The best running jackets 2023: lightweight waterproofs and windbreakers

The best running jackets will keep you dry and comfortable throughout the spring, fending off chilly breezes without adding unnecessary weight. Many are so small they can even be stuffed inside your hydration pack.

For spring showers, some of the best running jackets contain a water-repellent membrane, such as Gore-Tex. While this makes the jacket slightly heavier, it can make all the difference if you have a training session scheduled in inclement weather.

If you're looking for a waterproof running jacket, the R7 Gore-Tex Shakedry Trail Hooded Jacket is our pick of the crop. We particularly appreciated its elasticated cuffs and drawstring hem, which keep drafts at bay, and the fact that it's breathable without any mesh or vents to let in water.

All the running jackets below have been tested in real windy and rainy conditions, during the day and at night. We assess each jacket for weatherproofing, breathability, and visibility, and take into account weight and packability in case the skies clear and the weather warms up.

The best running jackets

Waterproof running jackets

This shiny, jet black running jacket from Gore is completely windproof and fully waterproof.  It’s breathable fabric doesn’t have any mesh or vents which is one of the reasons it's such a great windproof and waterproof.

The R7 Gor-Tex Shakedry has an adjustable hood with a visor that we found effective for keeping the rain off our face, and a drawcord at the waist for a snug fit that doesn't billow in the wind. Nobody needs extra air resistance when they're running. We also appreciated the elasticated cuffs, which keep the sleeves in place and allow easy access to your GPS watch, plus the large pocket on the back that's roomy enough for your running gels and other essentials.

This jacket really is all singing and dancing.  Although it’s the most expensive jacket we’ve reviewed, we think it's definitely worth the money if you need something that'll resist the rain for long training sessions. If the majority of your runs are less than an hour then we would say stick to a cheaper model, but if you’re going to be out for hours then this is the jacket for you.

Read our full R7 Gore-Tex Shakedry Trail Hooded Jacket review

The Berghaus Hyper 140 jacket strikes the perfect balance between weight and waterproofing. We weren't expecting much from such thin, flexible fabric, but it does a fantastic job repelling rain.

The cuffs and hem are close fitting, and we found that the high front zip offered great protection to keep your top dry. However, the hood lacks a flexible peak to direct the water out of your eyes, so we found it works best if you have a water-resistant baseball hat underneath. The jacket comes with a separate stuff sack, which would benefit from being slightly larger as it is not easy to achieve perfectly economical folds on the move. 

This jacket is great for people who love the outdoors, be it hiking or trail running. It is comfortable, lightweight, will fight the elements and offers good breathability for a genuine waterproof jacket. Saying that you will need to provide additional ventilation on warmer days and on runs where you are making more effort.

Read our full Berghaus Hyper 140 lightweight running jacket review

The Inov-8 Stormshell is as close as it gets to an all-round running jacket. This well considered design has extra features that make it handy for an array of climates throughout the year, but it really comes into its own in challenging conditions.

Small thumb holes at the end of the sleeve mean you can easily pull the jacket down over your hand to help keep yourself warm on chilly mornings, and you don’t have to burden yourself with carrying gloves around in your pocket for most of your run.

The snug hood and high front zip kept us nice and snug when the weather took a turn for the worse, with only a small part of our head exposed to the elements. The lightweight and breathable fabric means this jacket is very easy to wear. The jacket comes in black as well as some brighter colours. We appreciate the fact that the logos are reflective, but a couple of additional reflective details would give us peace of mind when running after dark.

The silky smooth jacket does come at a price, and for a new runner there are probably better entry options. However an experienced, long-distance runner will certainly appreciate all the features that it offers.

Read our full inov-8 Stormshell running jacket review

This smart running jacket from Columbia only comes in white, which won't suit everyone's preferences, but means you'll be nice and visible at night. 

It's fully waterproof with sealed seams, making it a solid choice for rainy training sessions, and has a vented back to allow airflow. It's a smart design, but doesn't work well when worn with a running backpack or hydration pack that blocks the vent.

