Independent technical database · Waterproofing
The World's Independent Guide to Waterproof Jackets
Compare waterproof jackets, membranes and technologies without the marketing noise. Research jackets by activity, weather, budget and performance.
Jacket Finder
2 in databaseActivity
Best Waterproof Jackets
Editorial award slots — assigned by the team, never automated
Best Overall
The shell that handles the widest range of conditions without a disqualifying weakness.
Awaiting assignment
Best Value
Strongest protection and construction per unit of cost.
Awaiting assignment
Best for Heavy Rain
Sustained barrier performance under pressure, with hood and zip protection to match.
Awaiting assignment
Best Lightweight
Lowest weight and packed size that still meets a full waterproof specification.
Awaiting assignment
Best for Hiking
Balanced venting, pack compatibility and hood control.
Awaiting assignment
Best for Running
Packed size, fit over a vest and fast moisture transfer.
Awaiting assignment
Best Premium
Construction and pattern quality where cost is not the constraint.
Awaiting assignment
Best Everyday Jacket
Comfort, appearance and low-fuss protection for daily wear.
Awaiting assignment
Waterproof Technologies Explained
17 membrane platforms documented
W. L. Gore & Associates
GORE-TEX
The most widely licensed waterproof laminate platform in outdoor clothing. Gore certifies finished garments rather than selling fabric alone, which is why construction quality is comparatively consistent across brands.
W. L. Gore & Associates
GORE-TEX ePE
Gore's PFC-free-membrane platform, introduced to replace expanded PTFE in much of its consumer range. Thinner and lighter membranes are typical, with the same garment-level certification approach.
W. L. Gore & Associates
GORE-TEX PRO
The most rugged tier of the GORE-TEX range, built only as a three-layer laminate for alpine and professional use. Variants trade abrasion resistance against stretch and breathability within one garment.
Patagonia
H2No Performance Standard
H2No is a testing standard rather than a single membrane. Patagonia specifies laminates from several suppliers and holds them to its own wet and wash cycle protocol.
The North Face
FUTURELIGHT
An electrospun membrane platform built around air permeability, so a shell can vent passively rather than relying only on zips. Face fabrics and backers vary widely across the range.
The North Face
DryVent
The North Face's volume waterproof platform, used across accessible price points in 2L, 2.5L and 3L builds.
Mitsui / Pertex
Pertex Shield
A fabric-supplier platform used widely by British and European mountain brands, often in very light hiking and emergency shells.
Columbia
OutDry Extreme
Inverts normal shell construction by putting the waterproof layer outermost, so there is no face fabric to wet out and no DWR to reproof.
Waterproof Ratings Explained
Hydrostatic head, in millimetres
- 5,000 mm
- Light, brief rain
- 10,000 mm
- General hiking and everyday rain
- 20,000 mm
- Sustained rain and pressure points
- 30,000+ mm
- Headroom beyond most real use
What the number means
A hydrostatic head figure records the height of a water column a fabric withstood before water was forced through, under one laboratory method. It describes resistance to water pressure — nothing else.
Important caveat
Laboratory methods and manufacturer testing differ, and some of the best-known laminates — including every GORE-TEX product — publish no figure at all. A single number should never be the only measure of real-world jacket performance.
Latest Reviews
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L
A straightforward three-layer rain shell built around repairability and a moderate price rather than around low weight or alpine features.
Arc'teryx Beta Jacket
A pared-back all-round hardshell where the money goes into hood, cuff and pattern engineering rather than into extra features.
Rab Downpour Eco
A light, inexpensive recycled-fabric rain shell aimed at hillwalkers who want protection in a pack rather than a technical alpine layer.
Popular Comparisons
Waterproof Jacket Brands
29 brands in the database
Learn About Waterproofing
Fundamentals
What the words on a hangtag actually describe.
Ratings & Measurement
Hydrostatic head, MVTR, RET and the standards behind them.
Materials & Construction
Membranes, laminates, seams, zips and chemistry.
Care & Longevity
Washing, reproofing, repair and storage.
Buying Advice
Choosing, layering and judging features.
Latest Guides
Researched and sourced, with a visible last-updated date
- 2026-09-01Waterproof Ratings ExplainedWhat a millimetre figure measures, why two jackets with the same number can perform differently, and why some of the best-known laminates publish no number at all.
- 2026-09-01Waterproof vs Water-ResistantThe distinction is about construction, not marketing vocabulary. Taped seams are the clearest dividing line you can check for yourself.
Independent by design
We separate manufacturer specifications from editorial assessment. When we physically test a jacket, we say so. When we haven't, we say that too. If a manufacturer doesn't publish a specification, we don't invent one.
The waterproofing briefing
New reviews, specification corrections and membrane research. No sponsored placements, no discount codes.