Getting caught in a downpour can smash any out of doors journey, however carrying a heavy rain jacket isn’t the reply. Ultralight packable rain jackets clear up this drawback by providing full climate safety with out weighing down your pack. These progressive shells compress to pocket-size, weigh lower than a water bottle, and ship severe storm protection while you want it most.
1. Outside Analysis Helium Rain Jacket — 200 g / 7.05 oz
For years, backpackers and day-hikers have trusted this jacket as their go-to climate insurance coverage. Weighing simply over seven ounces, the Helium makes use of Pertex Defend 2.5-layer cloth that blocks rain whereas staying breathable sufficient for energetic use.
Certainly one of its cleverest options is the built-in stuff pocket—the jacket packs into its personal pocket, making a bundle smaller than a softball. This makes it extremely straightforward to toss into any daypack nook with out pondering twice.
The simplicity is a part of the enchantment: no additional bells and whistles, simply dependable waterproof safety that received’t allow you to down. When the sky darkens unexpectedly, you’ll respect having this featherweight protect able to deploy in seconds.
2. Patagonia Storm10 Jacket — ~235 g / 8.3 oz (males’s M)
Alpine situations demand severe safety, but this jacket manages to ship mountain-grade waterproofing with out the everyday bulk. At round 8.3 ounces for a males’s medium, it strikes a formidable steadiness between storm-worthy efficiency and packability.
Patagonia designed the Storm10 to actually disappear in your pack till climate turns nasty. The absolutely waterproof building handles driving rain and wind, making it appropriate for uncovered ridgelines and unpredictable high-country climate.
Regardless of its light-weight nature, the material feels surprisingly sturdy in comparison with flimsier rivals. You received’t fear about snagging it on branches or rocks throughout scrambles, providing you with confidence to push into difficult terrain understanding your climate safety received’t fail.
3. Montbell Versalite Jacket — 182 g / 6.4 oz (males’s)
Gram-counters obsess over this Japanese-made marvel for good motive—it weighs barely over six ounces but contains pit zips for air flow. Montbell’s Ok-Mono patterning minimizes seams, lowering weight whereas enhancing sturdiness and making a extra compact pack dimension.
The pit zips make an enormous distinction throughout high-output actions like steep climbs or path operating. You possibly can dump warmth rapidly with out eradicating the jacket completely, conserving you comfy when effort ranges fluctuate all through the day.
Air flow this efficient is uncommon within the ultralight class, the place most producers sacrifice airflow to shave grams. This jacket proves you don’t have to decide on between staying dry and avoiding that clammy, overheated feeling inside your shell.
4. Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket — 152–184 g / 5.4–6.5 oz (sizes S–XXL)
Among the many absolute lightest absolutely waterproof and breathable shells out there, this jacket ideas the scales at barely over 5 ounces in smaller sizes. Zpacks constructed their repute on ultralight gear, and the Vertice represents their dedication to shedding each pointless gram.
The chest pocket cleverly flips inside-out to grow to be a stuff sack, swallowing your complete jacket right into a package deal sufficiently small to slot in your hand. Pit zips add air flow with out including a lot weight, addressing one of many greatest complaints about super-minimal shells.
Via-hikers and fastpackers significantly respect how this jacket basically vanishes in a pack. When each ounce issues over a whole lot of miles, selecting the Vertice means extra vitality for ahead progress.
5. Enlightened Tools Visp — begins ~158 g / 5.6 oz (size-dependent)
Customized 3-layer cloth building retains this cottage-brand favourite exceptionally gentle whereas delivering official storm safety. Beginning round 5.6 ounces relying on dimension, the Visp competes with the lightest shells with out feeling fragile or disposable.
What persistently impresses reviewers is how nicely this jacket breathes in comparison with others in its weight class. Many ultralight shells entice moisture and go away you soaked from sweat, however the Visp’s cloth manages vapor surprisingly successfully throughout cardio actions.
Enlightened Tools’s consideration to element exhibits within the considerate function set and high quality building. For backpackers who refuse to compromise between climate safety and pack weight, this jacket provides a candy spot that’s arduous to beat at this value level.
6. Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket — 116.5 g / 4.1 oz (males’s M)
At simply over 4 ounces, this featherweight marvel packs into its personal hood to create a bundle in regards to the dimension of your palm. Rab designed the Phantom for mountain runners and ultralight lovers who want emergency climate safety with out carrying additional weight.
The two.5-layer Pertex Defend cloth maintains a formidable 20,000 mm hydrostatic head score, that means severe waterproofing regardless of the minimal weight. This isn’t a jacket you’ll put on all day in a deluge, however for sudden storms or wind safety, it performs fantastically.
Race-ready options embody an in depth athletic match and 0 pointless extras. Each gram saved right here means sooner instances on the path or extra room in your pack for necessities that matter greater than jacket bulk.
