Waterproof rain jacket

Oh yuck. I hate that. The last lightweight one I got was a Columbia Switchback III. It was very waterproof BUT the hood was not adjustable and kept falling in my face. Next time I will bring a ball cap to keep it back. IF I were looking again I'd look at the next level up in the Columbia line which I think is the Arcadia II. I did get caught in a gully washer in Cinque Terre and stayed completely dry in the Switchback.

Do you mind sharing what brand your current jacket is?

I have several that I swear by. OR (Outdoor Research), Arcteryx, and REI. All of those have served me well here in OR/WA as well as numerous times in Iceland.

I am guessing Pat had a water resistance jacket. Means you will stay dry for about 5 mins. Wife and I have very nice jackets from REI. Don't remember the brand since the jacket are pushing 15 years in ago. The jackets tend to be a little warm as the waterproofing traps body moisture when it is not raining. Just check the tags to make sure it is waterproof rathen than just weather proof.

I just got the Columbia Arcadia II and it's done a decent job in some light city rain, but I haven't tested in a downpour yet. It was also a very muggy warm day so I got very sweaty, but I think that was distinct from the exterior moisture! It doesn't have a liner, is very light, and can stuff down into one of its mesh pockets.

Sierra Trading Post has some Goretex jackets in clearance. Hopefully they still have a few. Wore mine in heavy rain in the Netherlands in April and I stayed very dry, and the hood was very secure ( the longer style.) They run a bit big, and have two inside zipper pockets. I was quite pleased.
Good luck!

https://www.sierra.com/s~gore-tex-jacket/

I like my Marmot Goretex jacket. Has adjustable hood, and underarm zippers.

Marmot Precip works for me. Keeps me dry...got a hood...pit zips...bombproof. They are out there for <$80 if you shop around. Brad

I will add a vote for Marmot. Lightweight and easy to pack. I was lucky to get one from COSTCO.

I took a packable Columbia to Ireland. It kept me dry, and we were there hiking when the remnants of a hurricane were hitting the country.

I will bring it or a pastel Frogg Toggs on our next trip to Europe.

Hi Patricia: you should look for something with a breathable waterproof layer. Goretex is the "gold standard" but many brands make similar layers. Brands include those mentioned above as well as Columbia, LL Bean, and Eddie Bauer. Many of those go on sale or can be found at TJ Maxx. REI has an article on "how to buy rainwear", https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/rainwear.html.

I had a Marmot Precip and it was very waterproof BUT it was slim cut enough that as a Plus size I couldn’t comfortably layer under it. So to me you need to try things on. I got my Columbia from Fred Meyer (Kroger) on sale. If you have an REI near you it’s great to try some on. That way you can also test the swooshiness of the fabric to see if that will bother you. (Insert laughing eye roll emoji!)

The higher the price point the more bells and whistles it will have including a liner to keep a clammy fabric off you or pit zips to ventilate.

We have Black Diamond's Storm line jacket. It kept me dry during a walk in sideways rain, Amber weather warning, in Scotland. It's breathable, has pit zips so we don't overheat. The adjustable hood is a little large so a ball cap will help keep it from failing into your face. ( thanks to Pam? for this tip) The jacket packs well also. Actually, we use these jackets as our everyday jackets as they look nice, keep the wind out and we are never concerned about getting drenched in a sudden downpour.

The blackberry color is on sale at the moment. I have ink blue, nice, not too sporty looking. DH has Kingfisher blue. The jacket runs a bit small so size up if you plan to layer.
https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/product/stormline-stretch-rain-shell-womens/

Patricia,

Would something like this work (there's also a larger version available).....

https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/rain-poncho-for-women

I've used an earlier version of this product and it worked well. It's compact and easy to fit into a daypack.

An umbrella is an essential for rain. Unless you are hiking the barren slopes in Scotland in a high wind. A fold up umbrella fits easily into a pocket. Otherwise recommendation might be REI brand rain jacket.

I have had many of those Marmot Precipitation jackets and they are great. I think I had them in every color, and then just wanted something different. They really hold up to the rain though!

Look for pit zips and taped seams. Those will be your friend. You want waterproof, not water resistant, as someone else already mentioned. My OR jacket has zippers on the sides, which I love for when I am sitting down as the jacket does not bunch up that way (I am very short waisted).

Thanks for all the great suggestions, I'll be checking them out before the next trip!

I strongly recommend you look at Mountain Warehouse. It's a British company that has a US website. Their products are excellent and very reasonably priced. Trespass is another UK firm that has very good waterproof clothing at a good price.