The Best Rain Gear of 2024

We tested the best offerings for Rain Gear in the 2024 season against everything mother nature can offer, here’s what came out on top. 

All too often, trips to the river or the shore are foiled by a rainy forecast. However, with the right gear, a rainy day can be incredibly productive: increased insect activity during precipitation can lead to big surface hits and sub-surface feeding frenzies. If getting wet is holding you back, a good jacket can mitigate your fears and get you out on the water. 

We tested jackets for everything from warm summer showers to cold winter rains. What we found was a group of jackets that kept us dry and were breathable and comfortable in less-than-ideal conditions. So tie on some thick hackles, turn on your windshield wipers, and don’t let foul weather stop you with our best rain jackets of 2024. 

• Best Overall: Simms G3 Guide Wading Jacket
• Best for Wading: Patagonia SST Wading Jacket 
• Best For Warm Weather: Free Fly Cloudshield Rain Jacket 
• Best For Cold Weather: Grundens Portal GORE-TEX Wading Jacket 
• Best Lightweight: Orvis Ultralight Wading Jacket 
• Best Bib and Jacket Combo: Gill Fishing Apex Pro-X Jacket and Bibs 

How We Tested: 

Living in Vermont, summer showers, nor’easters, and freezing rains are the norm throughout the year. It’s safe to say I’ve become an expert in rain gear in an effort to prolong my days on the water and catch a few fish. So, I gathered wading and rain jackets from leading brands in the fly fishing industry to see how they matched up against the variable and unpredictable New England weather. 

From early morning 40-degree drizzles to humid, tropical storm downpours, each jacket went through the ringer of inclement fall weather. We made sure they held up to basic rain jacket standards: breathable, dry, and comfortable. In addition, anglers have unique requirements standard rain jackets may not offer. We took this into consideration when evaluating just how these jackets held up to the rigorous demands and gear requirements of fly fishing.

This is how they stacked up: 

Best Overall: Simms G3 Guide Wading Jacket

Key Features:

• Material: 3-layer GORE-TEX – 70D 100% nylon with DWR/100% nylon tricot backer
• Weight: 19 oz (Size medium)
• Design features: Built-in fly patch, large chest pockets, built-in sunglass lens cloth

Pros: 

• Lots of pockets for storage
• Rugged, breathable, and great mobility
• Good with a variety of layers 

Cons: 

• Expensive
• Can be sweaty in the hottest temps 

If the professionals rely on it, you can bet it does the job. The G3 guide has been a staple in the rain gear world for years, and the newest iteration offers the same legendary performance with new features. The G3 has everything you need in a rain-oriented wading jacket: 3-layer GORE-TEX with integrated stretch panels for mobility, a stashable retractor dock, interior and exterior pockets for ample dry storage, watertight cuffs, and much more. The G3 manages to include a variety of features and gadgets while still keeping weight down to a minimum. The built-in sunglass cloth is one such feature we didn’t know we needed until we had it. Fishing in the rain means your glasses will inevitably get wet. The left pocket houses the cloth, keeping it dry for when you need it.

The hem of the jacket hits a happy medium, pairing well with waders and still performing on docks and boats. It is comfortable, waterproof, and with the capacity necessary for guides and serious anglers. The outer layer of the G3 is sturdy and holds up well, whether pushing through brush or scraping up against rocks. What makes the G3 stand out is its versatility as a rain layer. It can keep you dry in the heat, cold, wind, and even snow while providing ample storage and integration for waders and rain bibs alike. Oftentimes, a product that claims to do it all sacrifices something, but I can find no such loss in effect in the G3. 

Best for Wading: Patagonia SST Wading Jacket 

Key Features:

• Material: Waterproof/breathable H2No® Performance Standard shell
• Weight: 17.5 oz
• Accessories: High/waterproof chest pockets, water-resistant cuffs, and back stash pocket

Pros: 

• Excellent wader integration
• Thoughtful pocket placement and construction 

Cons: 

• Not supremely useful outside of the wading environment 

A long-time standard in wading jackets, the SST has been purpose-built to integrate seamlessly with any pair of waders. Boasting the 3-layer construction standard in rain gear, the SST is made of 100% recycled rip-stop nylon with a DWR coating. Waterproofing aside, this jacket has plenty of storage in two large lay-flat pockets positioned well above the waist to ensure easy access in deep wading. The high hem sports easy-to-use belt loops to fit snugly with your waders and keep the jacket secure even in high, fast water. This jacket also offers a unique back stash pocket to store gear items like additional fly boxes, extra layers, and other larger items. When it’s pouring rain, and you don’t want to bring a bag or vest, this added storage comes in handy. 

Best For Warm Weather: Free Fly Cloudshield Rain Jacket 

Key Features:

• Material: 3-layer shell (38% Recycle Polyester / 30% Recycle Nylon / 16% Nylon / 16% PU + DWR)
• Weight: Lightweight (120GSM)
• Accessories: Quiet matte fabric, side pockets, and adjustable hood

Pros: 

• Comfortable
• Lightweight and packable
• Perfect for warm weather when paired with a sun hoodie 

Cons: 

• Not for cold weather
• Lacking in pockets and gadgetry

Free Fly Apparel is no stranger to breathable, light clothing. The Cloudshield continues this trend with a deceptively waterproof jacket that is extremely comfortable to wear. Free Fly created this jacket with the goal of making a packable and lightweight performance jacket that you can keep on you at all times. For summer showers and trips on the road, the Cloudshield has become our go-to jacket. We can store it in one of our favorite packs with relative ease, and in the event of a storm, we can pull it out and stay dry. 

