Best Women's Waterproof, Breathable Jacket

Parent Cafe
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<p>Hi!
It really looks like it’s time to get a new jacket. The liner for the jacket I have (Columbia) is still in pristine shape, but the shell is now shedding Goretex (after 8-10 years of light use), so it looks like it’s time to seriously start shopping for something more suitable. Unfortunately, pickings in Hawaii for jackets are pretty slim. Anyone with suggestions? I’m thinking of going to Sports Authority to get some ideas.</p>

<p>We’re going to Europe in a few weeks & also can’t decide whether to bring my old jacket & shed it before coming home or buy the new one & bring it. For us, the weather will be cool–40s to 70s, so will likely need SOMETHING (I get hives when cold).</p>

<p>Thanks for your thoughts. Prefer not to spend too much; don’t ski and around hear, rains are light and occasional rather than heavy, continuous downpours. Would like something that doesn’t make noise when I move and breathes well. I have a North Face lightweight jacket as well, but it isn’t waterproof and is very lightweight. Would just use it for walking about and travel, not outdoor sports (no skiing nor canoeing or backpacking).</p>

<p>Really need a hood and like having pockets–at least 2 on the outside and one on the inside. Anyone with suggestions?
Thanks!</p>

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<p>You might want to check out REI. Just ordered one for our daughter that was on clearance and she loved it. Hers was a shell rather than a jacket but they seem to have a good selection of both.</p>

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<p>[Grangers</a> Wash-In Waterproofing for Synthetic Fabrics - FREE SHIPPING at Altrec.com](<a href=“Altrec is Moving”>Altrec is Moving)</p>

<p>a shell should be fine and is small enough to stash when it stops pouring.</p>

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<p>REI stuff is great, and has a lifetime warranty (if your Columbia jacket came from there, and was shedding Goretex, they would have replaced it…)</p>

5

<p>My best rain jacket is from REI, and it is their brand. (I’m from Seattle, so you do need some serious rain gear here.) I would think you would want a serious rain jackets for Europe too. I was in Germany once in early Oct. and it was just pouring there.</p>

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<p>HIMOM, you just reminded me that I need a rain jacket too. Going to Yellowstone in June and lost my old rain jacket. Anyway, it was a bit too fitted and short…I wanted something with more room.
I just ordered this…
[Columbia</a> Women’s Arcadia Rain Jacket in](<a href=“http://www.rockymountaintrail.com/Columbia/Women’s_Arcadia_Rain_Jacket/RL2111/detail/?coid=329365&utm_medium=DataFeed&utm_source=Nextag-20100326&utm_content=ColumbiaWomen’s_Arcadia_Rain_JacketGulf_Stream_~_Patina-499,_Large]Columbia”>http://www.rockymountaintrail.com/Columbia/Women’s_Arcadia_Rain_Jacket/RL2111/detail/?coid=329365&utm_medium=DataFeed&utm_source=Nextag-20100326&utm_content=ColumbiaWomen’s_Arcadia_Rain_JacketGulf_Stream_~_Patina-499,_Large)</p>

<p>I think it looks like a good all purpose jacket…not sure it’s glamorous enough for Europe but I should fit right in at YS! Good price and free shipping too. Why waste time looking in stores? :)</p>

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<p>I also second evryone who said that REI is one of the best places to look for outdoor gear (their clearance stuff is really reasonably priced). D and I have a couple of North Face jackets which are really waterproof:</p>

<p>[WOMEN’S</a> VENTURE JACKET](<a href=“http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/womens-jackets-vests-filter-category-rainwear/womens-venture-jacket.html]WOMEN’S”>404)</p>

<p>and a raincoat like this one (I got mine several years ago when NF just started selling this Grace coat) - it was great to hide my camera and backpack under it when we were hiking on Maui under pouring rain:</p>

<p>[GRACE</a> JACKET](<a href=“http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=46884&storeId=207&catalogId=10201&langId=-1&from=subCat&parent_category_rn=11719&variationId=B92]GRACE”>http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=46884&storeId=207&catalogId=10201&langId=-1&from=subCat&parent_category_rn=11719&variationId=B92)</p>

<p>I’ve seen North Face stores in Europe, so you will not stick out as a sore thumb with their logo on your coat.</p>

<p>Additionally, Zappos sells quite a few brands that make nice waterproof, lightweight, breathable jackets. They ship for free both ways (although I’d double-check if they offer this for shipmnts to HI).</p>

