Browse Close Search Wirecutter For: Search.Search Wirecutter For: SearchReviews for the real world. Who this is for: Anyone looking for an all-purpose raincoat that won’t go out of style.Why it’s great: The simple aesthetic of the works equally well for commuting to the city or standing on a soccer field, and it’s comfortable to wear from spring through fall. It has the most style and size variations of any of the coats we tested—it’s available in 13 sizes and three lengths, and comes in an insulated version for winter. It also has the most thoughtful details of any women’s raincoat we looked at. One of our testers noted, “I have very little to say about this coat, which is a good thing! It just does its job.”The H2Off’s subtle, logo-free style and simple details make it less sporty looking than the (which we also recommend), and we think the five classic color choices and will suit both work and weekend wardrobes. Although the H2Off comes in hip, mid-thigh, and ankle lengths, all of our testers preferred the hip length.
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Photo: Sarah KobosThe H2Off offers more cuts and sizes than any other pick. It’s the only coat we tested that comes in three lengths:, and (the latter two lengths come in fewer colors). Our testers preferred the shorter lengths, commenting that the style was too sci-fi for them. “I feel like I’m an extra in Blade,” one tester said. Another said that they felt “like Trinity from The Matrix except I look like a penguin.” The longer coat was less breathable since it totally covered the legs, and we also had difficulty starting the zipper down at the ankles.The H2Off has a stylish, flattering cut compared with sportier, boxier jackets. Photo: Sarah Kobos.You can cinch the H2Off’s hood with a pull.Photo: Sarah Kobos.Water beaded up and rolled off the H2Off faster than on other coats we tested.
Photo: Sarah Kobos.A two-way zipper means you can unzip the bottom of the H2Off, making it easier to sit down. Photo: Sarah Kobos.Although we prefer Velcro cuffs, the H2Off’s snaps let you adjust the sleeves for fit. Photo: Sarah Kobos.The H2Off’s hood has a Velcro tab to adjust height.Photo: Sarah Kobos.Testers said the H2Off’s hood was deep enough for most hairstyles, except for high buns.
Photo: Sarah Kobos.The H2Off has a stylish, flattering cut compared with sportier, boxier jackets. Photo: Sarah Kobos.You can cinch the H2Off’s hood with a pull.Photo: Sarah Kobos. The H2Off's size range was one of the best we found. The hip- and ankle-length versions include petite and plus sizes, and the mid-thigh option comes in petite sizes. L.L.Bean also makes a PrimaLoft-lined version for winter, in, and lengths. (We didn’t test the lined option, but it has the same design as the regular version.) We recommend sizing up if you have curves, fall between two sizes, or want to add thick layers underneath.In the rain, water rolled right off the H2Off jacket.
This was typical for most of the coats we tested, but it seemed to roll faster from the H2Off than from the J.Jill and Eddie Bauer coats. The H2Off’s fabric was thicker than that of the Columbia and J.Jill coats we tested, and it felt smoother than the fabric of any of our other women’s picks. The fully taped seams help to block water, and the top half of the lining is mesh, which makes the coat breathable. The hood is adjustable with a Velcro strap (though testers didn’t need to use this feature), and it’s deep enough for most hairstyles, except high buns, and hair thicknesses. Testers said the H2Off’s two-way zipper was among their favorites. The design allows you to unzip the bottom of the coat for ventilation, and this makes it easier to sit down in longer versions of the coat. Testers also loved that the colors of the zippers matched the coats’ colors.
You can tighten the cuffs on the sleeves with snaps; these cuffs were better than the Eddie Bauer Girl On The Go’s nonadjustable cuffs at keeping water out and customizing fit, but not as good as the the Columbia Women’s Arcadia coat’s Velcro cuffs, which allowed the most fine-tuning. “I feel like I’m an extra in Blade,” one tester said of the ankle-length option. Photo: Sarah KobosFlaws but not dealbreakers: We were disappointed to learn that the mid-thigh version of the H2Off didn’t come in plus sizes. In an email, an L.L.Bean spokesperson told us that the company had discontinued plus sizes in the mid-thigh version because relatively few people bought this length compared with the other two lengths, but they added that L.L.Bean was considering bringing it back in upcoming seasons.Our testers also noted some size differences between the hip and mid-thigh versions. They all found the mid-thigh version to be a little roomier, but we still think sizing up is the way to go. The pockets didn’t have closures to keep them dry, which wasn’t a problem in our rain tests, but it did make testers nervous about losing things.