The jacket gets its performance thanks to a membrane-style construction lined with a tricot backing for an abrasive-free feel even when worn next to the skin. Amazingly, the Cloudshield is by far the quietest jacket on this list and features excellent mobility. It is fully seam taped and exceedingly breathable, perfect for summer thunderstorms. This is not the jacket for those inundating, brutally cold downpours of late fall. However, it fits well in anyone’s mid-summer kit, ready to be deployed when the clouds gather. 

Best For Cold Weather: Grundens Portal GORE-TEX Wading Jacket 

Key Features:

• Material: GORE-TEX 3 Layer Laminate
• Weight: On the heavier side
• Accessories: Welded tippet pocket with line pass throughs, handwarmer pockets, neoprene sleeve cuffs

Pros:

• Durable
• Legendary waterproofing that keeps you dry even in the most driven rain 
• Well thought out accessories

Cons: 

• Quite heavy comparatively
• Best for cold wading conditions

When most people think of foul weather gear, they think of Grundens. The brand has long been ubiquitous with waterproofing, as proven by its track record with dangerous off-shore conditions. Recently, they’ve bridged the gap by building purpose-built gear for fly anglers, and the Portal Wading Jacket is certainly no exception. 

Built with cold weather in mind, this three-layer laminate jacket does what it’s supposed to—keep you dry. Additional pass-through pockets keep your gear dry, and dedicated hand-warmer pockets keep you warm when you’re not fishing. Shingled neoprene cuffs make this the ultimate cold-weather wading platform by sealing out water even if your hands are submerged. This jacket is on the heavier side, but rightfully so, as a cold-weather fishing piece. In the cold and damp northeast falls, this has become a staple in my gear rotation. You never know when the weather will change, and the burly design extends its use deep into winter snow storms. 

Rounding out the package are deep fly box pockets, which add to its utility, and a welded tippet pocket sports laser-cut holes to feed the line without opening anything up. Having a built-in tippet line holder solves the issue of digging through pockets and letting water get in during downpours. This jacket is a beast, and Grunden’s reputation for burly, tough products lives up to the hype. 

Best Lightweight: Orvis Ultralight Wading Jacket 

Key Features:

• Material: Nylon with PU lamination
• Weight: 15.8 oz
• Accessories: Side zip pockets, single chest stash pocket, and added weatherproofing from old design

Pros: 

• Light yet durable
• Very well made
• Works well both in and out of rain 

Cons: 

• It is unusually long for a wading jacket
• Not exceedingly breathable 

Oftentimes, a lightweight jacket sacrifices durability and waterproofing in the name of shaving weight. This is not the case with Orvis’ new and improved Ultralight Wading Jacket. Among some of the many upgrades for the 2024 season include a more substantial membrane and DWR coating, integrated neoprene cuffs, fully taped seams, and an adjustable hem. Coming in at only 15.8 ounces, this lightweight jacket manages to capture portability while still keeping you dry. 

It fills a needed gap in my rain gear lineup as a piece I can carry in a pack without sacrificing waterproofing. In torrential downpours, it holds up exceptionally well, keeping you dry without added weight. I’ve also found that layering under this jacket can extend its use into colder seasons. This jacket also includes well-built pockets and storage that speak to Orvis’ tradition of fly fishing excellence. 

Best Bib and Jacket Combo: Gill Fishing Apex Pro-X Jacket and Bibs 

Key Features:

• Material: XPLORE+® 3 layer fabric construction
• Weight: n/a
• Accessories: Waterproof pockets, side leg zips on bibs, attachment points for kill switch

Pros: 

• Extremely waterproof
• Warm
• Complete foul weather protection 

Cons: 

• Expensive

When looking for a jacket and bib combo, there is no room for compromise. Boat gear needs to be rugged, beyond waterproof, and comfortable to wear for hours on end. The Apex Pro-X series is all of these and more: both jacket and bib are made of 100% nylon with proprietary XPLORE+ 3 layer construction and XPEL plant-based water and stain coatings. Not only does this combo shed water even in the hardest sideways rain and wind, it is easily washed free of scales, blood, and guts. Articulated joints keep you comfortable for long periods of exposed casting, and the jacket features pockets that are specifically designed to be accessed while wearing a PFD. This combo is hardcore, meant for the most menacing conditions, and with the quality of construction to ensure a safe, dry ride back to the dock. 

Final Thoughts

There are many options when it comes to rain gear, and nothing is worse than finding out your choice doesn’t perform when it matters most. Beyond this, not all rain is made alike. From light sprinkles to rain that hits you from above and below, anglers require a lot of protection. While there is no perfect solution to bad weather, it isn’t an excuse to keep you indoors dreaming of tight lines. Our picks for the best rain gear are meant to give you the tools you need to make a decision about what fits your style of fishing. So find the rain gear that’s right for you, and go catch some fish.

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