We also looked for warmth and wind protection, breathability and detailing such as hood design and sleeve length.
The best women’s waterproof jackets for 2022 are:
Best all-rounder – Rab women’s arc eco waterproof jacket: £215, Rab.equipment
Best for cold hikes – Finisterre stormbird waterproof jacket: £225, Finisterre.com
Best for wind protection – The North Face women's dryzzle futurelight jacket: £150, Thenorthface.co.uk
Best for running and racing – Inov-8 ultrashell waterproof jacket : £109.99, Northernrunner.com
Best for style – Helly Hansen welsey II trench: £160, Hellyhansen.com
Best for high-intensity adventure – Alpkit balance jacket: £149.99, Alpkit.com
Best lightweight and packable jacket – Bam longaford waterproof recycled jacket: £90.30, Bambooclothing.co.uk
Best for shorter women – Columbia women’s ampli-dry waterproof shell jacket: £108, Columbiasportswear.co.uk
Best budget buy – Decathlon women’s waterproof walking jacket: £69.99, Decathlon.co.uk
Best for dog walking and chilly playgrounds – Berghaus hinderwick waterproof jacket: £200, Berghaus.com
Rab women's arc eco waterproof jacket
This is a lightweight but high-performing three-layer waterproof with a 20,000mm HH and 15,000g MVTR (moisture vapour transmission rate). It’s made from recycled pertex shield revolve, which is a breathable fabric made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled polyester. While many brands are embracing the use of recycled materials, this jacket takes it to the next level – the face fabric, membrane and backer are made up of a single polymer, which makes the jacket itself recyclable. Plus, the waterproofing is fluorocarbon-free.
As it’s a shell it offers little warmth, but it does give good protection against the wind. The armpit zips provide welcome ventilation if you’re powering up a hill, and the hood is perfection – structured over the peak, deep but not too deep, it toggles in while the front zip, with a soft zip guard, comes up high over your mouth. The pockets are capacious and pleasingly high up the jacket, and we liked burying our hands in them to keep warm. The sleeves are nice and long and can be adjusted with Velcro, while the jacket length was perfect on our average height tester, with a drawcord at the hem to pull it in against the wind. It packs down into its own pocket, making it great for carrying in a backpack during changeable conditions.
The purple, Orion blue and navy colourways are currently sold out but there’s no need to panic as you’re spoilt for choice with other colours.
Buy now £215.00, Rab.equipment
Finisterre stormbird waterproof jacket
A superb, high-performance three-layer jacket with a durable, high-quality feel – the material feels matte, and there’s not a rustle to be heard. It’s a shell, but thick enough to offer some warmth, while it stayed waterproof over several wet hikes – this jacket has a 20,000mm HH and breathability rating of 15,000g/m2/24hrs.
It’s a great length as it comes down well over your bottom if you’re average height, and toggles in around the hem to draw it in, keeping the wind out. The two-way zip comes up high to cover your mouth, but it has a soft zip cover to prevent chafing, while the structured hood can toggle in tight. Plus, it has two huge waterproof pockets with zips and an internal zipped chest pocket.
The inside of the jacket is lined with brushed polyester, giving a soft, silky feel if you’re wearing it against bare skin (many waterproofs have a plasticky feel inside). It fits on the generous side of true to size, so you can easily fit several layers underneath, and we like the straight, unisex fit – ideal if you don’t like tapered jackets for women. The waterproofing is fluorocarbon-free and the fabrics are made from recycled materials, which comes in black, but we love the bright, vivid signal red colourway.
Buy now £225.00, Finisterre.com
The North Face women's dryzzle futurelight jacket
A three-layer, lightweight shell made with recycled materials, this jacket has long sleeves, which we really like in a waterproof (nothing worse than damp cuffs), with Velcro adjustment to wrap them close around your wrists. The hood isn’t as deep as some jackets we tested, which you’ll like if you’re after good visibility when the hood is up, but won’t be so keen on if you like to feel cocooned deep in your hood.
The fabric is windproof and did a good job of blocking the chill from the wind during a seaside walk, which is complemented by the drawcord at the hem, and we remained dry in a deluge. The rear hem has a slight drop just covering your bottom, if you’re average height, and cinches in to stop the wind blowing up under the jacket.
Buy now £150.00, Thenorthface.co.uk
Inov-8 ultrashell waterproof jacket
This is quite an extraordinary piece of kit. Gossamer thin but durable, breathable but waterproof (at 10,000mm HH), it weighs in at just 83g, meets the standard for mandatory race kit and the material is semi-transparent, meaning that you can still see a race number through it. It also packs down to take up next to no space. It has a smock design, and the chest zip is cleverly made to be two way, so you can unzip it for ventilation while keeping it close around your neck or keeping the hood up.
The hood has a structured peak to keep it out of your eyes, and elasticated sides to bring it in close. And while it doesn’t stay white for long when racing in muddy conditions, you can always wash it. It’s also true to size, although you’d need to size up if you wanted more than two layers underneath.
