The Best Rain Suits
For working outdoors in an extreme thunderstorm, riding a motorcycle in the rain, or standing knee deep in water fishing during a downpour, you’re going to want to be wearing the best rain suit to keep you dry. During light rain showers to stay dry running from the car to the office or while taking Fido out for a short walk, a raincoat and umbrella is all you need. But for those hours, days or occasions where you’ll be in a heavy downpour, you’ll need the protection of a solid rain suit to keep you dry. These utilitarian pieces of outerwear are made of waterproof material consisting of pants and a jacket with a hood that you wear over your regular clothing.
Rain suits are made from a variety of waterproof materials, and like most fabrics, they are not all of equal quality, meaning some are more protective than others. Rain suits also differ in their design details. For example, some have detachable hoods, while others are sewn on. Other features to consider are Velcro closures at the ankles and wrists to keep water out; reflective tape for better night visibility; and fit. While the rain suit you choose should be functional, it can also be stylish, since some brands are available in a selection of colours and patterns. To help narrow down your search, we’ve curated a list of some of the best rain suits you can purchase online. Check it out and see which one meets your standards.
What to look for when choosing a rain suit
It would seem obvious that if you are looking for a good rain suit, the most important factor would be to make sure that it is 100 percent waterproof so it keeps you dry, especially if you plan to spend any length of time outside in the rain. However, what you plan to do while you’re outside during a downpour will also affect your choice. If you are on a hike in the woods, then what you wear will be different than if you are riding at high speed on the back of a motorcycle in the rain. The following are a few things to look out for to match how you intend to use your rain suit.
Hood: For the most part, it’s a good idea to choose a suit with a jacket that has a hood. It could be attached on the outside, but if you don’t want to have one always hanging down your back, look for one that is removable or stores conveniently in the collar of the jacket. Make sure the hood has drawstrings so you can secure it snugly around your face. If you don’t like getting rain in your eyes, or you wear eyeglasses and don’t want them fogged up and wet, choose a rain suit that has a hood with a detachable face shield with visor.
Elastic cuffs: If you spend a lot of hours outdoors doing manual labor, look for a rain suit where the jacket and pant cuffs are elastic, preferably with Velcro or hook and hoop, adjustable closures. This will give you an added layer of protection from the wet seeping into the sleeves and pant legs of your rain suit.
Waistband: Most rain suit pants have an elastic waistband, so they are easy to pull over your clothing. Sizing can be tricky with rain suit pants, so ones with an elastic waistband that also have a drawstring will better enable you to customize the fit. Also, most models do not have a fly to make it easier for men to go to the bathroom. If this is an issue for you, choose a model that has a snap fly — they do exist.
Top 5 Best Rain Suits
Model
Rating
Sizes
Hood
Material
Colors
Pricing
Reviews
Best Portable – FROGG TOGGS Ultra-Lite2 Waterproof Breathable Protective Rain Suit
S-3xl
100% Polypropylene
7
Best for Visibility – RK Safety Class 3 Rain suit
Small-medium To 5xl
Oxford Fabric, Mesh Liner
Yellow Only
1. Editor’s Choice – iCreek Rain Suit
A choice of colors and patterns, plenty of zips, snaps and Velcro closures plus a face shield and visor puts this rain suit at the top of our list. A good rain suit is waterproof to keep you dry, but to do so, it has to come from more than just the fabric blend. Keeping the water out also depends on the design of the suit so that it allows you to “button up” in the way that makes you feel comfortable.
This rain suit from iCreek is fabricated from a high-tech, Nano polyester pongee 240T lotus leaf-style fabric that is waterproof, soft and comfortable to wear. Areas that typically can let in water are extra protected with a double-seal design to prevent leakage, especially around the zipper.
Two large waterproof pockets in the front of the jacket are great for storing keys and your cell phone, and while many rain suits can become hot and sweaty, the inside of this jacket has a mesh lining at the back for ventilation and air flow. Hidden elastic cuffs and double adjustable Velcro straps on the wrists and ankles create a customized, snug fit. Finally, the high-collared jacket comes with a hood and a transparent, removable visor to keep your face dry and your vision clear.
