Our team of outdoor experts have tested some of the best mens waterproof jackets to help you find the right fit for your adventures and budget.
Having a good waterproof jacket is a much-needed essential when out hillwalking, especially in the wet weather conditions and up in the mountains where weather forecasts can sometimes throw you curveballs. To help you decide which waterproof jacket is best for you, our team of experts has put together a list of the best mens waterproof jackets.
If you’re not quite ready to make the jump to a new waterproof, perhaps there’s life in your old jacket yet. Take a look at our guide on how to look after your waterproof jacket.
How we tested the best mens waterproof jackets
These waterproof jackets for men were tested by David Lintern and Peter Macfarlane. David has over a decade of experience as a photographer and writer and has produced dozens of articles for magazines, newspapers and organisations. His first feature for The Great Outdoors covered a walk across the Pyrenees in 2011 and he’s been a regular contributor ever since. He is the author of three books and has campaigned actively on access and environmental issues.
Peter wears a size Large and he wore these jackets into the hills last winter to test their effectiveness in snow, and they’ve had a very varied life since then with regular hill and trail outings. The especially heavy rains of July brought a welcome update on the longevity of the DWR coatings after many months of wear. Weights are from his own digital scales.
Our picks for best men’s waterproofs
- Montane Phase Nano | $379 / £300 | Buy now from Sports Shoes – TGO Award Winner
- Patagonia Granite Crest | £260 | International shipping costs apply | Highly commended in TGO Awards
- Rab Arc Eco | $235 | £200 (Buy now from amazon.co.uk)
- RAB Latok | $500 | £420 | Available from Go Outdoors – Peter’s Best Buy
- Alpkit Definition | £260 | International shipping costs
- Mountain Hardwear Exposure 2 | $650.00 | £500
- Haglöfs ROC GTX | £300 | International shipping costs
Montane Phase Nano
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Likes: low weight, breathability, packability
- Dislikes: expensive, no cuff adjustment
- Price: $379 / £300
- Available from: Sports Shoes
- Weight: 250g
Materials: 13D Gore-Tex Active, YKK Aquaguard zips | Pockets: two hand pockets | Hood: 3-point adjustable with stiffened peak | Sizes: men S-XXL (no direct women’s version; nearest equivalent is the Phase or Phase XT)
Montane describes the Phase Nano as the lightest and most breathable Gore-Tex jacket it offers. Weighing just 250g, it’s a jacket that offers three-layer waterproof protection alongside a bunch of useful design details, including a full length water resistant front zip, a three-point adjustable hood and shaped cuffs.
“It’s a great bit of kit,” said Peter Macfarlane who was on the jury that selected this as the best rain jacket in this year’s Great Outdoors Awards. “It packs to nothing for just-in-case days, the Gore-Tex fabric is excellent, it has good-sized pockets and it gives perfect articulation with no hem movement at all.”
Patagonia Granit Crest
- Rating: 4/5
- Likes: lightweight, hood adjustment, recycled fabrics, underarm zips, cost
- Dislikes: hood peak not very stiff
- Price: £260
- Weight: 395g (M)
Materials: 3-layer H2No Performance Standard NetPlus post-consumer recycled nylon ripstop with PFC-free DWR | Hood: helmet-compatible, front and rear adjustment, stiffened peak | Front closure: watertight zip with inner flap | Underarm/side zips: two-way | Pockets: 2 handwarmer, 1 chest | Hem: adjustable drawcord | Cuffs: Velcro | Sizes: men XS-XXL (women XS-XL).
“You’ve got everything you’d want from a good, reliable wet weather shell,” said Will Renwick who was on the jury that chose this as Highly Commended in The Great Outdoors Awards 2023. He tested the Patagonia Granite Crest over the course of a wet backpacking trip in the Lake District.
Not only is the Granite Crest PFC-free but it also uses a fabric that’s made from recycled fishing nets in order to help to reduce ocean plastic pollution. This fabric has a good quality feel to it too; it’s soft to the touch and quiet and there’s a slight stretch to it.
From our tests, we found it to be a great three-season option that would be excellent for day hiking and backpacking.
Patagonia Granite Crest review
RAB Arc Eco
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Likes: Eco credentials, a great all-rounder, cost, weight.
- Dislikes: Could use one more pocket.
- Price: $235 | £200 (Buy now from amazon.co.uk)
Weight: 436g | Materials: 3-layer Pertex Shield recycled polyester ‘Revolve’, recycled inner, PFC-free DWR | Features: part-wired 3-way adjustable hood, 2 large pockets | Sizes: S-XXL | Women’s version: yes | Website: rab.equipment
First on our list of the best mens waterproofs is the Rab Arc Eco, which won Gold in last year’s TGO awards in the sustainability category. The jacket’s face fabric, membrane and backer are all made up of a single polymer, making it easier to recycle at the end of its life. The fully recycled fabric has resisted wear and tear, and the Pertex Shield has continued to keep me completely dry. The hood is adjusted at three points and part-wired, and the cut is long and roomy at the chest.
