Filson Women’s Swiftwater Rain Jacket review: a rugged jacket for wet weather

The Filson Women’s Swiftwater Rain Jacket is your top choice for low terrain walking, field sports and fishing

By Berne Broudy
published
Filson Women’s Swiftwater Rain Jacket
(Image: © Filson)

Advnture Verdict

Tough and practical, this waterproof jacket is well featured for fishing, field sports and walking on low-level terrain in wet weather.

Pros

  • +

    Brimmed hood deflects water

Cons

  • -

    Not as packable as other jackets

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First impressions

Made to resist abrasion and hard use, the 2.5-layer nylon Filson Women’s Swiftwater Rain Jacket has a mesh pattern printed on the inside to protect the membrane, as well as water-resistant zippers and Velcro-close cuffs.

The hood adjusts in two directions with a drawcord. A drawcord also adjusts the hem. And the jacket packs into its own pocket.

Specifications

• Price: $195 (US) / £225 (UK)
• Sizes: XS–XXL
• Weight: 369g / 13oz
• Waterproofing Technology: Nylon ripstop with printed membrane
• Colors: Field Olive / Dark Denim / Blaze Orange / Tan

In the field

A jacket made to take use and abuse, I never felt like I had to protect the Swiftwater from tearing or snagging. It’s made for fishing, but I also hiked and bushwhacked in it, squeezing through branches and scrambling up rocky outcrops that would have ripped other rain shells.

The two-way adjustable hood has a stiffened fabric brim that kept rain off my face, and oversize hand pockets held snacks, a phone, a sandwich, gloves, and more.

The jacket was cut long enough that when I was sitting, the hem stayed over my pants. And the slightly longer-cut sleeves kept rain off layers I wore under this jacket, without covering my hands and hampering my dexterity. Fully zipped it came up to just below my nose but could be pulled up to cover my nose too.

The jacket had a great cut for fishing and general use – not body-hugging, but not so loose it flapped in the wind. Filson claim the jacket packs into its own pocket, and that’s true, but it was awkward to get it in and didn’t save space in my pack. I preferred to leave the jacket loose inside my pack or under the lid when I wasn’t wearing it.

Berne Broudy
Berne Broudy

Vermont-based writer, photographer and adventurer, Berne reports on hiking, biking, skiing, overlanding, travel, climbing and kayaking for category-leading publications in the U.S., Europe and beyond. In the field, she’s been asked to deliver a herd of llamas to a Bolivian mountaintop corral, had first fat-biking descents in Alaska, helped establish East Greenland’s first sport climbing and biked the length of Jordan. She’s worked to help brands clean up their materials and manufacturing, and has had guns pulled on her in at least three continents.