The hood isn't adjustable, but in our tests it stayed in place even in high winds. On dry days, you can stash it out of the way to minimize wind resistance. The jacket can also be packed into its own chest pocket if you start to warm up.

If you are looking for a stylish waterproof at a great price then this jacket is a great option. We’d recommend it for shorter sessions when you don't need to carry additional water, gels, and other gear.

Read our full Columbia OutDry Ex lightweight shell jacket review

Reflective running jackets

The Proviz360 is covered in millions of tiny, highly reflective glass beads. During the daytime the jacket is silver and black, but when it catches even a little light, the material appears to shine bright white.

At night the jacket comes into its own. It’s highly visible in the headlamps of passing cars, grabbing the attention of all onlookers. It’s also great on the trails as headlamps bounce off the jacket, turning you into a beacon of light for others to follow.

The Proviz360 running jacket is made from a thicker material than most and has mesh panels on the back, sides and arms for breathability. However, we found it could get quite hot when worn with a running backpack or hydration pack, as this blocks the main mesh panel.

The jacket has elasticated cuffs and a collar to keep drafts at bay, but no hood. There are two pockets on the front of the jacket for gels and other essentials.

We highly recommend this jacket for running at night on colder nights. It keeps you warm and, more importantly, helps you to be seen.

Read our full Proviz Reflect 360 Men’s Running Jacket review

We tested this running jacket on several sub-zero training sessions, and once we eased into the run, the jacket retained our heat very nicely. The fabric has a reassuring, yet sometimes distracting rustle, akin to a full on waterproof coat so you know it will put up a good fight against the elements. The flip side to these insulating properties is that you can easily get quite hot and sweaty as the fabric isn't as breathable as that of higher end jackets, but you could argue that a quick unzip to let air circulate will help restore homeostasis.

The jacket has simple yet stylish reflective lines on the front and some smaller lines on the back. A tight-fitting hood, along with a high front zip will offer your face a lot of shelter on wetter days. When you try the jacket on you will soon find a small carry bag nestled in one of the two front pockets, which is a nice addition. These features are often reserved for higher end jackets, finding them all in this very well priced jacket makes it a strong buy in our book.

Read our full Evadict Trail Running Waterproof Rain Jacket review

Sustainable running jacket

When the temperature drops during late summer and early autumn, when you are up early hitting the trails on fresh mornings and increasingly chilly evenings, this is a strong jacket to have with you on your adventures. As you would expect from Patagonia, the jacket has good eco credentials with 51% of the material coming from recycled sources. 

We found the Patagonia Houdini Air Jacket very comfortable, lightweight and easy to run in. The fabric is quite breathable, and there are additional design considerations such as loose cuffs and hem to provide better air circulation, which we did notice and appreciate. When you want to stow the jacket away, you can stuff it into its own pocket and it will all but disappear. 

This isn’t a winter jacket, and won't keep you dry when the rain really comes down, despite the hood. Also, there are no reflective details (although you could always sew on your own if you're so inclined).

Budget running jacket

When the weather is turning and you want to head out for a 30- to 60-minute run, the Rab Vital Windshell Jacket is a good choice. It is also well suited for the mountains and trail walking as lightweight layer that won't up loads of space in your bag and packs down into its own pocket.

In our tests, the jacket kept the wind at bay, and although it's not fully waterproof, its hydrophobic coating shrugged off light rain showers. To help you keep cool on the move, when you unzip the jacket you can secure the two sides together three quarters of the way up with a little buttoned tab, which stops the sides flapping around, while at the same time making the jacket nicely breathable.

Aside from a couple of small logos, there are no other reflective markings, which makes this a jacket best used on traffic free routes and trails if you are running at night.

Lightweight running jackets

The Nathan Stealth Jacket is well named. It lets you run light and silent on the trails, while providing a decent amount of protection against the elements. The barely-there feel and ventilated back make it a great jacket for hitting the trails, whether you’re hiking or running.

It’s also wonderfully lightweight, weighing in at only 125g (4.4oz), packs down small, and is moderately priced too. Made from moisture wicking and fast drying nylon, it’s a great, minimal soft shell windbreaker, perfect for chilly winter and shoulder season runs.