The sleeves are Velcro-adjusted, and the hem adjusted by two toggles and elastic. The main zip is one-way and has a stormguard, and there are pit zips to help cool things down. It is lighter, simpler, cheaper and more environmentally friendly for most hillwalking and backpacking outside of deep winter.
Read David’s full Rab Arc Eco Review
Rab Men’s Latok Mountain Gore-Tex Pro Jacket – Peter’s Best Buy
- Price: $500 | £420
- Available from: Go Outdoors
- Weight: 510g
- Pros: fit, fabric, pockets, hood, comfort
- Cons: main zip can let in water
Materials: 80D and 40D Gore-Tex Pro | Hood: wired and stiffened peak, crown and face volume adjusters, roll down | Front closure: zip with internal storm flap, bottom popper | Underarm/side zips: 2-way pit zips | Pockets: 3 external, 1 internal | Hem: drawcord adjustable | Cuffs: Velcro tab | Sizes: S-XXL | Women’s version: yes
The Latok is a lightweight jacket with a relaxed fit, excellent coverage, and excellent arm movement. It features a well-shaped hood, water-resistant pockets, and an internal zipped mesh pocket for a smartphone. The jacket’s Gore-Tex Pro fabrics, DWR and DWR, are excellent and breathable, with strong beading and strong beading. The brand now offers a ‘Material Facts’ table, explaining the amount of recycled materials and fluorocarbon use in the Latok and other equipment. Overall, the Latok is a versatile and practical choice for men looking to layer up or protect their gear.
Read Peter’s full Rab Latok Mountain Gore-Tex Pro Jacket
Recommended: Alpkit Definition
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Likes: Eco credentials, a great all-rounder, cost, weight.
- Dislikes: Could use one more pocket.
- Price: £260
Weight: 436g | Materials: 3-layer Pertex Shield recycled polyester ‘Revolve’, recycled inner, PFC-free DWR | Features: part-wired 3-way adjustable hood, 2 large pockets | Sizes: S-XXL | Women’s version: yes | Website: Alpkit.com
The Alpkit Definition is a well-thought out mountaineering shell with tailored sleeves, a lower cut tail, three outer pockets, a wired peak, three-way ‘cordlock’ adjusters, a single internal phone pocket, Velcro at the sleeves, two more cordlock adjusters at the hem, a chunky two- way zip on the front as well as a press stud to ease load on the zip, and stormguards on the main zip and two handwarmer pockets. It claims an impressive 30,000mm of hydrostatic head, and a breathability measure (MVTR) of 20,000 g/m, but the outer fabric thickness can feel stuffy in the warmer months
Read the full Alpkit Definition Review
Recommended: Mountain Hardwear Exposure 2
- Rating: 4/5
- Likes: Good hood, great cut, durability
- Dislikes: Cost
- Price: RRP: $650.00 | £500
Weight: 484g | Materials: 3-layer Gore-Tex, recycled nylon outer, bluesign-approved | Features: stiffened hood, 6 pockets | Sizes: S-XL | Women’s version: yes (£450) | Website: mountainhardwear.co.uk
Mountain Hardwear does alpine-orientated gear extremely well which is why they’ve made it onto our list of the best mens waterproof jackets. The Exposure is a 3-layer, bluesign-approved Gore-Tex Pro, 100% recycled, with a single adjuster and stiffened peak. The hem is adjustable with two simple cinch lock ring pulls, and the cut is A-shaped and roomy. There are two big, well-placed Napoleon pockets, and two ribcage handwarmers, all with big-glove-friendly pulls. The main zip is one-way and has a stormguard, as are the two handwarmer pockets. The pit zips are two-way. Using the Exposure last winter on low-grade climbs, I found it to be a great mix of protection, weight and features.
Read the full Mountain Hardware Exposure 2 Review
Haglöfs ROC GTX
- Rating: 3.5/5
- Likes: Fair eco credentials, quality components
- Dislikes: Could use at least one more pocket, no pit zips
- Price: RRP £300
Weight: 412g | Materials: 3 layer Gore-Tex, 75D, 100% recycled Polyester, ePFTE membrane, PFC free DWR | Features: Stiffened hood, 2 handwarmer pockets. | Sizes: S-XXL | Women’s version: yes (at £210) | Website: haglofs.com
Our final option in our list of the best waterproof jackets for men is the Haglofs ROC GTX. It’s a bluesign-approved, three-layer Gore-Tex jacket which is made with quality components. The ROC GTX boasts an impressive 28,000 hydrostatic head. The thick material makes the jacket robust, but it also suffers a little in terms of breathability. Pit zips and an extra pocket would hugely improve usability.
Read our full Haglöfs ROC GTX Review here
