15 best men’s waterproof jackets that are lightweight and breathable

You may not have heard of this brand, but they’re creating a lot of buzz in outdoor circles for producing tough, technical jackets, loaded with functionality. And this three-layer – that uses a material called dermizax, which has a waterproofing rating very similar to that of gore-tex – certainly performed well in very heavy rain.

The jacket may not be as soft to the touch as some of the others on test here, however you can tell that the material will stand up to anything it comes up against, whether that’s a torrential downpour or a jagged rock. At the shoulders, there’s a printed pattern, which offers extra protection against wear and tear from a backpack.

The jacket is dotted with pockets, including two large hand warmers, two Napoleons and an arm pocket. Inside, there’s a big stash pocket and smaller phone pocket and there are smaller pockets too – one with a key clip and one with an attached cloth for wiping sunglasses or goggles. There’s also plenty of adjustability, a good low hem and pit zips which allow you to cool down when you’re working hard.

This three-layer jacket with taped seams is feature packed and will be a welcome addition to any layering system for ambitious hiking adventures, but also performs well if you’re just grabbing it from the hook to take the dogs for a spin. The jacket’s construction is definitely going to keep you dry with its gore-tex fabric with gore c-knit backer technology, which basically means that it feels less stiff without compromising its waterproof qualities and also adds to how easily the jacket can be compressed, if you’re storing it away.

The thing we really loved about the beta AR though was that, sometimes to guarantee that you’re going to stay dry you have to compromise a certain degree of comfort, but there was definitely none of that here. The beta AR provides a good, close fit when layered up and there’s no bulk, while the materials and finish are both quiet and soft.

There’s an internal zip pocket big enough for a smartphone and two comfortable hand pockets with cuffs that are finished with Velcro, and there’s a good stiff peak to the hood to keep driving rain out of your eyes too.

Here is a three-layer jacket which provides a nice hugging, athletic fit, although with the right size you would still be able to layer up underneath, if you wanted to. The waterproofing was exceptional and the skirmish kept us bone dry even after walking through one of the most horrendous (and prolonged) Dartmoor downpours of our testing cycle. Thankfully, the jacket has a stiff, high neckline and an excellent adjustable storm hood with a very stiff peak that would not be moved by the driving rain. The dropped hem was also very welcome when we had our back to the weather.

The jacket is supremely suited for running and the brand have thought carefully about where the vents are located. This ensured that the skirmish didn’t just turn into a bin bag when we picked up the pace – which is an all too common occurrence with some pullover waterproofs. The cuffs were stretchy enough for us to access our watch without letting water in and the waterproofing on the zips was excellent, including the two chest zip pockets that finish the jacket.

The other big bonus with the skirmish is that it’s really quick drying, so you won’t stay drenched after a particularly sharp shower.

Combining a Berghaus hydroshell outer and hydroloft insulation, this is a great jacket for wet and cold days and it may look plain but that belies excellent functionality. The waterproofing was efficient, creating an effective barrier against hard and soft rain and the hood, cuffs and hem are all adjustable if you need to seal in the warmth and really keep out the elements. The fit to the body was close, but still allowed for plenty of movement. We would have liked to have seen an inner pocket too, but that’s a very small niggle considering this is such a great all-rounder, at a really keen price point.

A very well thought out and constructed 2.5-layer jacket allowing unrestricted movement, the rainbird has excellent waterproofing all the way down to the aquaguard zip and taped seams. These finish the impermeable nature of the jacket, which has a lovely, soft feel to the outer.

In terms of the fit, there was just the right amount of stretch to the jacket which added to its active credentials and combined with its compressibility and breathability it really is a great choice if you’re headed to the hills for the day. We really liked the high collar, which was nicely finished, so that you could bury your face into it on particularly cold days, and the elastic hem and Velcro cuffs offer plenty of customisation, according to your activity level.

The attention to detail goes all the way to the pockets which are reversed so that your hands don’t end up catching on them when you’re moving quickly, and as is always the case with the brand there are plenty of colour choices, ranging from the muted to the more eye-catching.

If you’re serious about your waterproofing and know you’re headed into the rough stuff, this three-layer, hard-shell is made from Jottnar’s own “skjoldar” material, which has outstanding waterproofing properties and offers plenty of breathability too, which is also helped with pit zips, so you can really control the climate inside your jacket.

Obviously, for a jacket designed for mountain adventures it’s perfectly capable of withstanding plenty of contact and there’s excellent adjustability within the hood, cuffs and hem. The hood has a good, practical peak and there’s a comfortable high collar with a microfleece liner for extra protection when things turn really nasty. There are also two roomy chest pockets, an internal security pocket and stash pocket for larger items, and a small zippered pocket on the arm.