The pockets were also smaller than the ones on our other picks, but all of the H2Off coats had an inside chest pocket that zipped to protect valuables.Sizes: hip and ankle lengths: XS–XL, petite XS–XL, plus 1X–3X;mid-thigh length: XS–XL, petite XS–XLColors: gray, black, red, navy, khakiOther options: and lengths; PrimaLoft-lined, and lengthsMaterials: polyesterReturns/warranty: one-year returns, with a warranty against defects after that (the best policy of any of our picks) A men’s commuter raincoat: Helly Hansen Moss Rain Coat. May be out of stockWho this is for: Commuters who want to keep their rear ends dry when sitting at the bus stop and those who want style without a luxury price tag.Why it’s great: The is the best coat we found that combined a longer, mid-thigh length with style and price (there’s also available). Although the Helly Hansen wasn’t as size-inclusive as our other picks, it did have more sizes and was more breathable than other similar trendy coats.If you need something to help keep your bum and thighs dry but don’t like your raincoat to fall too low, the Moss is exactly in the middle (it’s about 2 inches longer than the hip-length and 2 inches shorter than the ). Our shortest tester for the men’s coats was 5-foot-9 and our tallest was nearly 6-foot-4, and both of them liked how the length hit them. The Moss doesn’t offer as many sizes as the, but it does have more options compared with similarly styled mid-thigh coats we considered, such as the. We thought the cut was consistently generous in all of the sizes we tested, and the design was flattering on more body shapes. All of our testers noted that the Moss felt comfortable and roomy enough for layers, and one tester told us that the Moss’s XXL fit was more spacious in the arms than the Hunter’s XXL (these were the largest sizes offered by both brands).
Helly Hansen also makes a hip-length (which we didn’t test) if you like the Moss Rain Coat’s style but want something shorter.This polyurethane coat has a rubberized feel that testers liked, but it’s less breathable than our other picks. Photo: Sarah Kobos.The Moss has a back flap for ventilation. Photo: Jackie Reeve.Testers didn’t love the Moss’s pockets, which are almost vertical and hard to slip your hand into.Photo: Sarah Kobos.This polyurethane coat has a rubberized feel that testers liked, but it’s less breathable than our other picks. Photo: Sarah Kobos.The Moss has a back flap for ventilation. Photo: Jackie Reeve. Helly Hansen may not evoke luxury like coats from brands such as Hunter or Stutterheim, but if you want something more urban for commuting, the Moss Rain Coat looks less outdoorsy than a basic nylon jacket.
We found the zippers to be well made. The hood was deep enough for most testers, and it repelled water just as well as other coats we tried.
It’s our only pick that’s made with polyurethane, which testers noted gave it a “rubberized” feel that they liked. Although the fabric isn’t bulky, it’s less breathable than the cotton, polyester, and nylon coats we recommend. There is a ventilation flap in the back, but testers didn’t notice a difference in breathability with the flap open or closed (this was also true for the Hunter, another coat with a back flap). We called Helly Hansen’s customer service, which confirmed that this coat is probably best for cooler temperatures. The generous hood made our tester smile, and we think the Moss is stylish enough for city commutes.
Photo: Sarah KobosFlaws but not dealbreakers: This is the only coat we recommend that can’t go in the dryer, according to the label instructions. But it held up fine when I decided to tumble-dry it during testing (putting it in the dryer voids the warranty).
I also air-dried it and found that dragging a dripping-wet raincoat out of the washing machine was a hassle.Our testers didn’t like the placement or design of the Moss’s pockets. They weren’t fans of the almost vertical openings (although one did note that this factor would probably keep the contents dry), and they found the openings too tight to fit hands into.Sizes: S–XXLColors: camouflage, black, yellowOther options:Materials: polyurethaneReturns/warranty: 90-day returns, one-year warranty against defects An affordable women’s raincoat: Columbia Women’s Arcadia Casual Jacket. Who this is for: People looking for an inexpensive women’s jacket that will do the job in warmer weather.Why it’s great: The no-frills is one of the best values we found.
Compared with other sporty coats we tried, it came in more sizes, was more flattering on our testers, cost less, and performed just as well in the rain.Our testers said they felt cute in this jacket, and they preferred the style to similar sporty models. They said its slim cut didn’t make them look like potato sacks, and they liked the high-low bottom hem. Compared with activewear coats we tried from both REI and L.L.Bean, and with the jackets we tested for, the Arcadia came in more sizes. If you fall between sizes, we recommend sizing up.
