Best waterproof jackets for women 2024 | Tested and reviewed

This sporty-looking hard shell waterproof jacket from Norwegian brand Helly Hansen does everything right. The original Odin World Infinity won our Best in Test Award at Trail Magazine, and the women's version is equally ultralight, fully-featured, eco-friendly and mountain-ready. It’s a top-notch all-rounder with first-rate performance – even if the price is rather, well, Scandinavian.

This jacket features lots of extra bells and whistles compared to your standard hardshell. Nifty features include an emergency whistle attached to the chest pocket and side zips (rather than pit zips) for ventilation when required. You'll also get a built-in RECCO transponder for rescue situations, but the biggest innovation is the way Helly Hansen has created a 3-layer construction without the use of chemical solvents. The jacket’s membrane also has fewer negative environmental impacts compared to other harmful membrane technologies.

The fit is as good as it can be, with a helmet-compatible hood and a slim, flattering cut which still leaves room for layers underneath. And yes, the price tag is hefty, but the Odin is designed to last, with the brand claiming Lifa Ininity Pro never needs re-proofing. If you look at it as a long-term investment for your outdoor comfort, then this jacket is a cracking bet for any weather the UK (and beyond) can throw at you.

When choosing a waterproof jacket, you normally have to choose between lined, warm and heavy; or unlined, light and cool. But here comes the Go Hike from Jack Wolfskin, clearing its throat and elbowing its way between the two.

It has the athletic cut of a hard shell teamed with a soft mesh lining: snug while still being packable; comfortable yet only slightly heavier than your standard shell. It’s ideal for chilly days when we want to move with more ease, or for brisk showery walks.

It’s not the most mobile around the shoulders but, thanks to some stretch in the fabric, it’s nevertheless suited to all but the most contorting of moves. It also has your standard layout of pockets: two handwarmers; one outer chest pocket and one inner. This tends to be my favourite arrangement, with enough space to keep extras handy, leaving these silky-lined pockets for your paws.

For all the comfort elsewhere, we found the hood a little less snug. Though it fits neatly and is fully adjustable, it isn’t very deep and left my face feeling a little exposed. Overall though, it’s warm, comfy, athletic and, at the target price, exceptional value.

On first impressions, you might be expecting a slightly more substantial jacket from Arc'teryx. But despite weighting just 350g, the Beta LT women's jacket performs excellently, standing up to heavy downpours and buffeting conditions just as well as crunchier, more rigid hard shells.

Overall, this is an extremely lightweight and packable three-layer Gore-Tex shell designed to provide high-grade weather protection at minimum weight. It’s had a few tweaks over time, with previous versions earning ‘Best in Test’ awards in our magazine's lightweight waterproof jackets tests. It's not cheap, no, but the Beta LT achieves levels of lightweight performance few other brands can match.

In terms of sustainability, the Gore-Tex membrane is bluesign-approved. The jacket itself is made in Indonesia, in a factory that is certified on environmental management (ISO14001), quality management (ISO9001), health and safety (OHSAS18001) and social compliance (SA8000). In addition, they hold a gender equality certification (EDGE) and have won accolades in Indonesia for their work in this area. Arc’teryx has been working with the facility since 2014 and they’ve been training on Arc’teryx Gore-Tex methods since 2019.

This jacket has recently been revised with a new Gore-Tex membrane, which we will be testing soon, so watch this space.

You can go two ways with waterproof jackets. There’s the warm, lined, feature-packed kind which keep the howling wind at bay but can trap heat a little too effectively, and the simple shell, which is cooler, lighter and more packable. The Brontë is the latter: a stripped-back 2.5-layer shell made with Craghoppers’ AquaDry membrane.

It has the expected benefits (low weight, packability) plus, with a little stretch and articulated sleeves, good ease of movement – especially when using walking poles.

It has some drawbacks though: the integrated collar and hood come together slightly awkwardly, meaning I feel a little cool around the back of the neck when the hood is down. And the internal pocket is weirdly placed, low down in the torso. You have to unzip the jacket almost entirely to access it, which makes it unviable in bad weather.

Grumbles aside, what we have here is an great medium-weight waterproof found in many outlets for around the £50 mark, making it outstanding value for money.

Look, it's got an RRP of £500. That's a month's rent for many people in the UK. But if you're after something that you could feasibly wear while standing under a waterfall for an hour, followed by being pelted with snow, ice, sleet, hail, and then dunked in a swimming pool for good measure - and still stay dry at the end of it - then the Gore-Tex Pro of the Manaslu won’t let you down. 

