Getting caught in a downpour can ruin any outdoor adventure, but carrying a heavy rain jacket isn’t the answer. Ultralight packable rain jackets solve this problem by offering full weather protection without weighing down your pack. These innovative shells compress to pocket-size, weigh less than a water bottle, and deliver serious storm coverage when you need it most.
1. Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket — 200 g / 7.05 oz
For years, backpackers and day-hikers have trusted this jacket as their go-to weather insurance. Weighing just over seven ounces, the Helium uses Pertex Shield 2.5-layer fabric that blocks rain while staying breathable enough for active use.
One of its cleverest features is the built-in stuff pocket—the jacket packs into its own pocket, creating a bundle smaller than a softball. This makes it incredibly easy to toss into any daypack corner without thinking twice.
The simplicity is part of the appeal: no extra bells and whistles, just reliable waterproof protection that won’t let you down. When the sky darkens unexpectedly, you’ll appreciate having this featherweight shield ready to deploy in seconds.
2. Patagonia Storm10 Jacket — ~235 g / 8.3 oz (men’s M)
Alpine conditions demand serious protection, yet this jacket manages to deliver mountain-grade waterproofing without the typical bulk. At around 8.3 ounces for a men’s medium, it strikes an impressive balance between storm-worthy performance and packability.
Patagonia designed the Storm10 to literally disappear in your pack until weather turns nasty. The fully waterproof construction handles driving rain and wind, making it suitable for exposed ridgelines and unpredictable high-country weather.
Despite its lightweight nature, the fabric feels surprisingly durable compared to flimsier competitors. You won’t worry about snagging it on branches or rocks during scrambles, giving you confidence to push into challenging terrain knowing your weather protection won’t fail.
3. Montbell Versalite Jacket — 182 g / 6.4 oz (men’s)
Gram-counters obsess over this Japanese-made marvel for good reason—it weighs barely over six ounces yet includes pit zips for ventilation. Montbell’s K-Mono patterning minimizes seams, reducing weight while improving durability and creating a more compact pack size.
The pit zips make a huge difference during high-output activities like steep climbs or trail running. You can dump heat quickly without removing the jacket entirely, keeping you comfortable when effort levels fluctuate throughout the day.
Ventilation this effective is rare in the ultralight category, where most manufacturers sacrifice airflow to shave grams. This jacket proves you don’t have to choose between staying dry and avoiding that clammy, overheated feeling inside your shell.
4. Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket — 152–184 g / 5.4–6.5 oz (sizes S–XXL)
Among the absolute lightest fully waterproof and breathable shells available, this jacket tips the scales at barely over five ounces in smaller sizes. Zpacks built their reputation on ultralight gear, and the Vertice represents their commitment to shedding every unnecessary gram.
The chest pocket cleverly flips inside-out to become a stuff sack, swallowing the entire jacket into a package small enough to fit in your hand. Pit zips add ventilation without adding much weight, addressing one of the biggest complaints about super-minimal shells.
Thru-hikers and fastpackers particularly appreciate how this jacket essentially vanishes in a pack. When every ounce matters over hundreds of miles, choosing the Vertice means more energy for forward progress.
5. Enlightened Equipment Visp — starts ~158 g / 5.6 oz (size-dependent)
Custom 3-layer fabric construction keeps this cottage-brand favorite exceptionally light while delivering legitimate storm protection. Starting around 5.6 ounces depending on size, the Visp competes with the lightest shells without feeling fragile or disposable.
What consistently impresses reviewers is how well this jacket breathes compared to others in its weight class. Many ultralight shells trap moisture and leave you soaked from sweat, but the Visp’s fabric manages vapor surprisingly effectively during aerobic activities.
Enlightened Equipment’s attention to detail shows in the thoughtful feature set and quality construction. For backpackers who refuse to compromise between weather protection and pack weight, this jacket offers a sweet spot that’s hard to beat at this price point.
6. Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket — 116.5 g / 4.1 oz (men’s M)
At just over four ounces, this featherweight wonder packs into its own hood to create a bundle about the size of your palm. Rab designed the Phantom for mountain runners and ultralight enthusiasts who need emergency weather protection without carrying extra weight.
The 2.5-layer Pertex Shield fabric maintains an impressive 20,000 mm hydrostatic head rating, meaning serious waterproofing despite the minimal weight. This isn’t a jacket you’ll wear all day in a deluge, but for sudden storms or wind protection, it performs beautifully.