The Arcadia’s pockets are roomy enough for a phone, keys, wallet, and then some. Photo: Adam ReeveThe Arcadia comes in seven colors, more than any other women’s style on our list, and each tester was happy with the color they tried. With options like icy blue and wine red, you can show off your personality in this jacket. Testers liked the fabric, and although they found it to be thinner and less smooth than the L.L.Bean H2Off’s, they said it still felt cool and comfortable. The Arcadia’s mesh lining keeps it breathable in warmer weather, too.The Arcadia is one of the most affordable jackets we considered. We noticed some price fluctuations while working on this guide, but you can typically get one for under $100. This coat’s midweight fabric made it feel more substantial than the J.Jill Fit Packable Anorak, but it wasn’t as heavy-duty or warm as the Eddie Bauer Girl On The Go coat.
Our testers had room to layer underneath the Arcadia, which would help it transition through the seasons. They also said that the hood provided some of the best full-face coverage for a variety of hairstyles, from top knots to thick curls.
The Arcadia is the only women’s coat we recommend with Velcro wrist cuffs, which we prefer to snaps (even though snaps might last longer) because Velcro gives you more control over the fit. And the zippered pockets are roomy enough to hold your keys, phone, wallet, or even a bottle of water or a small umbrella (if you don’t zip the pockets closed). The Arcadia survived our wear tests with no problems, repelling water just as quickly and effectively as our other picks, even after three washes.Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Arcadia lacks some of the nice extras we found on expensive raincoats. The zipper feels a little cheap compared with zippers on other coats we tried.
Also, the zipper doesn’t have a placket over it to stop water from seeping in, and not all of the seams are taped. Although we didn’t experience any leakage in our tests, this coat is probably better suited to a lightly rainy day than to a torrential downpour, and it lacks the warmth for cooler months.Sizes: XS–XL, plus 1X–3XColors: black, white, green, light blue, navy, red, pinkMaterials: nylon shell, polyester liningReturns/warranty: 60-day returns, for defects A utilitarian men’s rain jacket: Columbia Men’s Watertight II Jacket. You save $14 (25%)Who this is for: People who prioritize sizing and affordability and who don’t mind a sporty look.Why it’s great: All of the hip-length men’s rain jackets we tried were sufficiently waterproof and had streamlined, simple designs—one tester called this category “well-made, normal raincoats.” The stands out because it has a better size and color range than other jackets we considered. It’s also the best value of any jacket we recommend, at a fraction of the price of other coats we tested. The Watertight II was the most size-inclusive men’s coat we found, with options for regular, plus, and tall sizes that extended to 4X. It comes in 12 colors, more than any of our other picks, and we think there are choices here to cover a neutral, workweek style or a bright, sporty weekend look.
Testers appreciated that the Watertight II had the least-boxy fit compared with similarly cut jackets (most preferred a slim cut), but they still had plenty of room to add layers. Because it’s a shorter coat, the Watertight II is compact enough to keep in your car for surprise rain showers or to toss into your work bag on those iffy-weather days. It’s also one of the most affordable men’s coats we considered. Extra details like taped seams help keep water out, and the fluid nylon fabric repels water. Photo: Sarah KobosThe Watertight II’s seams are taped on the inside for extra protection against leaks, as on the Hunter men’s coat on our list, and the hood was deep enough to shield testers’ faces from the rain. Testers said the pockets were well sized and comfortably placed for easy access to things like phones and wallets.
This is the thinnest men’s raincoat we recommend, but the nylon fabric feels the softest and the most fluid, so it’s easy to move your arms around without that stiff, constrained feeling that often comes with wearing a synthetic coat. With its light fabric and mesh lining, the Watertight II is more breathable than our other picks—none of the testers worried about overheating. Testers reported that the Watertight II had the least-boxy fit compared with similarly cut jackets. Photo: Sarah KobosFlaws but not dealbreakers: The Watertight II’s pockets are made of mesh, which could cause keys or small objects to become tangled, and one tester wasn’t sure whether they would stay dry. Another tester wished for an inside pocket, too. Some of our testers thought the hood was maybe too deep, and one tester wanted a tab on the peak to help adjust it.
Awesome jacket!!I received this today, I never been so excited to put on a jacket, it's not too heavy, or it's not real light. Feels like it will be warm on a cold day, blizzard-like conditions I probably would go with another coat but other than that feels good. I can't wait to were it out, it very classy looking worth every penny.
I'm 5'5 150 went with the medium. Instead of the large.
I heard that the large was huge, glad I went with the medium fits perfect!!!Verified purchase: Yes Condition: New.