Shed the Elements in New Rain Gear

In the March+April issue of Washington Trails, the gear team selected some of best performing rain shells after months of trail exposure to harsh winds, heavy rains and even driving snow. Among the top contenders were Mountain Hardwear's Stretch Cohesion Combo, RAB's Demand Pull-On, and Arc'teryx' Beta AR. (See the complete magazine review) But we could only fit a handful of items in the magazine, and still had plenty of worthy contenders worth mentioning. Here's the rest of the team's list, spanning some classic favorites, a couple of high-tech climbers, and some new insulated models that all proved that staying dry and comfortable in the rain is no problem at all.

No-Frills Goodness

The UK-designed Montane Atomic DT Jacket is made to be a very lightweight but durable jacket to ward off the elements. At just under 11 ounces, this beautifully-designed jacket performed admirably in our Northwest climate without being burdened by lots of extras. The cuffs can be tightened down with Velcro tabs that are easy to grip with gloves, and the hood fits nicely around helmets and can easily be pulled in with their simple closure system. The Atomic offers ample ventilation with its pit zips and ventilated pockets, coupled with the Entrant DT coating, allowing our team to stay dry while clambering up numerous hillsides in all types of weather. (Team score: 8.8) M/W $230

Recently updated, the Outdoor Research Paladin Jacket proved itself worthy with our team, from trail running in the rain, to alpine endeavors in the wind and snow. Constructed of a fully seam-taped 30D three-layer Pertex fabric, the Paladin breathes well in all conditions, ensuring maximum comfort. It sports a fully-adjustable hood, roomy enough for a climbing helmet, water-resistant zippers and adjustable cuffs for sealing out the elements. You won't get much more than your hands in the two front pockets, but a third internal pocket (with media port) helps in stowing small items (Team score: 8.6) M/W $250

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For the Climbers

Our team tested numerous rain shells, but the Mountain Hardwear Spinoza Jacket stood out as a favorite. Through strong winds and blizzard-like conditions, the Spinoza shrugged off the snow, wind and rain effortlessly, thanks to the waterproof and extremely breathable DryQ Elite fabric. Even when working on extra hard ascents, our team members remained completely dry, both inside and out. With a stormproof hood, perfectly placed hand pockets, and full pit zips for additional ventilation, the Spinoza proved to be a well-designed alpine coat that lived up to all its expectations. We had a really hard time not taking this jacket on every trip we went on. (Team score: 9.2) M/W $450

Built for efficiency with ice/mixed climbers in mind, the RAB Momentum Jacket really pulls out all the stops to bring you a beautifully technical jacket without any extra strings attached. The sleeves are longer to keep arms covered while working with ice tools, with pockets that can be easily accessed while hanging off one tool mid-route. Despite there being no ventilation system, our team found it to be exceptionally breathable thanks to the eVent three-layer construction. We found the fit to be great, if not a little roomy while under-layered. In all, the Momentum is a fantastic lightweight shell and is superb at keeping the elements at bay. (Team score: 8) M/W $285

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Extra Warmth

The North Face Potosi Jacket combines waterproof and breathable HyVent Alpha fabric with lightweight, strategically placed insulation to take the chill out of all of your high alpine pursuits. Our team worked hard in this coat, sporting just base or mid-layers, and managed to stay warm and dry—plus spent hours in the pouring rain and never felt wet or cold. With two extra-large hand pockets, pit zips, and a bit of stretch, we appreciated just how comfortable and versatile the Potosi can be. In the next iteration of this jacket we’d like to see a better-reinforced hood, but the overall jacket design is solid.  (Team score: 8.8) M/W $350

Combine an Elements water-repellant outer shell with a Primaloft Eco insulated lining and you get the REI Salix Jacket, an excellent contender for shoulder-season explorations. Crammed full of features, the Salix lets you enjoy cooler, wetter climes without the need for bulky midlayers. Our team was more than pleased with the numerous internal and external pockets, fully-adjustable hood, and large pit zips that assisted with venting during strenuous endeavors. With a trim fit allowing a full range of motion (men’s sizes; women’s ran a bit on the large size), and exceptional warmth, the Salix was a favorite among the team when the rain fell and the mercury dipped. (Team score: 8) M/W $200

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Can't Go Wrong

Practical and useful, the Patagonia Rain Shadow Jacket keeps the elements on the outside. Constructed of H2No Barrier fabric and a Deluge DWR finish it kept our testers dry dry even in windy downpours. The longer cut keeps the wet away from the waist, and helps to keep warmth sealed in. The Rain Shadow features well-placed pockets, pit zips for added ventilation, and a roll-down hood that fits well over a helmet, or adjusts in two ways for bare head protection. PU-coated waterproof zippers keep the leaks out. An excellent shell for any spring outing, or for adding to your Ten Essentials kit. (Team score: 8.8) M/W $190

The North Face Venture Pants have three excellent features for hikers and backpackers: 1) They fold and store in their own pocket, making them ultra-packable; 2) they're made with breathable, waterproof HyVent DT, which has a dry-touch coating over the waterproof layer for added comfort—a huge improvement over other fabrics that leave you cold and clammy; 3) A great price. With an easy elastic drawstring waist, our testers found the Venture pants kept the rain out and remained comfortable all day, regardless of the whims of Northwest weather. (Team score: 9.2) M/W $80