Of course, being an ultralight soft shell, it’s not designed for taking on harsh and wet conditions, though there’s a DWR (durable water repellent) finish for the occasional drizzly spell or sudden shower. We found that the Stealth effectively stops windchill in its tracks. However, when persistent rain is forecast, you’ll need a running jacket that's more robust.

Read our full Nathan Stealth Jacket review

The Salomon Sense is so light, you can easily forget you're wearing a running jacket at all  It folds away into a tiny pocket and can be stored easily. This jacket comes in two colour ways; white and opal blue.  Both are very light, so we'd avoid wearing it on wet trails for fear that it would be stained, and the lack of pockets or a hood means we'd prefer to keep it as an extra layer for mild days.

It has a tapered fit, and although the soft fabric has laser cut air holes for breathability, it's also water repellent and wind resistant.

This jacket is perfect for those early morning chilly starts so you could whip it off later into the run when it warms up or for those chilly evening runs in the city. It is the softest running jacket we've tested, and there's no noisy rustling to interrupt your runner's high.

Read our full Salomon Sense Jacket review

Running jackets comparison table

How to choose a running jacket

The best running jackets can be quite an investment, so you need to consider what you will need from the garment. Does it need to be suitable in all weathers for long periods of time?  Will you need to store things in it or will you be wearing it with a running vest or bag?

We've broken down some of the key considerations below:

1. Waterproofing

If you are looking for the best running jacket for adventures in all weather conditions, and for long periods of time, then you should up your budget and look for fully waterproof and windproof jackets. Look out for products with durable water repellency (DWR), the layer that makes rain bead delightfully on your jacket. Even better still, a jacket with a membrane like Gore-Tex will stop water soaking through but also let sweat evaporate out as vapour, which is key for runners.

Waterproof qualities come at a price, both in terms of dollar and in terms of weight. Fair weather runners may be better served by getting a jacket that is water-resistant, rather than fully waterproof. A water-resistant jacket will fend off rain to a point but won't keep you dry if you're out for hours on end. On the plus side, it won't break the bank (quite as much) and it will probably weigh a little less.

2. Ventilation

As well as keeping rain out, we demand that the best running jackets also allow sweat to escape. However, on a long run in your jacket, you're going to get hot regardless of the conditions. The best running jackets have ventilation zips under the armpits that facilitate the flow of air, reduce condensation and cool you down.

3. Weight

Perhaps the biggest distinction between a hikers' jacket and a running jacket is the consideration that goes into its weight. Where speed is concerned, weight – or the lack of it – is key. There's often a trade off between a jacket's weight and its ability to repel the worst of the elements, but advances in materials mean that jackets like Berghaus' Hyper 140 strike a compelling balance. At just 138g, it performs the task of much heavier rivals commendably. (If you're really looking for a layer that keeps the ounces to a minimum, check out our guide to the best lightweight running jackets.)

If you’re looking for the best running jacket for short runs, as an extra layer, then perhaps you don’t need to spend the big bucks. Water-repellent jackets are usually lighter, much cheaper and stow away more easily than fully waterproof garments. If you don't often find yourself running in the rain, garments like the Salomon Sense Jacket – which weighs in at just 80g – are a good option. Just don't expect it to keep you warm and dry on a mountain in January.

4. To hood or not to hood

This decision may come down to the kind of running you intend to do. If you're pounding the city streets a few times a week for an hour at a time, you will probably be fine without a hood. On the other hand, if you're looking to do long trail races in the hills and mountains, or multi-day races, having a hood is as wise a choice as having a pair of running gloves.

5. Fit

When you buy an outer shell for hiking, you want quite a loose fit because of all the layers you may have to wear underneath it in cold conditions. However, this is not the case with running. You want your running jacket to fit snuggly over your base layer, as the rest of your warmth will come from your exertion. However, don't go for too tight a fit, as you want as much freedom of movement as you can. This is the age old compromise with waterproof materials – protection vs freedom.

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