Buy now £109.99, Northernrunner.com
Helly Hansen welsey II trench
All the function of a good waterproof but with the looks of a classic trench, this is a perfect day-to-day city coat. The hood is packed away inside the collar, but it’s still substantial and structured when out, toggling in and buttoning up to protect you from heavy rain, and to stop the wind from blowing it down.
A breathable section on the back is hidden away and the front zip is stylishly covered by a double-breasted panel with popper closures. It’s mid-thigh length on an average height woman, and has the traditional waist tie of a trench to cinch it in. Fully seam sealed, it has a 5,000mm HH and the water repellency is fluorocarbon-free. This is a shell jacket but there’s an insulated version if you want some extra warmth.
Buy now £160.00, Hellyhansen.com
Alpkit balance jacket
Waterproofs don’t often have much give, but this one’s made from stretch fabric, and is designed for high-intensity adventure such as scrambling or biking, where you need greater freedom of movement. It has a 20,000mm HH and a high breathability rating of 20,000 g/sqm/24hr, which is noticeable when you’re working hard, plus the sleeves are long so they don’t expose you to the rain when you stretch forwards.
It has quite a minimalist feel and fits fairly close to the body to suit its use. The hood is big enough to accommodate a helmet but also tucks away secured by a toggle if you’re not using it. It has other small details that make a big difference such as a snap closure at the collar, so you can have the jacket unzipped but secured to stop it flapping in the wind. It feels extremely durable, and didn’t tear when it was accidentally grazed against sharp rock while climbing. It’s on the shorter side but still a good length, and the waterproofing is PFC-free.
Buy now £149.99, Alpkit.com
Bam Bamboo Clothing longaford waterproof recycled jacket
There’s a lot to recommend about this beautifully lightweight jacket from smaller brand, Bam. It’s made from 98 per cent recycled materials, and designed to be recyclable at the end of its life, plus it has a PFC-free waterproof coating. However, apart from its eco credentials, it’s just a lovely thing to own – buttery soft, flattering and comfortable.
It’s breathable, has ventilation flaps on the chest and back, and packs down into its own pocket so you can always have it with you when you’re out and about. It has a 10,000mm HH, so we wouldn’t take it up a stormy mountain, but it’s more than enough for a day-to-day waterproof and stayed dry in a prolonged, heavy shower.
The blue colourway for the longaford waterproof recycled jacket is currently sold out in all sizes apart from XS, keep an eye on the website for its comeback.
Buy now £90.30, Bambooclothing.co.uk
Columbia women’s ampli-dry waterproof shell jacket
A nicely lightweight seam-sealed waterproof that has all the requisite qualities, including a good hood, underarm zips, long-enough sleeves and a drawcord at the hem. It has some stretch in the fabric, which gave reasonable freedom of movement. There is a slight dropped hem at the back but not much, and the jacket comes up fairly short (a small didn’t cover the bottom of a 5ft 5in woman) so this is a good choice if you’re on the shorter side – we’d say 5ft 4in and under – and jackets tend to drown you. We’d also suggest that you go one size up if you’d like to wear thick layers underneath as the fit is quite neat.
As the red and “icy morn” colourways are currently on sale (£67.50, Columbiasportswear.co.uk), they are selling out quickly and only limited sizes are available.
Buy now £108.00, Columbiasportswear.co.uk
Decathlon women’s waterproof walking jacket
A good budget option that includes two internal pockets (always a nice touch), this jacket has long sleeves and a slight stretch to the material, which feels good while hiking, and fits well with a layer underneath. The adjustable hood has a structured peak, and a nice touch is the small triangular sections that are cut out to give you visibility at the sides, great if hoods make you feel a little claustrophobic.
It feels durable while the armpit zips help with ventilation, and it even gives a small nod to the planet, with a 28 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the previous model.
Buy now £69.99, Decathlon.co.uk
Berghaus hinderwick waterproof jacket
If you’re not exercising hard in your waterproof, a shell often doesn’t cut it for warmth, even with layers underneath. This is, in our opinion, where the hinderwick steps in. As well as being waterproof, it’s long for extra coverage and has a cosy layer of insulation for extra warmth – perfect for standing around in cold playgrounds or for wet, windy dog walks.
Its hood is structured and pulls in tight, although the smallest niggle is that it doesn’t have a zip cover when it’s fully done up – that said, it sits far enough from the mouth that this doesn’t matter too much. The outer sleeves aren’t overly long but it has inner cuffs to seal it at the wrists, and it fits true to size even with a thick layer underneath. We’re also awarding it with eco points for being made from 50 per cent recycled materials and PFC-free waterproofing.
Buy now £200.00, Berghaus.com
The verdict: Women’s waterproof jackets
Rab knows its stuff when it comes to protecting you in the great outdoors, and its arc eco waterproof jacket is no exception. It does all it needs to do, while remaining lightweight enough to carry around if you don’t want to wear it. The Finisterre jacket is also a great investment – high performance and more substantial for a little warmth, it also offers a good amount of space for layering underneath.
To face heavy showers without losing face, read our review of the best waterproof mascaras that won’t smudge, crumble or smear
