Best waterproof jackets for 2024

You don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds to get a top-quality waterproof jacket. Our latest research found a highly-rated jacket brand that costs an average of £200 less than its priciest rival.

Readers paid £52 on average for a Cotton Traders jacket, and it didn’t disappoint, with an 80% score overall. But scrimp on the wrong item and a sudden deluge will leave you soaked to the skin. Read on for our round-up of the best-rated waterproof coat brands whatever your budget – and those to avoid.

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Best waterproof jacket brands of 2024 at a glance - and the worst-rated

Based on responses from 2,770 members of the Which? Connect panel who own waterproof jackets.

Best waterproof jackets by brand

• Páramo
• Musto
• Rohan

Páramo 88%

Members paid more than £200, on average, for a jacket from tabletopping Páramo – yet they didn’t seem to mind, rating it four stars out of five for value. Typically, the more waterproof a garment is, the less breathable it will be, but Páramo gets the balance right with the full five stars in both categories. Its ethics are admirable, too: it produces 80% of its gear in a Colombian factory, which trains and employs vulnerable women. Plus, its entire clothing range is environmentally conscious because it’s free from PFA/PFC – a synthetic chemical traditionally used in waterproofs that can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Find out where to shop to avoid PFA/PFC-free waterproof clothing.

Verdict: Brilliant, if the price doesn’t put you off

Shop Paramo jackets at Go Outdoors

Shop Páramo jackets direct

Musto 86%

British Olympic sailor Keith Musto developed this technical outdoor clothing brand because he was tired of getting drenched out at sea wearing sweaters and flannel trousers. The brand claims to test its products in ‘hostile environments’, and the approach is clearly working. Owners raved about the excellent fit and top-quality waterproof design. It’s no wonder it came joint second in our survey.

Verdict: A must buy, particularly for outdoor sports enthusiasts

Shop Musto jackets at Cotswold Outdoor

Shop Musto jackets at John Lewis

Shop Musto jackets direct

Rohan 86%

One Rohan jacket owner told us: ‘It is what most waterproof jackets claim [to be] but few have delivered - waterproof & breathable.’ This ringing endorsement is backed up by its impressive ratings: it gets four stars out of five for breathability and is one of just three brands in our survey to gain the full five stars for water resistance. Lots of people raved about how lightweight Rohan jackets are, too. However, that could be why it fell down slightly in the warmth category - gaining a middle-of-the-road three stars out of five.

Verdict: A jacket brand ready to weather almost any storm

Shop Rohan jackets direct

Shop Rohan jackets at John Lewis

See our guide on how to choose a waterproof jacket. We advise on everything from storm flaps to pit zips, hoods and more.

Best waterproof jacket under £100

Cotton Traders 80%

Cotton Traders is an excellent value-for-money pick if you're on a budget. Read more about cheap but good waterproof jackets and trousers. 

Shop Cotton Traders jackets direct

Waterproof jacket brands with the lowest ratings

Peter Storm 73%

Peter Storm jackets are another lower-priced option (£54) – just don’t expect them to be exceptionally breathable. And since the brand gained a middling three stars out of five in the water-resistance category, they might be hit and miss when it pours. Some owners were disappointed that their jackets had hook-and-loop fastenings instead of poppers: ‘The Velcro catches on everything if the jacket is unzipped’. However, people like how lightweight the jackets are and were satisfied with what they received for the money, judging by the five-star value rating. 

Verdict: For a similarly low price, Cotton Traders is superior

Find out more about Peter Strom

Mountain Warehouse 73%

Mountain Warehouse jackets are reasonably priced (£74), and members are buying them in their droves. Although the overall score isn’t bad, these jackets are hit and miss at their key job of keeping you dry – not ideal if you get caught out in the rain while hiking or cycling. Owners commented that their Mountain Warehouse jackets were ‘not completely waterproof even in normal rainfall’, or only waterproof ‘up to a point’ – earning the brand just three stars for water resistance. Breathability was even worse, with several owners complaining of getting ‘damp’ or ‘sweaty’ in their jackets.

Verdict: Avoid. There are better – and cheaper – brands out there. 

Find out more about Mountain Warehouse

Planning a walking holiday with your new waterproof? Check out the best-rated areas of outstanding natural beauty in the UK