If you would like to look rather less like Paddington Bear in your on a regular basis metropolis outings, I additionally really helpful Adidas’ Rain.Rdy City Jacket ($260) from this yr’s Wish List. While our different suggestions are fairly formless, the Rain.Rdy is extremely trendy, and the women’s version cinches on the waist to offer you a form. The huge chest pocket may be very handy in case you stroll or bike rather a lot together with your cellphone, and it is also made out of 60 p.c recycled material and left undyed for a smaller ecological footprint. 

My necessities for a operating rain jacket are a lot completely different than for an on a regular basis one. I’m sweating and normally out for an hour or much less, so I do not care as a lot if the jacket is a bit more permeable. However, I need it to suit properly, not chafe, and have good air flow so I do not change into clammy when I’m figuring out.

This winter, the jacket I’ve reached for probably the most is Lululemon’s winter operating jacket. The Cross Chill arrived in a blindingly neon wasabi yellow-green with reflective particulars, good for visibility in Portland’s grey, moist climate. It’s stretchy and skintight, so it does not rustle below my arms as I’m operating. 

Like quite a lot of Lululemon’s gear, it is packed stuffed with considerate particulars. The hood might be cinched over a hat. The thumb holes assist maintain my sleeves down. I additionally notably like the position of the massive zippered cellphone pocket within the small of my again. I normally run with a tiny Nathan running vest ($100) to hold my cellphone, however with the Cross Chill, I can slip my iPhone 14 into the again pocket and never fear about placing on an extra accent. And, after all, none of this is able to matter if it did not maintain me heat and dry whereas on hour-long path runs within the pouring rain.

★ Great Alternatives: The traditional operating jacket is the Patagonia Houdini ($109), which is tremendous easy and packs down extremely small. The firm lately switched to a PFC-free DWR, however I do must admit that the Houdini rustles, it is not terribly breathable, and I get a little bit clammy once I run in it. If I’m not carrying the Cross Chill, I just like the North Face Lightriser, which is trim, breathable, and reduce near the physique to eradicate annoying rustling. It’s additionally made out of North Face’s spider-woven Futurelight material. However, it’s priced at an eye-watering $300. 

If protecting extremely dry is not a difficulty for you, there are a variety of light-weight PFC-free choices which are a little bit extra permeable, like Nathan’s Vamos track jacket ($100) or Smartwool’s merino anorak ($130), which makes use of a PFC-free DWR. These don’t pack down as small, although. 

As a lot time as I spend within the rain, I by no means get fairly as soaked as I do when ebiking my two children to and from faculty. If you’re a devoted bike owner who spends hours coaching with a Peloton, you’ll in all probability be higher off with a light-weight, high-visibility jacket that may stretch as you progress and vent warmth. However, in case you’re an everyday bike commuter, you probably need a less-technical jacket. 

Cleverhood is an impartial, Rhode Island-based firm, and its signature garment is the biking-friendly Rain Cape. However, the anorak is my favourite. Like the cape, it’s reduce very generously to permit for a flannel shirt and a small down jacket beneath.