I'm looking for recommendations for a rain jacket that keeps you dry. Not in the budget right now to spend $300 on one either.

I've had some of the $100+ jackets. Can't say they are any better than these.

I can't get a link to work,but I'm talking about the Red Ledge jackets at about $40 on Amazon.

Budget/lightweight: Marmot PreCip or equivalent.


Heavy duty durability: ECWCS Gen II. US issue or TruSpec.

I have a few rain coats. Two that are less than $100 are the Marmot PreCip and a ECWCS gore-tex hooded shell. Both are excellent coats for most uses and the military model is probably both cheaper and tougher than the Marmot. I have a gore-tex military coat in woodland camo that is ten years or more old and works very well. You can get them online inexpensively, say from $35 to $80 most of the time.

I really like Grundens rain gear. Its not breathable, but its 100% waterproof, inexpensive and durable.

Its also available on amazon if you cant get it locally.

When I went to Alaska last year Caribou Hunting I searched EBay for a couple months and found a Columbia jacket for $39 and it worked great as we were rained on 9 out of 11 days North of the Brooks Range.
Just put in a search of brands you would like and the size and within a few months you will have a quality jacket at a affordable price. Mine even came with the tags still on it as new.

Got to agree you need to narrow parameters. For something packable and used sporadically the Marmot is great. The military goretex is bulletproof and fairly cheap. For everyday hard use, Helly Hanson seems to be very popular.

Helly Hanson Impertech or three ply Goretex. One or two ply Goretex just doesn't cut it. Some good deals on surplus goretex especially fleck tarn from sportsmans guide or others. The rain gear for off shore fishermen like Gundren and others is the best but heavy and not ideal for hunting.

I have done well with The Precip jacket and Cabelas MT 50/50 but not for extended periods. I am liking a poncho for most of my use as it can protect the rifle as well and add to the camouflage effect too.

My mainstay hunting rainwear are Cabelas Guidewear Goretex pants and jacket and still work fine after years of use but they are reserved just for rainy day deer hunting. Fortunately I have not punctured or ripped them. I realized that I was beginning to use them this spring for chores around the place during rainstorms and decided I needed to either buy another hunting set or something for home base. First looked for Military surplus and couldn't find a mens large in stock and gave up on that. Will revisit that idea again. Ended up going back to Cabelas and bought a jacket and pants from the Guidewear Rainy River with Gore-Tex Paclite line. The longest I've worn them has been for about three hours in a constant rain. No issues staying dry. They are lightweight but that's potentially a concern as I'm not sure of the longterm durability. If they last a year I'll be more than pleased.

Helly Hanson makes great rain gear.

Something that I didn't realize is that the soft, quiet ones never dry out before the next day.

Kings camo, makes some affordable options. I used a set of their XKG last year for September elk hunting in the Bighorns. The handled rain and snow like a champ. Only issue with the jacket is no pit zippers, but still love them.

go to walmart

Outdoor Research Foray jacket. They offer a significant military/LEO/first responder discount if that applies to you or someone you know. Have a HH Impertech that is great but larger, doesn't breath, and bulkier.

If you have the cash Arcertryx is awesome but very expensive. My main jacket these days is an Outdoor Research Foray, about half the price, which uses GoreTex PacLite and has full length zip ups. Have stayed dry through several days of heavy rain/snow/wind. Biggest problem I face is getting wet from the inside out while trudging up a mountain. This jacket comes the closest of any i've owned to allowing you to stay dry both inside and out.

British, French, or German mil-surp is good, rugged, and cheap.

I like the British DPM Desert Gore-Tex jacket and I like the design of the French and German Gore-Tex pants because they have integrated suspenders.

The French CCE Gore-Tex is quite heavy and stiff, with the German Flectarn heavy, but not as heavy or as stiff as the French. The French CCE Gore-Tex that I have was made in Germany.

Marmot precip is a good jacket.

Here is a great website with comparative reviews on any outdoor gear you might need. https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/