7. Arc’teryx Norvan Shell Jacket — ~170–180 g / ~6–6.3 oz
Arc’teryx’s lightest Gore-Tex providing makes use of 3-layer C-Knit building to attain round six ounces whereas sustaining the model’s legendary high quality requirements. The Norvan targets runners and fast-movers who demand confirmed waterproof expertise within the smallest doable package deal.
Minimalist options imply no hand pockets or additional frills—only a hood, zipper, and distinctive climate safety. The jacket compresses to roughly orange-size when stuffed into the hood, making it straightforward to hold on lengthy runs or minimalist hikes.
Gore-Tex supplies peace of thoughts that cheaper membranes can’t match, particularly throughout prolonged publicity to moist situations. Whereas pricier than alternate options, the Norvan delivers premium efficiency for athletes who received’t compromise on both weight or waterproofing.
8. The North Face Flight Lightriser FUTURELIGHT — ~7 oz
Constructed particularly for pace, this jacket showcases The North Face’s breathable FUTURELIGHT membrane expertise in a no-frills package deal. Weighing round seven ounces, it targets runners and fast-packers who want dependable climate safety with out extra cloth or options slowing them down.
The trim athletic reduce eliminates flapping materials that catches wind or snags on vegetation throughout fast actions. A stuff pocket permits the jacket to pack into itself, making a compact bundle that matches simply in operating vests or small packs.
FUTURELIGHT’s breathability benefit turns into apparent throughout high-output efforts when conventional waterproof materials flip into saunas. You’ll keep drier from each rain exterior and perspiration inside, making this jacket comfy throughout a wider vary of situations and exercise ranges.
9. Inov-8 Stormshell FZ V2 — ~149–175 g / 5.3–6.2 oz
Path racers depend on this British model’s climate safety when competitors guidelines require carrying storm gear. The two.5-layer Pertex Defend building provides 20,000 mm waterproofing and 20,000 g breathability, spectacular specs at barely over 5 ounces in smaller sizes.
Absolutely taped seams forestall water from sneaking by means of stitching holes throughout heavy rain. Like many ultralight shells, it packs into its personal pocket for handy storage that doesn’t require a separate stuff sack taking over extra pack area.
The FZ (full zip) design makes it straightforward to placed on or take away rapidly throughout races when transition pace issues. Inov-8 understands that race-legal safety gear must deploy quick and pack away simply as rapidly when situations enhance.
10. OMM Halo / Halo+ Jacket — ~105–142 g / 3.7–5.0 oz
Extremely-packability reaches its peak with this mountain marathon specialist’s providing, which compresses to roughly tennis-ball dimension. Weighing between 3.7 and 5.0 ounces relying on mannequin and dimension, the Halo represents “carry greater than put on” philosophy taken to its logical excessive.
The taped 2 to 2.5-layer waterproof cloth meets race-legal necessities for necessary security gear with out including significant weight to your package. OMM designed this for fast-and-light mountain athletes who want emergency safety however hope to by no means truly use it.
This isn’t a jacket for all-day put on in persistent rain; it’s emergency insurance coverage that disappears in your pack. For its supposed goal—sudden storms throughout races or ultralight journeys—it performs brilliantly whereas weighing lower than some vitality bars.
11. Marmot Bantamweight — ~140 g / ~5.0–6.0 oz
Marmot stripped away every part non-essential to create certainly one of their lightest hardshells ever, touchdown round 5 to 6 ounces relying on dimension. Pertex Defend cloth supplies the waterproof-breathable safety, whereas full seam taping ensures no water sneaks by means of stitching throughout downpours.
The self-stuffing pocket design means you’ll by no means lose a separate stuff sack, and the jacket compresses impressively small for tossing into any pack. Marmot’s repute for sturdy building offers confidence that this ultralight shell received’t fail while you want it most.
For hikers who need proven-brand reliability with out the burden penalty of conventional rain gear, the Bantamweight hits a candy spot. It’s gentle sufficient for weight-conscious backpackers however substantial sufficient to encourage confidence in severe climate situations.
12. Berghaus Hyper 140 — ~164 g / 5.8 oz
Berghaus engineered this minimalist operating shell utilizing their Hydroshell Elite 3-layer cloth to create climate safety that actually vanishes in a vest or small pack. At 5.8 ounces, it’s gentle sufficient for runners who rely each gram however substantial sufficient for actual climate safety.
The three-layer building provides higher sturdiness and next-to-skin consolation than 2.5-layer alternate options, making this jacket extra nice to put on immediately over a base layer. British climate experience informs the design, guaranteeing it handles the chilly, windy rain that makes operating depressing.
Extremely packable doesn’t at all times imply extremely useful, however the Hyper 140 manages each. When situations deteriorate on uncovered moorland or mountain ridges, you’ll respect having full waterproof protection that doesn’t really feel like carrying a rubbish bag throughout arduous efforts.
