Harrier Xmore 2.5 Layer Waterproof Running Jacket Review: A Smarter, Lighter Update

Introduction

A quality waterproof running jacket has become essential kit for most trail runners, especially anyone training for long ultras where a waterproof layer is often mandatory race equipment. The trouble is that prices have climbed steadily over the last five or six years, and finding a genuinely good jacket with solid protection and breathability for under £100, or even £150, has become genuinely difficult.

That is what makes the updated Harrier Xmore 2.5 layer waterproof running jacket such an interesting proposition. The original Xmore was already a decent jacket for its sub-£100 price, but it was heavy, bulky, and carried too many zips and dangly details for long days out. The new version fixes most of that while keeping the price at £94.99 in the UK.

What Is the Harrier Xmore 2.5 Layer?

The Xmore is Harrier’s updated 2.5 layer waterproof running jacket, built around a hydrostatic waterproof rating of 15,000 and a 15,000 MVP breathability rating, which is good enough to pass most race mandatory kit checks. It is available in petrol blue or black for men, and a bright damson or black for women. Sizing runs from small to XXL for men and extra small to extra large for women. A 6’1”, 80kg tester found the medium fits just right.

Key Features and Construction

The 2.5 layer construction pairs a durable, lightweight internal membrane with a PVC-free DWR coating for sustainable weather protection. The fabric is soft, plush, and stretchy, so it never feels like you are running in a plastic bag. Fully taped internal seams and quality YKK waterproof zips round out the weather protection.

Other practical touches include a fully adjustable peaked hood with a new ventilated elasticated headband for a secure fit, an elasticated loop and hook system to hold the hood down when it is not in use, two good-sized front hand pockets with waterproof zips, and thumb loops at the sleeve ends for really nasty weather. Silicone grippers on the shoulders help control movement when running with a pack or race vest, and high-viz detailing improves visibility on night runs.

A favourite detail is the press stud system next to the front zip. When you warm up on the move, you unzip and pop the stud down for extra ventilation without the jacket flapping all over the place in the wind.

Performance in Testing

The stripped-back design is the headline update. The jacket feels noticeably lighter to run in, with less excess fabric and a better fit through the body and sleeves, giving it a more athletic feel than the original. The double zip front system is gone, the new version is not designed to go over a race vest, and there are fewer pockets overall, which means less weight and better packability while still keeping two well-sized zipped front pockets.

Packability is genuinely improved. You can now fold the jacket away into its own pocket and zip it closed, and the packed size is dramatically smaller than the previous version. That makes it viable as part of your mandatory race kit without swallowing all the space in your race vest, which was the old version’s biggest weakness.

The new one-pull hood adjustment makes it simple to cinch the hood around your face while running, and the elasticated internal headband makes the fit feel secure and cosy in bad weather. The elasticated hem and cuffs improve fit while keeping weight down, and unlike many jackets where thumb loops leave the arms too short to straighten comfortably, the Xmore’s loops are practical and functional.

Protection from the elements has been good, as you would expect from a 15,000 hydrostatic rating. Breathability has also been good for the price; some jackets in the cupboard breathe slightly better, but they cost two or three times as much. As ever, wearing a quality long sleeve base layer under the jacket works far better than a short sleeve tee for staying comfortable inside the shell.

Things to Consider Before Buying

There is one small niggle worth mentioning. The ventilation popper could arguably sit a little higher up the zip, perhaps 10 to 15cm up, to stop the jacket flapping even more when unzipped for airflow. It works fine as is, but the adjustment would refine it further. Beyond that, the update has done exactly what it set out to do.

Buying Advice

If you are in the market for a running waterproof jacket, the Xmore 2.5 layer is an easy recommendation at around £95. It has everything you could reasonably need from a running waterproof and nothing else, and it packs down small enough for race vests. Challenge yourself to find a better performing jacket near that price point.

Conclusion

Harrier has taken the Xmore to another level for fit, comfort, and performance by stripping it back and simplifying it. It is lighter, more packable, simpler to use, and still retails for under £100, which makes it arguably the best value waterproof running jacket available right now.