rain jackets

Look at a rain jacket as an added layer when needed. I carry a very light Marmot brand Gore Tex jacket that is really just a shell, no liner. It weighs almost nothing, takes up little room.

You can wear it by itself, or layered over a fleece or sweater if colder.

Same, mine is from REI and folds into itself and compressed down to about half a football, maybe a little less.

My latest investment is Royal Robbins Oakham. Available for Women and Men. It's waterproof, lightweight (folds into pocket for easy storage) & room to layer if needed. I bought mine on sale. www.amazon.com.

Our whole family has Marmot Precip jackets, the best!

"Best" depends on your answer to the question "Best for what use?" Are you hopping from shop to shop in an urban setting or are you trekking wind and rain swept moorlands?

Note that Gore-tex and the like are water-proof but breathable membranes that are one of several layers of the material making up the jacket. Some are lighter and more flexible while others re more robust. And beyond the material and lamination, are design features (hoods, vents, zippers etc) and quality of construction (ex. taped seams). For rain jackets 101:
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/rainwear.html

And its best to touch and feel and buy from a retailer with a good return policy.

I live where there is a great deal of rain. I use a Columbia Brand rain jacket. Less expensive than REI versions and just as effective. Gortex is not required unless you are hiking in a torrent of rain.

Regardless of brand, look for WATERPROOF not just water resistant. I thought that it wouldn’t matter. I was wrong and was therefore quite wet!

After quite a bit of shopping around, I just bought a new rain jacket for an upcoming trip to Scandinavia and I'm very happy with it. It's a Columbia brand women's jacket called "Splash a Little II." It's waterproof, breathable, lightweight. It folds up quite small and doesn't seem to wrinkle. It's zippered. I like the length (mid-thigh), the fact that it has velco around the cuffs to cinch them tight and keep out rain, an adjustable hood for that same purpose. It's machine washable. It's good for travel because it has an interior security pocket and zippered hand pockets. The jacket comes in a number of colors. I bought it on Amazon. Some colors were selling for around $90 but the black was on sale for $67.

For a nice ladies stylish rain jacket, look at Kuhl Jetstream

https://www.kuhl.com/kuhl/womens/outerwear/ws-jetstream-trench/

I bought this in black. I like that it's longer, has a hood. I even wore it over my long down jacket when in Scotland last March...
It's lightweight, packs well and water proof.

I also have a Columbia lightweight waterproof rain jacket. It worked fine in Scotland in August. Definitely make sure you get waterproof, not water resistant.

I think it's better if you can see them in person as well. If you have an REI or a Cabelas or another big sporting goods chain, go feel the fabric.

I finally gave my Marmot Precip to the local charity shop. The fabric was too "crinkly" (I'm sure that's a technical term, hahha!) so it was noisy when I walked and I needed something that was not cut so slim because I wanted to be able to zip up a small crossbody purse inside.

I went with a Cabela's waterproof that I like a lot.

Get one with a hood and I like the hood to have a small bill on it so it will keep some of the water off my glasses.

Ponchos and umbrellas are useless in the wind which you may have in Ireland. Definitely waterPROOF.

I purchased the Kuhl Jetstream Trench for my 2 week trip to Ireland/N Ireland.

It was perfect for the trip. I wore it at the Cliffs of Moher in the pouring rain. It kept me completely dry. It is waterproof, breathable and has a hood. It is great in the wind too.

Also, it packs down to nothing. I got the plum color.....very happy with the purchase and it's performance on the trip.

I ordered three kinds of waterproof/windproof coats and the Helly Hansen Kirkwall won. I ordered it in black and it fits great. I think it looks classy and with a beautiful scarf around the neck, I’ll be prepared. I ordered a size up so I could layer if needed. I wanted something for a spring trip to London and Ireland.
Good luck on your search.

Our whole family has Marmot Precip jackets, the best!

I have Marmot Precip but find that it's not very breathable and is, as another poster mentioned, quite crinkly. I've just bought a North Face jacket that is just as light as the Marmot, folds up well although not us much as the Marmot but on the plus side it remains wrinkle free and I tested it this morning in horizontal rain walking the dog for an hour and whilst it kept me completely dry it is also very breathable. I'm afraid the Marmot will now remain in the cupboard when it's raining.

I've replaced my failing Marmot with a Montane Minimus - so far bone dry. These lightweight jackets are simply shells and not designed for hardcore walkers.

If you want the best - Paramo.

What Pam said is very important in my opinion. All hoods are not alike.......you definitely want one where the front top of the hood projects out over your forehead........keeps rain off your glasses or just your face, and it also provides something to hold on to to keep the hood up, if strong winds try to blow it off.

Seemed there was wind just about everywhere..........in varying strengths.......when we visited late August several years ago.

Columbia brand or anything Gortex is great. I found a lovely raspberry Columbia on sale at Macy's for something like $19 or $20something dollars, and the sleeves were long enough for me, too. But, it is so perfect, I likely would have paid full price (which I try to avoid doing with clothing...LOL).

And, Ireland is one of those places you will likely want to wear a ball cap type hat for two reasons: One to keep rain off glasses and two (especially for women) to keep the hair under control. My hair flew wildly in the wind, so I quickly pulled out a ballcap and did the pony-tail bit out the back. Bingo...issue solved.

I also replaced my Marmot with a Northface and like it better--folds up nicely.

Maggie touched on the hood aspect which I forgot to mention. My Marmot Precip hood would never stay on during the wind yet my new North Face hood fits perfectly, it has a little peak to keep the rain off and can be adjusted with toggles either side and one at the back, the hood doesn't fall down like others I've worn, it stays on when a full gale is blowing head on and I can see everything whilst preventing any rain coming in. Also, despite it being Ireland, I would be walking in short sleeves in the summer and in that respect if I wore my Marmot I'd be peeling it off my bare skin after a walk.

Hood design is important in wind driven rain conitions. Some responders noted the problem with hoods staying put. Another hood design issue is the right amount of "tunnel". If the hood's "tunnel" is too short, it is not only likely to be blown back, but is would not shield your face with side driven rain. If the hood's "tunnel" is too long/deep your peripheral vision is impaired.

I also bought a North Face. I usually wear an XL but wanted to size up so I could wear it with fleece and even a puffer and I was able to get it in a women’s 1X. Worked great in Ireland and in Iceland (also bought the NF waterproof pants for that trip!). The hood is very adjustable. Sometimes you can get great deals on prior year colors.

Last summer, I found online a Gelert waterproof thigh length rain jacket that folds into a small pouch and weighs almost nothing on sale for less than $10. Seems fine the few times I used it in Ireland (in July) and elsewhere.

Remember that before rain hits your jacket, it hits your head, so think about a protective hat. Then the rain puddles on the ground to soak your shoes, so water-resistant footware is part of the plan. In Ireland, that plan is for year-round.

My current rain jacket kept me dry on my trip, but it was not breathable and was wet inside. So I spent a few fun hours at the REI flagship store in Denver yesterday and tried on the above recommended Kuhl Jetstream Trench. Loved it! Especially the longer length. I ordered my size and color to pick up at my home store in CA, where rainy winters will make this a good investment for home and travel.

This article was also helpful:
http://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-raincoats-for-women.html

Thanks for all the great info!