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<p>Try [Sierra</a> Trading Post ? Great Deals. Great Brands.](<a href=“http://www.Sierratradingpost.com%5DSierra”>http://www.Sierratradingpost.com) They always have great deals on Columbia jackets. Jackets for travel are so darn tricky. You don’t want it too thin or you freeze and you don’t want it too heavy or you will get annoyed when you have to toss it over your arm. Last summer I bought a super lightweight windbreaker by Marmot. I HATE it because it has this white filmy lining and I sweat do death in the darn thing. If you are going to Sports Authority see if they still have those Columbia fleece vests. They are great travel for travel. The other item I never travel without in the summer is a sleeveless Under Armor top. It is very easy to slip off and tuck in your purse/jacket pocket as the day turns warmer.</p>

<p>FYI - You can also shop directly from <a href=“http://www.columbia.com%5B/url%5D”>www.columbia.com</a> (but usually no sale prices).</p>

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<p>Howsabout a trench coat (saw it on sale at Nordstrom) layered with a sweater and a chic scarf (after all, you will be in Paris!)
[AK</a> Anne Klein Belted Trench Coat - - Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3057147?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=LINED+TRENCH+COAT&origin=searchresults]AK”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3057147?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=LINED+TRENCH+COAT&origin=searchresults)</p>

<p>(it comes in BLACK)</p>

<p>and heres one with a hood…</p>

<p><a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3073619?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=all+weather+jacket&origin=searchresults[/url]”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3073619?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=all+weather+jacket&origin=searchresults&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I have a soft shell jacket from Eddie Bauer that’s not too heavy but is great at blocking wind and shedding rain.</p>

<p>Agree that REI is a great place to shop for that kind of thing too.</p>

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<p>musica is right - we Americans do look very underdressed in some parts of Europe.</p>

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<p>I just bought one of these for travel–
[Stowaway</a> Coat with Gore-Tex: Rain and Wind at L.L.Bean](<a href=“L.L.Bean: Page Not Available”>L.L.Bean: Page Not Available)
It’s gore-tex, stowable, and I thought would be a little more stylish than my reliable old patagonia jacket.</p>

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<p>Lots of options at Eddie Bauer:</p>

<p>[Outerwear</a>, Jackets & Blazers : Women : Eddie Bauer](<a href=“http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Women/Outerwear-Jackets--Blazers/index.cat]Outerwear”>http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Women/Outerwear-Jackets--Blazers/index.cat)</p>

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<p>I second the North Face jackets. No, they are not inexpensive.
[The</a> North Face Women’sJackets & Vests](<a href=“404”>404)
but they function really well and the lifetime warranty is for real. (I have the Grace trench and love it)</p>

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<p>here is that trench (I timed out)
[The</a> North FaceWomen’sJackets & VestsWOMEN’S STELLA GRACE JACKET](<a href=“http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=144082&storeId=207&catalogId=10201&langId=-1&from=subCat&parent_category_rn=11719&variationId=21L]The”>http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=144082&storeId=207&catalogId=10201&langId=-1&from=subCat&parent_category_rn=11719&variationId=21L)</p>

<p>It’s flattering and more stylish than a jacket; I get lots of compliments.</p>

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<p>D & I recently bought matching Northface Venture rain jackets, very lightweight, waterproof, good quality, hooded and they have H’s favorite feature on any jacket - pit zips! Wore them to Barcelona in February, it was in the 40’s and drizzly so we layered them over our Northface Denali fleeces. Worked out great. They were expensive ($99) but worth every penny, I think they’ll last for years and they came in pretty pastels (mine’s blue, D’s is white). Bought them at Bass Pro Shop. You can see it here at:
[The</a> North Face Women’s Venture Jacket at Zappos.com](<a href=“The north face womens venture jacket shoreline blue the + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com”>The north face womens venture jacket shoreline blue + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com)
When we went to Spring Orientation at D’s college in NC, we saw TONS of girls/women with this jacket.</p>

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<p>mafool - what a cute jacket!</p>

<p>HImom, while we are on the subject of North Face you should look at the “soft shells”. I have one in black and it goes everywhere with me. For warmth you could easily wear it under your windbreaker. They are windproof (and I think very water resistant) and lined with a lighter weight polar fleece.</p>

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<p>For North Face, check sportsbasement.com. They offer several North Face items, including the Venture jacket suggested by a couple of CC’ers, at discount. For the Venture, their price is $78 compared to $99 elsewhere. They do charge for shipping but it’s a flat $6 per order. I’ve ordered from them several times (various North Face jackets) and have been very pleased with their customer service.</p>

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<p>DS has a Northface softshell, I think it would be too warm for Hawaii - although it would work well for HImom’s trip to Europe. They are expensive, too.</p>

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<p>I have an elderly Goretex-lined jacked from LL Bean that has been great over the years. I love the combination of wind and waterproof while breathable.</p>