The fit gives you plenty of options for layering up underneath too and all this comes in a jacket that manages to keep weight to a minimum, which adds to the Odin’s technical credentials.

The Terrex rain.rdy waterproof tech worked well on the high moor when the clouds came down and there’s a spacious fit to the jacket, which means there’s plenty of room for a base layer and a thick fleece so you can regulate your temperature as you walk. The breathability of the materials used adds to the comfort factor and the polyester rip stop outer was suitably rugged and able to withstand close encounters from rocks and trees.

Meanwhile the hood and visor worked well when we were walking into rain and the whole jacket is tapered towards a nice low hem, so you don’t send all the water to the top of your trousers. There are also two big hand pockets and a large chest pocket too, which adds to the overall functionality of the jacket.

The airside is a no-nonsense, practical and lightweight two-layer jacket with gore-tex waterproofing that’s seam sealed and double taped, providing a supremely efficient barrier against the elements. Even when the rain started to come down really hard the material, in combination with the pullover design, wasn’t overwhelmed and the elasticated hood cinched down well. There was no water ingress through the quarter zip at the front either.

The material is tactile, soft and moves easily, making the jacket easy to get on and off over your head, and the whole piece is finished off with two side zip pockets that are roomy but never get in the way when riding or walking.

Synthetically insulated throughout, Mammut’s hooded parka provides an excellent barrier against the elements whilst remaining breathable enough to avoid any danger of you overheating if you need to pick up the pace. The problem with many parka designs is that they can feel bulky once they’re on but this jacket offers up all the advantages of the parka look, while moving with the body really well, whether you’re just wandering through the park or running for a bus.

The cut of the jacket is classic, but very practical with a nice low, adjustable hem that travels diagonally up to below the waistband at the front. There’s plenty of pocketing too with a zipped arm pocket, an internal and four front pockets.

This 2.5-layer jacket has Columbia’s omni-tech material that provides good waterproofing even in persistent, heavy rain. Seams are sealed and neatly finished and the jacket feels nice and light while moving with minimal noise. The jacket was vented well for breathability and there’s plenty of adjustability at the hem, cuffs and hood, and the jacket packs down, so that it’s easily stored away into a backpack pocket. It’s available in three colours, including an eye-catching ancient fossil floriculture print, which will certainly get you noticed when you’re out with the dogs this Spring.

A two-layer gore-tex shell treated with DWR, this provided plenty of weatherproofing when it was needed, while the mesh lining worked well, wicking away moisture and allowing our body to breathe when things cleared up. There are also two pit zips to increase your control of the temperature inside the jacket.

The jacket followed our movements well too, with articulated sleeves that allowed for lots of freedom when we started to work really hard. With good adjustability, there are zipped chest and hand pockets with plenty of room for personal cargo, while there’s some extra detailing with an inner zipper and an arm pocket for your ski pass.

We really like The North Face’s futurelight fabric which is one of the most impenetrable waterproof skins that we’ve tested, and offers up one of the best combinations of waterproofing and breathability that we’ve seen in any jacket. There’s a lot of material in the three-layer jacket, but you never feel like it’s getting in the way of your movements, whether that’s forward progression or when you’re at camp, and it’s very comfortable on.

This comfort extends to the chin guard and cuffs and the fact that the shoulders are seamless make wearing a heavier pack less of a chore. The hood went on easily and the brim stayed in place to protect from headwind-driven rain, while the underarm zips were easy to get to and open and close, even while walking.

In terms of pocketing, there are hand pockets, two internal mesh pockets and a zipped chest pocket with a gear loop for easy access.

With great waterproofing to weight ratio, the slim profile of the phase nano means that it really suits running, with taped seams that were comfortable and didn’t chafe. The hood had a good stiff peak which remained in place and kept wind and rain out of our eyes, and there was good all-round adjustability and waterproofing around the zips, which have been kept to a minimum. The zipped chest pocket was big enough to carry the essentials, but small enough to keep everything in place.

As with all jackets geared towards running, the nylon fabric and construction combined to work with the movement of the arms and was comfortable without compromising the excellent waterproofing.

This knee-length, three-layer jacket offers total protection for work clothes or weekend outfits. The waterproof membrane and water repellent coating combine to provide an excellent barrier against the elements, and all without sacrificing breathability. The relaxed fit doesn’t feel bulky, but also allows for plenty of layers underneath, and there’s adjustability at the hood and the waist to further tailor the jacket. The material is very comfortable to wear and moves well, with pockets that are roomy and nicely tailored. This jacket is definitely built to last, so the higher price point is totally justifiable.