light rain jacket for a chick who can run hot

Where will you be traveling to and what time of year?

I'm not a lady (sorry), but I have been a ski instructor for 15 years and help lots of people with their gear for a variety of weather conditions.

I think the rain jacket that might help you doesn't make so much difference the brand, but more importantly the material and size. I would choose a either a GoreTex or another "membrane" waterproof jacket. These are supposed to be waterproof and breathable. The next thing is to get a size larger that the most fitted option. You want air to circulate between you and your outer layer. Then as long as you are wearing wool or a poly layer against your skin instead of cotton, you will stay the best temperature. You will also have room for a layer between the rain jacket if it gets chilly.

Here's a Patagonia jacket you might want to check out called the Torrent Shell:
https://youtu.be/5DgWdNPawuM

Depending on the temperature, you might just find rain jackets clammy. I would go to a store like REI and buy a gortex jacket with vents (zippers to add air circulation) AND buy some quick drying tops to wear underneath (assuming it will be warmish when you wear the jacket). Also, in warm weather, if it's not windy, an umbrella might keep you cooler.

Nothern Italy in March. :)

Thank you Nordheim!

Thank you Eef!

I use a Marmot Precip which is, I think, one of the membrane jackets referred to above. It has pit zips which I have used in the summer in Italy and is waterproof. It has a packing pouch but I don't like shoving it in there so I just fold it up, put it in a gallon ziplock (so I can put it away when wet) and put it in my purse. The only thing I don't like is that it does not have a double zipper so you can't unzip a tad from the bottom. I wore it last winter over a polarfleece vest for shoveling snow (what little we had) and it worked fine on most days. It and the vest were not quite enough, even doing activity, to keep me warm when it was below 20F and windy.

That time of year I would also consider some wool base layer garments which might not be too warm for you.

As Nordhiem suggest, rain jacket with some kind of "breathable' membrane. Now that the Gore-tex patent has expired, there are a number of similar materials with Gore-tex being a registered brand. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gore-Tex

The traditional Gore-tex jackets were three layered with an outer layer, the Gore-tex expanded Teflon layer, and an inner layer to protect the Gore-tex. All those layers added weight and stiffness.

Note that while Gore-tex will "breath" meaning pass water vapor, if you are generating a lot of body moisture (cross country skiing, running, uphill trekking etc), having a laminate jacket designed with a lot of vents is essential. Look for pit-zips and other ways to vent moisture.

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Hardshell-Jacket-Reviews/Buying-Advice

Breathability is the ability of a fabric to allow moisture vapor to be
transmitted through the material. It's a function of the difference
between the relative humidity (rH) inside the jacket compared to that
outside (when actively exercising, the rH rapidly rises close to or to
100 percent inside the jacket). Moisture can pass through a fabric in
two ways. (1) Ventilation: a permeable fabric allows air, which may
carry moisture vapor, to pass directly through it. Fabrics with large
pores or lots of pores (mesh netting) breathe better than those with
tiny holes or few holes. But air can pass through the fabric both
ways: a cold breeze can come in from the outside and hot air from
exercise can escape. EVent, DryQ, and Polartec NeoShell are membranes
that purport to allow air flow, and thus ventilation, through them.
(2) Moisture can pass through a fabric in solid-state diffusion: some
non-porous textiles allow moisture transmission. This is how Gore-Tex
works since it has air holes (pores) so tiny that it does not
effectively allow air flow to pass through the membrane. For this
reason, Gore-Tex is often described as more "waterproof," than
"breathable." In order for a jacket to noticeably breathe in this
manner there must be a significant difference between the rH inside
and outside the jacket. If rh is 95 percent inside and 10 percent
outside, you'll likely feel that water vapor is passing through the
jacket. But if rH is 95 percent inside and outside the jacket (perhaps
it's raining) it will not be observably breathable although moisture
can still pass through it.

Take it from another very warm blooded person-pit zips, as mentioned above by Pam, are key here, a lifesaver!

LOL - thanks Dave!

Thanks for the tips Edgar!

Thank you Pam!

Hazel, you can think of Dave and me and giggle when you unzip your pits. Then you can thank us.

The Patagonia Torrentshell mentioned above is a great jacket. I have had mine for 15 years and have worn it for lots of hiking and backpacking. Recently I bought a second on on sale because I wanted a different color. ; ). That one went to New Zealand with me last January and I wore it on a three-day trek in the rain and never got wet nor overheated. The outside temperature was about 60 degrees. The jacket has pitzips but I did not use them. The one downside is that, like most lightweight jackets, it is unlined so can feel a bit clammy if you wearing against bare skin on your arms. This jacket is a bit longer than the Marmot Precip mentioned by Pam. It folds up into its own hood to make a compact package for stowing.

http://www.rei.com/product/845617/patagonia-torrentshell-rain-jacket-womens

You can usually find one or more colors on sale for under $100. Right now, REI has a deep violet on sale; at Backcountry.com they have several colors on sale.

Oh, Lola's post reminded me, look at Sierra Trading Post .com as they may have some on sale too. I would go to a brick and mortar to try on and see how it feels then look online for pricing. Unless you stumble across a sale.

There are few things in life quite so satisfying as unzipping your pits!

The Marmot Mica is a great waterproof jacket that folds up even smaller than the Precip, both are very good for keeping you dry without over heating. I use the Mica when traveling in warmer areas like Italy,etc. and the Precip when in Ireland where a slightly heavier jacket is nice in the cooler weather.

Thanks everyone! I'll be checking out your suggestions. Especially now that Im going to Norway in the late Fall.

Norway in late fall?

Check out the Norwegian Touring Association suggestions on clothing:
http://english.turistforeningen.no/article.php?ar_id=10247&fo_id=3622

Clothing acts to protect you against weather wind and helps you
regulate body warmth. Here are a few hints on how to select clothing
that will keep you warm and dry as well as comfortable on a tour.

Mountain weather in Norway is unpredictable. It can be warm and
pleasant, with sunshine from a cloudless sky. Moments later, it can be
grey and gloomy, with pouring rain and cold mist. Weather conditions
vary so much that the best mountain clothing is the same year-round,
summer and winter. In summer, you can experience full winter weather,
with snow flurries and temperatures below freezing, and in winter you
sometimes can ski in shorts. Regardless of the season, clothing must
be able to transport moisture away from your body.

See link for details.

Another vote for the Marmot PreCip jacket with pit-zips. I wore mine in SE Asia (needed waterproof layer with minimal bulk) - it worked great, though due to waterproofing (and lack of places for MY sweat to go) I was pretty hot if I had to wear it for long. Won't be a problem in Italy in May. It's cut somewhat narrow compared to other rain jackets I have purchased, so if it is possible to go try on before you buy, and wear a few layers to make sure you get one that fits over your planned early spring wardrobe.

In Norway in late fall, you will be wearing a jacket more often than not, for wind and cold as well as rain. Make sure it is large enough to fit over a warm layer, like fleece or wool. I would want some length (mid-thigh) as well. You may find that the same jacket will not work well for both Italy on the spring and Norway in the fall.