Kathmandu Trailhead Stretch 2.5 Layer Rain Jacket review: lighter than light, breathable and easy on the planet

Meet the reviewer

Julia Clarke

Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the book Restorative Yoga for Beginners. She loves to explore mountains on foot, bike, skis and belay and then recover on the the yoga mat. Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. She then detoured west to Colorado and enjoyed 11 years teaching yoga in Vail before returning to her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 to focus on family and writing.  

Kathmandu Trailhead Stretch 2.5 Layer Rain Jacket: first impressions 

We thought we knew lightweight waterproof jackets, but then we met the Kathmandu Trailhead Stretch 2.5 Rain Jacket, which barely moves the scale. This soft, light and stretchy jacket is a no-brainer whether you're expecting a downpour on the hill or just want to have a bit of protection rolled up in your backpack out of precaution.

Built using 100% recycled polyester, we've hiked up steep slopes in warm weather in this jacket and found it to be as breathable as any rain jacket can be, reinforced by the pit zips to help you dump heat. It's 2.5-layer rather than 3-layer (read more on the difference in our article on 2-layer and 3-layer construction) so it's not built for the harshest of conditions, but it fends off the rain and we'd use it for hiking in the spring through the fall, and even on milder winter days.

The added stretch makes it really comfortable to move in and layer over your fleece jacket and adjustable cuffs, hem and hood all cinch things in tight to beat back the wind on a gusty hike. For your gloves and phone, there are two zipped hand-warming pockets plus inner mesh pockets where you can stash a map if you want to.

There's no chest pocket and it can be a little hard to reach the hand-warming pockets when you're wearing a backpack with a hip belt, plus the pit zips only have a one-way zipper which makes it a tiny bit harder to open them, but as you can see we're really reaching to find much wrong with this jacket. It's not a technical shell, but if you're just looking for a reliable waterproof jacket that's not stiff and swishy, you'll find this provides all those perks here at a palatable price.

Kathmandu Trailhead Stretch 2.5 Layer Rain Jacket: in the field

I'm just getting to know the New Zealand brand Kathmandu, having tested out their Heli R Hooded Down jacket last winter and more recently, the Valorous 38L backpack. For the past couple of months, I've been wearing this rain jacket on hikes around Scotland and the Lake District, in both chilly late spring as well as unseasonably warm weather.

Here’s how it performed:

Sizing, fit and comfort

I typically wear a small which is actually often a tad loose, but in this jacket, I tested an XS and I'd say it's a perfect fit, so unless you like things really roomy, it may be worth sizing down. It's streamlined without being too tight to layer or catching anywhere. It has a straightforward design, and no drop tail, so it might not offer as much protection as some jackets, but it's also easier to wear as a daily jacket around town for that reason, and I appreciate it when I'm hopping on my bike.

As for comfort, the fabric is super soft, not swishy at all, and all the added stretch makes it really comfortable to move in, even when I was scrambling recently in the Lake District.

Waterproofing and breathability

This is a 2.5-layer jacket, so it's not a robust hard shell designed for mountaineering, but between Scotland and the lakes, I've had no end of rain against which to test its capabilities, and so far it's come up trumps. The hood is adjustable and even though it doesn't have a peak, it stays up which is the most important thing in windy Scotland.

As for breathability, I last wore it while hiking up Loughridge Fell, a Wainwright in the Lake District and we were blessed with sunshine and temperatures around 70 degrees. I wore it more as a windbreaker than anything else, with just a T-shirt underneath, and though I did eventually take it off (because who wears a jacket in that weather?) I was impressed by how not-sweaty I got, even during the steeper parts.

Weight and packability

This is officially the lightest waterproof jacket I own, and I own quite a few. With 2.5-layer protection and without any bells and whistles, it rolls up small. For hiking in the spring through summer, this will be coming in my backpack on every hike now in case I encounter a shower, and it's ideal for active travel where I don't want to check a bag but might need some weather protection.

Pockets and sustainability

This jacket isn't exactly teeming with pockets, but it has enough storage for most hikers with two, well-sized zipped hand pockets plus two inner mesh pockets which came in handy the other day when I was at the train station and needed somewhere to carry and apple and pastry I had just bought for breakfast. It doesn't have a chest pocket, which can be useful for keeping my phone close to hand when I'm wearing a backpack, but since most of my backpacks now have storage either on the shoulder straps or hip belt, this really isn't a dealbreaker for me.

As for sustainability, Kathmandu is setting a good example on the eco-friendly front and this jacket checks a big box for made. It's made using 100 percent recycled polyester in the face material, something I'd like to see every jacket doing.

Kathmandu Trailhead Stretch 2.5 Layer Rain Jacket: the bottom line

This ultralight rain jacket is an excellent choice for anyone seeking reliable, non-technical weather protection that they can wear on the trail when they aren't expecting winter conditions. It looks good enough to wear around town as a daily layer, and it's easily light enough to come with you on vacation. If you're seeking something nearly as light but with three-layer protection, check out the Montane Phase Lite.

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