Pros
Cons
2. Runner Up – TIDEWE Rain Suit
Lots of adjustable components in this rain suit make it an ideal choice if you are fussy about fit. Granted, a rain suit is not high fashion, but that doesn’t mean it should hang on your body in an uncomfortable way. Plus, two people wearing the same size are not exactly the same, which means it’s nice to be able to adjust the hood for a snug fit, or the cuffs to keep the wet out.
This two-piece rain suit from Tidewe is 100 percent waterproof, breathable and made from high-density polyester, non-woven fabric and sealed seams. Once you pull it over your clothing, you can adjust a few elements for a customized fit. The hood, which is artfully concealed in the collar, has cords for you to tighten it around your face.
The elastic waistband has an adjustable drawstring, the sleeves have elastic cuffs and the pant cuffs have adjustable hoop and hook straps. The jacket has two large side pockets, super convenient to store you phone or keys, and the whole unit comes with a bag to store it in on sunny days.
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Cons
3. Best Portable – FROGG TOGGS Ultra-Lite2 Waterproof Breathable Protective Rain Suit
Lightweight and portable, this is the rain suit you want to take with you in a backpack as it compresses down to pocket size and comes with a sack for easy storage.
Sometimes you know you will be out in the rain and sometimes you don’t. For those times when you head out golfing, biking or hiking and the sky is blue and then hours later the dark clouds start rolling in, you’re going to want to be prepared with a good waterproof rain suit. Of course, when the sun is shining, there is no reason to wear the suit. Best to keep it in a backpack or your golf or bike bag.
This waterproof rain suit is made of 100 percent polypropylene and compresses down to such a small size, it’s perfect to keep on hand in case you get caught in an unexpected downpour. Of course, it can also be worn when it’s actually raining and you need to be out. The Ultra-Lite2 rain suit includes a jacket and straight-leg elastic waistband pants that are breathable, waterproof and wind-resistant. The jacket features an adjustable hood with cord locks and a full-front zipper with storm flap. Elastic cuffs on the sleeves keep out the wet.
Pros
Cons
4. Best Bib Style – CLC Custom Leathercraft 3-Piece Rain Suit
This rain suit has bib-style pants with suspenders so there is no worry they will fall down if you are active and busy in the rain.
Many rain suits come with waist-high pants with elastic waistbands and while they can be comfortable, many don’t come with adjustable drawstrings for a more secure fit. If you worry about the pants not staying up, then consider this rain suit from Custom Leathercraft. These bib-style pants have adjustable overall straps to help them stay up and a snap fly front closure, which makes bathroom breaks easy.
Constructed from heavy-duty PVC, the bright yellow rain suit has rear mesh vents for breathability and a jacket with front snap closures and two front pockets to store your phone and keys. The hood, which has drawstrings for a snug fit, is detachable. Cut full size to fit over clothing, this rain suit comes in at an affordable piece that is within reach of almost any budget.
Pros
Cons
5. Best for Visibility – RK Safety Class 3 Rain suit
High visibility in low-light conditions with reflective areas on the pant legs make this rain suit a good option for outdoor workers. If you work outdoors, chances are you will either get caught in the rain or have to work in a downpour. Of course, a good rain suit is a must, but if your work takes you into the late-afternoon hours between dusk and night time, you’ll want to be wearing reflective garb to increase your visibility to others.
This two-piece rain suit is made with a waterproof Oxford fabric outer shell and a mesh double lining for breathability and quick drying. The high-neck lime-green jacket has a black panel on the bottom and sleeve cuffs to hide dirt, with a zippered closure with storm flap and sealed seams. The black bottoms on the elastic waistband pants are made from reflective material and meet the ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 Class 3 standard for workwear visibility.
This practical rain suit has a hood hidden in the collar, so you pull it out only when needed, and the outfit has a total of five pockets: two on the bottom of the jacket, one on the chest and two pockets in the pants. You’ll pay a little more for this rain suit, but the price reflects all the little extras you’ll come to appreciate.
