I’m looking to spend around $500 on a solid hiking jacket and a fleece, but I’m so overwhelmed with all the options. I had a Patagonia jacket before, but it didn’t hold up in some pretty harsh conditions. Any recommendations for a rain jacket that won’t break the bank (ideally under $500, including a fleece)? I’d be forever grateful.
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You can’t go wrong with the Arc’teryx Beta LT. It’s lightweight, super durable, and pretty much bombproof in any weather. The only downside is you’re gonna be tight on budget if you want a fleece too, but maybe look for sales?
I’m a Columbia fan myself. They have some good rain jackets that aren’t overpriced, and you could easily grab a fleece too for under $500. The OutDry Ex jacket is solid in bad weather, and you’ll have some cash leftover.
Honestly, I’d go with Marmot. Their PreCip jacket is affordable and holds up pretty well. Not as fancy as Arc’teryx but for the price, it’s great. You’ll have no trouble grabbing a fleece with it and staying under budget.
+1 for Columbia. I got a 3-in-1 jacket from them a while back for like $250 and it came with a fleece liner. It’s perfect for most weather and the price is super reasonable. You could get that and still have money left over.
Columbia sound great, but how does it hold up in serious rain? I’ve had jackets that couldn’t keep me dry after a couple of hours.
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The one I have has been solid in heavy rain. I’ve worn it on some soggy hikes in the Pacific Northwest and didn’t have any issues. That being said, if you’re hitting really extreme weather, you might wanna consider a more expensive option.
I’d say skip Columbia and go for Arc’teryx or Rab If you’re in really nasty weather. Rab’s Kinetic Alpine is slightly cheaper than Arc’teryx but still top-notch for bad conditions. You could probably pair it with a cheaper fleece and stay in budget.