OutdoorGearLab

If you came here thinking, "sometimes it rains, but mostly I want a light jacket for crisp days, that can handle the odd spatter from the sky," then you're in the right place. The Columbia Switchback III is an affordable, extremely comfortable, lightweight jacket that comes in an array of colors we love. This jacket has a soft, flexible exterior that blocks out wind and offers above-average water protection and a hood that easily stows into the collar. Gussets on the back help this coat move with you rather than restrict your shoulders like many others. It's one of the lightest rain jackets we tested and easily packs into its own pocket for a quick stash or as an emergency back-up option that lives in your bag.
When it comes to heavy or prolonged rain, this model isn't our top choice. The non-waterproof zipper has no storm flap to protect it from the outside. An interior storm flap helps slow the spread of rain onto the front of your shirt but isn't a long-term solution. The Switchback III is also rather thin and not made of ripstop material, lowering our confidence in its ability to withstand hardcore adventuring. Yet, when it comes to a super comfortable, lightweight jacket that's easy to pack with and offers reasonable protection against a quick shower, all for a reasonable price tag, we love this little number from Columbia.
Hood Type: Stows into collar, adjustable bungees on sides, stiffened brim

Budget Pick

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Wirecutter

This well-constructed, mid-thigh-length coat combines waterproofing, style, and price.

Obsessed with the look of a classic trench-style rain coat but looking for a fashionable upgrade? Check out this sweet slicker from Arthas. With a long cut and high-waisted tie-cinch waist, this jacket offers a more stylish approach to staying dry. Not enough? The interior is lined with thin contrasting stripes, for extra appeal &mdash; you can even roll up the sleeves on a warm day for an extra pop of color. While the internet seems to be filled with similar trench coats, this one actually has a DWR coating that does a decent job providing moderate rain protection &mdash; and can be easily reapplied in your washing machine when it starts to get too leaky. It also has a large hood to keep your hair dry or can be zipped off for sunshine. 
Trench coats aren't made for seriously sweaty activities &#40;like running&#41; and this double-layered model is extra thick and heavy with a total lack of vents. It's one of the bulkiest, heaviest jackets we tested, making it not a great option for a packed emergency layer. Though it withstood our hose testing handily, letting water pool on it for an extended period of time did lead to a soaked interior. We're not big fans of the closure drawstrings in the hood, either, as they're positioned awkwardly to leave a giant gap for your hair to poke out or rain to get in around your chin and neck. And while we like the look of the stripes inside, the yellow model we tested easily shows those stripes through the outer fabric. But out of the numerous trench-style rain jackets we tested, this one is our favorite to wear, keeps us the driest, and gives us the highest level of confidence in its durability.
Hood Type: Zips off, nylon ties, no brim

If you're aching for a windbreaker but your wallet is aching for a break, check out the SoTeer Hooded Jacket. This hooded jacket is a solid choice for lots of casual activities on mild days. It's got all the basics, including drawstrings on the hood and waist hem, wide, fully elastic cuffs, and two hand pockets. It's reasonably wind resistant against moderate breezes and occasional gusts, with a small-toothed, tight zipper that adds some protection. At about an average weight for this category, the SoTeer jacket feels pretty lightweight compared to many traditional "light" jackets, with flexible fabric that's comfortable and easy to wear. Made of mostly polyester, this jacket offers decent water protection against a quick rain shower, though it can't quite replace a DWR-treated coat when it comes to serious precipitation. It's offered in a wide variety of colors and patterns and gives us a bit of a 90's vibe.
If technical prowess and thoughtful details are what you're after, the SoTeer Hooded Jacket likely won't live up to expectations. The sleeves run a bit short on many of our testers, leaving wrists exposed while in motion &mdash; like on a bike ride or a run. As much as we like that this casual layer has hand pockets, they're rather small and have no closure mechanism, letting a smartphone dangle out precariously. The hood lacks a brim to shield your face and is actually so small that we had a hard time finding it comfortable when worn over a ponytail. There are also lots of extra flaps of unused material left dangling about this jacket's interior, further detracting from the already subpar breathability of the polyester as well as from our love of this windbreaker. While we aren't about to hike the whole PCT in the SoTeer jacket, it's a solid and inexpensive layer that's casual enough for running errands around town and walking the dog.
Read more: SoTeer Hooded Jacket review

If you're reading this in search of a lightweight jacket for warmer days with some precipitation protection and a low price, the SoTeer Lightweight Hooded may be your dream come true. This polyester layer is super thin and the lightest coat we tested. Despite not being able to find information on any waterproof coating, we're impressed by how long this modest windbreaker-like jacket held out before becoming saturated. Though we wouldn't head out on a rainy winter day in Seattle wearing it, it'll keep you dry enough to run errands for a short time. It's also exceedingly breathable, making it one of the better options for warmer weather and high-output activities like bike commuting or running.
However, the SoTeer isn't without its drawbacks. Namely that in a category of raincoats, it's not up to the task of heavy precipitation or all-day deluges. It has some of the shortest sleeves of any model we tested, and easily exposes not just wrists, but a good chunk of the forearm while moving around. The pockets hang open, quickly collecting stray droplets, making them useless for anything other than soggy hands. And this inexpensive jacket has some corner-cutting construction, from thin, flimsy fabric to giant overhangs of excess fabric flopping around inside, lined with loopy, sloppy hems. But if you need to save serious cash and only need a little bit of water protection, this lightweight windbreaker-like option may be right up your alley.
Hood Type: Nylon ties, no brim

Rain Coat Comparison