waterproof fleece jacket men's:Outer Layers

Your outer layer is essential to protect you from the wind and rain – both significant factors when it comes to losing body heat. Your Your options will depend on your activity – if you’re likely to face sustained rain, a hardshell waterproof rain jacket is your best choice. However, if you’re just wanting some all-round weather resistance, a softshell is an excellent choice – it keeps out the wind, and will keep you dry should you run into some brief rain.

Prophet XPD AP Rain Jacket

Prophet XPD AP Rain Jacket

Hardshell Outer Layers

Hardshells sit on top of your mid layer a as a barrier between you and the elements. Hardshells with a Pertex Shield® AP membrane offer the highest protection from wind and rain, with an added level of breathability – something which is often difficult to achieve with rainwear.

When to wear it: You don’t need to keep it on at all times, but you should always have one in the bottom of your pack if there’s a chance it could rain. Jackets like the Traverse (mens and womens) or Dispatch (mens and womens) easily stow away until you need them, and don’t take up too much extra room. For activities like trail running and adventure racing, keeping your gear to a minimum is important, so selecting a rain jacket that’s both lightweight and high performing is paramount. Breathability also needs to be considered – for high intensity activities, you can spend the time carefully selecting which layers are going to be most comfortable and breathable, but if you choose an outer layer that isn’t breathable enough, you’ll still get sweaty, and potentially very cold when you stop for a rest.