A waterproof run jacket is essential for off-season training, so we’ve tested seven of the best to find the right one for you…
WORDS ROB SLADE IMAGES UNSPLASH, STEVE SAYERS & KAIDEN GARDENER
BUYER’S GUIDE
GORE R7 GTX SHAKEDRY TRAIL JACKET
£299.99 At a penny shy of £300, that is a sky-high price, but for that money you get a jacket using Gore-Tex Shakedry technology, which impressively sheds water with just a few shakes. It works very well, but the front zip isn’t fully waterproof (zips rarely are), so in sustained heavy downpours you may notice some water ingress here. However, you will find a sizeable storm flap placed behind the zip that limits the impact of this. Breathability is decent and the two-way zip made it very easy to dump heat. Fit runs small, so we recommend sizing up, while a toggle at the waist and elasticated cuffs help keep the weather out. Meanwhile, the hood has a single adjustment point and fits perfectly, moving with your head as you turn. A single black colourway isn’t ideal, but there is reflective detailing to help with visibility. The jacket also packs down to smaller than a pint glass and weighs a reasonable 172g (UK M). gorewear.com
83% VERDICT Impressive Shakedrytech and fab hood, but price hard to ignore
MONTANE MINIMUS LITE
£185 Despite Montane suggesting this is a stripped-back waterproof jacket, it still retains a strong feature set, all of which is encapsulated in its 211g (UK M) weight and pack size similar to a pint glass. It’s not the lightest, but nor does it feel heavy. Of those features, the hood is a particular highlight, with a volume adjuster at the rear and two toggles on the collar delivering a perfect fit. There are further adjustment points on each side of the waist, plus two zipped hip pockets. While the cuffs are partially elasticated, they’re not as close fitting as we’d like, which can allow some rain to get in. That being said, the combination of a durable water repellent (DWR) coating and Pertex Shield membrane proved reliably waterproof. Overall, fit proved true to size and the stretch fabric helped deliver excellent range of motion. The jacket comes in an electric blue, black and alder green. montane.com
87% VERDICT Tweak the cuffs, add atwo-way zip, lose a few more gramsand it’d be the perfect run jacket
INOV-8 RACE-SHELL HALF ZIP
£120 The Raceshell is an updated version of Inov-8’s Ultra Shell, which we tested in 2022. Like the latter, this latest model prioritises light weight, coming up on our scales at 103g (UK M). Tha
