Say Sky Element 3L Waterproof Running Jacket Review: Premium Protection at a Premium Price

Introduction

Waterproof running jackets cover a huge spread of prices and abilities. Entry-level options around £40 will keep rain out for roughly an hour before soaking through, and breathability tends to be limited enough to make running feel like wearing a plastic bag. At the very top end, you pay for higher waterproof ratings and far better breathability.

The Say Sky Element 3L Waterproof Running Jacket sits firmly at that top end, with a price of £289. Notably, it is the first waterproof running jacket from the Danish brand, whose running apparel we have run in before with consistently enjoyable results. After roughly a month of testing in dry, mild, blustery and genuinely foul conditions, here is how it performed.

What Makes the Element 3L Different

This is a three-layer laminated waterproof jacket, which places it at the highest tier of protection against the elements while still aiming for strong breathability. The fabric uses an advanced PU membrane that ranks among the leading waterproof performance fabrics in the industry.

The jacket weighs 280 grams in a medium and is available in six sizes, from XS to XL. Construction details include fully internal taped seams, substantial waterproof YKK zips throughout, an elasticated hem, elasticated cuffs, and a close-fitting, fully adjustable hood with an internal elasticated band that gives a precise fit around the face. There is also a stiff peak in the hood, a genuinely useful feature for a running shell. High-vis logos are on hand for night running, and the whole thing carries Say Sky’s bold design language.

Fit and Build Quality

Undoing the jacket, the first thing you notice is the quality of the fabric and the standard of construction. At £289 you would expect the highest quality, and you definitely get it: excellent fabrics, heavy-duty waterproof zips, and neatly finished stitching.

In a medium, the fit is tapered and close in the body without flapping around, with enough room in the shoulders for a full range of movement and no constriction. Sleeve length hits exactly right, an area that is often a problem for taller runners. The hood is the standout: combined with the rear adjuster and the internal elasticated band, it cinches down tightly and moves with your head rather than against it.

Protection in the Worst Weather

Over the test month, the jacket covered dry and mild days, strong gusting wind, and several one-hour runs in torrential, driving rain. Through all of it, the Element 3L kept the wearer warm and dry, with the three-layer construction showing exactly the kind of protection you would expect at this level.

The hood earned particular praise in conditions gusting around 50 mph. Pulled up and cinched down, no wind gushed inside and it never shifted when turning the head, because it articulated with the runner. The precise fit delivered a feeling of being genuinely well protected.

Breathability and Venting

Breathability has been excellent given the level of protection, performing on par with a Ron Hill Shakedry jacket, which is high praise indeed for a fabric that also blocks heavy rain. Shoulder vents across the back of the jacket add airflow, a feature some runners avoid in a waterproof since the vents are open to the elements, but one that clearly helps temperature regulation here.

There are also two well-placed pit zips under the arms, fitted with substantial YKK waterproof zips and finished with internal mesh. The zips sit so neatly that you barely notice them while running, and opening them up makes a real difference when the effort ramps up.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The elephant in the room is the price. Say Sky clearly set out to build the best waterproof running jacket it could, using technically advanced fabrics, thoughtful features and top-tier finishing. The result is a jacket that is very hard to fault on performance.

But £289 is a lot of money for a running waterproof, and the brand is not typically positioned as one of those very high-end, very expensive labels. In fact, Say Sky generally offers pretty good value for the quality, which makes this jacket’s pricing feel a little out of step with the rest of its range. A more streamlined version, dropping the two front pockets and perhaps the pit zips, could have brought manufacturing costs down and the retail price closer to £230, which would have been far more competitive. Pockets in particular are a debatable feature on a running jacket, since they fill up and then bounce around with every stride.

Is It Worth the Price?

For runners with the budget, the answer is probably yes. The money is visibly spent on the high-end technical fabrics, the excellent hood, the attention to detail and the flawless finish. The single real criticism here is the price point itself; on every other measure the Element 3L delivers.

If you want a high-end waterproof running jacket offering strong protection in any conditions, high breathability, a genuinely great fit, a packed feature set and good looks, the Element 3L deserves a closer look. If your budget is tighter, consider whether you would trade the pockets and pit zips for a lower price, or look at more affordable waterproofs in the £40 to £90 range that trade some breathability and long-term dryness for cost.

Conclusion

The Say Sky Element 3L is an outstanding first effort at a waterproof running jacket: superb fabric, meticulous construction, excellent protection and breathability on par with far more established shells, all wrapped in a stylish design. The main reservation is the £289 price tag, which will put many runners off and sits oddly within Say Sky’s otherwise value-conscious range. If the price fits your budget, it is easy to recommend; if not, there are cheaper options, but few that match this level of refinement.