The Manaslu is incredibly durably constructed, but coming in at 460g, it’s surprisingly lightweight for the heft that it brings. It’s also very breathable; if you’re going uphill in the pouring rain, a base-layer with this shell on top will keep you as cool as a cucumber.

Feature wise, it’s got everything a gal could want from a heavy-duty mountaineering jacket: accessible pockets while wearing a harness; full helmet and goggle-compatible hood; visors; pit zips; coffee maker; chip-and-pin device. We may have made the last two up but the point is if you want bells and whistles you’ll get them here in spades. Oh, everything works faultlessly. 

The only thing we'd say is that because its designed for hard mountain storms, there's room for lots of layers underneath; if you're not wearing a helmet or hat, then the hood could seem a little loose (but there are of course, draws to tighten it). Other than that, it's pretty much perfect.

One of those annoying things about gear is that if something performs brilliantly, while weighing very little, then it probably costs a small fortune. On the plus side, however, Mountain Equipment offers a Lifetime Guarantee for any defects. Send it back to them and they’ll replace it for free. Bargain?

We try not to be swayed too much by colour but it’s hard sometimes, especially when you find a jacket in such unusual earthy tones. It’s an immediate plus for us, but what else does the Nima have going for it?

Most notably, it is exceptionally light and flexible, with particularly good mobility around the shoulders. I’d scramble up and over Peak District gritstone boulders without hesitation.

In payment for that low weight though, you must offer up your pockets. There are only two, for your hands. The hood too is very simple, with no rear adjustment, and the front toggles aren’t the most secure.

But we found that it still cocooned my head almost perfectly and the integrated collar felt fairly warm even when the hood was down. There’s also an outer storm flap that offers extra protection from wind and water while also giving the jacket a neat, sleek look. It’s our jacket of choice here for more gymnastic or athletic outings, where we might want to scramble up a rocky face or move at a faster pace.

One of the other huge strong points with this jacket is its eco credentials. Apart from being recycled and PFC-free, the brand has a mission to support Nepalese schoolchildren, and employment opportunities in Nepal through its Handcrafted Collection, which we think is pretty cool.

The Fen is a very high-spec 2.5-layer jacket for its price: lightweight at just 250g, powered by Sprayway’s dependable HydroDRY membrane, soft and sleek to the touch, and packed with refinements such as a peaked hood, cowled cuffs and a good-sized chest pocket. I

We’ve especially enjoyed it on hill walks, where its low weight, athletic cut and excellent breathability combine really well on energetic ascents, keeping me dry in the rain whilst never allowing the heat to build up too much.

The Fen lacks the firmness and crinkle factor that add reassurance in all-day wind and rain, but it’s perfect for those who want a lighter, cooler option. Yes, it’s sad that this kind of jacket used to RRP under that three-figure tidemark – but we all know why, and it’s no fault of Sprayway.

For the price, especially on sale, this is an absolute bargain. Sturdy, warm and comfortable with some neat features and one unusual one. That’s the inner pocket, located not at the chest but just above the lower hem so you can only access it with the jacket open to the waist and the elements.

Initially, we thought this was a terrible idea but it revealed itself to be a good place to keep valuables that you might want quick but infrequent access to – like a purse. Or found treasures like a polished orb of quartz or a good leaf. This works because it’s teamed with two hand and two outer chest pockets, both phone- sized. As an occasional glasses wearer, our tester found this helpful for stashing specs in one and phone in the other, with both in easy reach with no fear of either getting scratched. Good if you’re left- handed too.

We also particularly like the free-standing collar, which zips up over the chin with the hood down, helping it feel snug and protective. This is quite a heavy jacket, and the shell is thick and quite stiff. It’s not the most flexible and can lead to overheating – but it does feel very protective. But when it's often found for more than 50% off, who's to argue?

This water-based fabric cleaning is ideal for any technical or waterproof fabric, including Gore-Tex. It's highly concentrated too, so a little goes a long way. It's also bluesign approved and PFC-free.

Like Grangers, this is also water-based and PFC-free. It too is a very effective cleaner of outdoor and technical garments. Being honest, there's not much separating the effectiveness of Grangers and Nikwax.

This kit includes a big one-litre volume of Tech Wash and the 300ml bottle of reproofing TX.Direct. Add the TX Direct to the washing machine and run a second cycle after cleaning with Tech Wash.

This combo is perfect for cleaning outdoor garment first, then adding durable water repellency to slightly tired waterproof fabrics. Use the Performance Wash like a laundry detergent, but simply spray the Repel Plus over the garment.