Best Running Jackets for Every Condition: Our Top Weatherproof Picks

Introduction

Picking the right running jacket is about matching the layer to the run. Some days you just want a thin shell to take the edge off the first cold kilometres; other days you need a fully waterproof layer that will survive hours of wind and rain. This guide covers twelve jackets across the spectrum, from around the £45 mark up to roughly £300, and each one has earned its place through repeated real-world use across different seasons and running styles.

Quick Pick: New Balance Impact Run Light Pack Jacket

For runners who rarely wear jackets because they overheat, this thin, highly breathable shell is hard to beat. It adds just enough protection against the elements for the first kilometre or two of a slow winter run, then stays comfortable enough to keep wearing. It is not waterproof, but that is not the point.

The killer feature is packability: the whole jacket stuffs into its own pocket, which has a belt so you can wear it around your waist once you warm up. At a £70 RRP, often closer to £50 at retailers, it is also excellent value. New Balance releases it in many designs, including a London Marathon edition.

Best Windproof Everyday Shell: On Weather Jacket

The On Weather Jacket (£190) suits spring through autumn running, handling light showers and wind as an extra layer over a t-shirt. It packs into its own chest pocket, which doubles as a handy storage spot for keys or a pass on the run.

Ventilation across the upper half keeps it from feeling like a plastic bag, waist toggles let shorter runners dial in the fit, and the hood sits comfortably over a cap or a ponytail. A genuinely easy jacket to live with.

Best All-Round Premium Jacket: Soar All Weather Jacket

This is the jacket one of our testers reached for nearly every day across three winters, from sub-zero cold snaps to mild but soaking weeks, and it still looks like new. It is waterproof and windproof, never too hot, and its close cut works for fast sessions as well as easy miles. The basics are simply done extremely well: a comfortable chest pocket that fits a phone, a large back pocket for gloves, soft thumb holes and collar material, and understated reflective details. The fit runs close, so some runners may want to size up.

Best for Ultras: OMM Kamleika

The OMM Kamleika (£190) is a lightweight but extremely robust waterproof with taped seams and a 20,000 hydrostatic head, making it suitable for the mandatory-kit checks at mountain ultra events. It layers well over one, two or three base layers, so you can flex it through changing conditions on long days out.

Two front pockets take gels and small items, and the adjustable hood with a peak sits securely over a cap without blocking your vision. The cuffs have built-in thumb loops with Velcro that can catch on other fabric, and the zips can flap slightly during long runs, but these are small niggles on an otherwise outstanding jacket.

Best for Wind and Showers: Patagonia Air Houdini and Patagonia Air

The Patagonia Air Houdini is a shower-resistant, windproof shell for cold windy days, breathable enough that you will not cook inside it. It weighs just 102g, packs into its own chest pocket small enough to fit in an ultra-vest bottle pocket, and the chest placement keeps a phone from bouncing.

Our advice, though, is to buy the Patagonia Air instead. It is an almost identical jacket made from 100% recycled material rather than about 45%, is slightly lighter, and costs £90, roughly £60 less. Both have a generous hood that fits over a bun or ponytail with rear adjustment.

Best for Serious Rain: North Face Futurelight Jacket

When it is absolutely tipping down, this is the jacket that keeps you genuinely dry. The Futurelight membrane does not let much heat in or out, so you stay dry and at a reasonable temperature in the worst UK conditions. The hood is on the smaller side but works over a cap, and there is a storm flap under the zip. It is machine washable at 30 degrees, which is a practical bonus, and it feels like a winter investment that will last.

Best Ultralight Waterproof: Gore R7 ShakeDry Jacket

This is a premium jacket, but you rarely have to pay full price as it is frequently on sale. The ShakeDry coating is not a gimmick: when the jacket is soaked, a shake sheds almost all the water, which is ideal before stashing it in a pack mid-run. It is so light and breathable that it can be worn over another layer in mild conditions on hard runs without overheating. The chest pocket takes a phone, doubles as a stuff sack, and the close fit again rewards sizing up if you prefer room to move.

Best for Brutal Wind: New Balance London Marathon Jacket

Released as a London Marathon 2021 training jacket, with marathon editions for other cities too, this is a thicker, more robust shell than most running jackets. That makes it the pick for genuinely bad weather days, when the outer shell blocks a constant onslaught of wind and rain and removes any excuse to skip the run.

The main omission is a hood, which will matter to many runners. If you run in caps anyway and want maximum protection, it is a great all-round layer, and New Balance keeps the pricing friendly relative to more expensive options.

Best Value Waterproof: Higher State Mountain Stretch Waterproof Running Jacket

Higher State is the own-brand clothing line from Sports Shoes, and this jacket is superb value at £45. It is waterproof and windproof with a soft feel and a relaxed fit, side toggles that pull the hood down into a secure fit, and two large side pockets for carrying kit.

It is not the most breathable option when you start sweating, so it suits colder, wetter runs best. For an affordable jacket that protects against serious wind and rain while still feeling comfortable, it balances everything well.

Best Lightweight Storm Shell: Inov-8 Stormshell

Inov-8 hails from the UK’s Lake District, where four seasons can pass in two hours, and the Stormshell reflects that. It is a lightweight waterproof shell with an adjustable peaked hood that sits firmly over a cap, popper clips so you can run with the front partly open without it billowing, and a chest pocket that holds a larger phone or a gel securely.

It packs down tight into a backpack and takes the edge off wind and harsh conditions when you need protection for short stretches. It will not insulate you in freezing storms, but for changeable city or fell runs it is a great carry-everywhere layer.

Best Hood Fit and Storage: Keela Storm Jacket

Keela is a British outdoor brand from the east coast of Scotland with around 25 years of history, and the Storm Jacket is a proper waterproof with sealed seams that also works for hiking and cycling. The hood is the highlight: three-way adjustable with toggles at the back and both sides, a shapeable wire peak, and enough room for a ponytail or bun, a fit that many women will appreciate.

Storage is generous, with a chest pocket, two hip pockets and a rear pocket, though all those zips add weight. The outer fabric feels slightly rough rather than soft, and the jacket has proved so popular that it is currently sold out on Keela’s own site, though other retailers still stock it, sometimes at a discount.

How to Choose the Right Jacket

Start with the conditions you actually run in. If you overheat easily and mostly want a first-few-kilometres layer, a thin packable shell like the New Balance Impact Run Light Pack or the Patagonia Air makes more sense than a heavyweight waterproof. If you regularly run in real rain, prioritise taped seams and a genuine waterproof membrane.

For ultra and mountain events, check the mandatory kit list, as organisers often require taped-seam waterproofs and do spot checks. And remember that fit matters: several of these jackets cut close, so sizing up is a sensible move if you like layering underneath.

Conclusion

There is no single best running jacket, only the right jacket for the run in front of you. The New Balance Impact Run Light Pack Jacket and Patagonia Air cover lightweight, breathable duties at friendly prices; the Soar All Weather Jacket and OMM Kamleika handle daily winter and ultra use at the premium end; and the Higher State Mountain Stretch proves you do not need to spend big for genuine waterproof protection. Match the layer to the weather, and any of these will keep you running through whatever the sky throws at you.