Race-ready features include a close athletic fit and zero unnecessary extras. Every gram saved here means faster times on the trail or more room in your pack for essentials that matter more than jacket bulk.
7. Arc’teryx Norvan Shell Jacket — ~170–180 g / ~6–6.3 oz
Arc’teryx’s lightest Gore-Tex offering uses 3-layer C-Knit construction to achieve around six ounces while maintaining the brand’s legendary quality standards. The Norvan targets runners and fast-movers who demand proven waterproof technology in the smallest possible package.
Minimalist features mean no hand pockets or extra frills—just a hood, zipper, and exceptional weather protection. The jacket compresses to roughly orange-size when stuffed into the hood, making it easy to carry on long runs or minimalist hikes.
Gore-Tex provides peace of mind that cheaper membranes can’t match, especially during extended exposure to wet conditions. While pricier than alternatives, the Norvan delivers premium performance for athletes who won’t compromise on either weight or waterproofing.
8. The North Face Flight Lightriser FUTURELIGHT — ~7 oz
Built specifically for speed, this jacket showcases The North Face’s breathable FUTURELIGHT membrane technology in a no-frills package. Weighing around seven ounces, it targets runners and fast-packers who need reliable weather protection without excess fabric or features slowing them down.
The trim athletic cut eliminates flapping material that catches wind or snags on vegetation during quick movements. A stuff pocket allows the jacket to pack into itself, creating a compact bundle that fits easily in running vests or small packs.
FUTURELIGHT’s breathability advantage becomes obvious during high-output efforts when traditional waterproof fabrics turn into saunas. You’ll stay drier from both rain outside and perspiration inside, making this jacket comfortable across a wider range of conditions and activity levels.
9. Inov-8 Stormshell FZ V2 — ~149–175 g / 5.3–6.2 oz
Trail racers rely on this British brand’s weather protection when competition rules require carrying storm gear. The 2.5-layer Pertex Shield construction offers 20,000 mm waterproofing and 20,000 g breathability, impressive specs at barely over five ounces in smaller sizes.
Fully taped seams prevent water from sneaking through stitching holes during heavy rain. Like many ultralight shells, it packs into its own pocket for convenient storage that doesn’t require a separate stuff sack taking up additional pack space.
The FZ (full zip) design makes it easy to put on or remove quickly during races when transition speed matters. Inov-8 understands that race-legal protection gear needs to deploy fast and pack away just as quickly when conditions improve.
10. OMM Halo / Halo+ Jacket — ~105–142 g / 3.7–5.0 oz
Ultra-packability reaches its peak with this mountain marathon specialist’s offering, which compresses to roughly tennis-ball size. Weighing between 3.7 and 5.0 ounces depending on model and size, the Halo represents “carry more than wear” philosophy taken to its logical extreme.
The taped 2 to 2.5-layer waterproof fabric meets race-legal requirements for mandatory safety gear without adding meaningful weight to your kit. OMM designed this for fast-and-light mountain athletes who need emergency protection but hope to never actually use it.
This isn’t a jacket for all-day wear in persistent rain; it’s emergency insurance that disappears in your pack. For its intended purpose—sudden storms during races or ultralight trips—it performs brilliantly while weighing less than some energy bars.
11. Marmot Bantamweight — ~140 g / ~5.0–6.0 oz
Marmot stripped away everything non-essential to create one of their lightest hardshells ever, landing around five to six ounces depending on size. Pertex Shield fabric provides the waterproof-breathable protection, while full seam taping ensures no water sneaks through stitching during downpours.
The self-stuffing pocket design means you’ll never lose a separate stuff sack, and the jacket compresses impressively small for tossing into any pack. Marmot’s reputation for durable construction gives confidence that this ultralight shell won’t fail when you need it most.
For hikers who want proven-brand reliability without the weight penalty of traditional rain gear, the Bantamweight hits a sweet spot. It’s light enough for weight-conscious backpackers but substantial enough to inspire confidence in serious weather conditions.
12. Berghaus Hyper 140 — ~164 g / 5.8 oz
Berghaus engineered this minimalist running shell using their Hydroshell Elite 3-layer fabric to create weather protection that truly vanishes in a vest or small pack. At 5.8 ounces, it’s light enough for runners who count every gram but substantial enough for real weather protection.
The three-layer construction offers better durability and next-to-skin comfort than 2.5-layer alternatives, making this jacket more pleasant to wear directly over a base layer. British weather expertise informs the design, ensuring it handles the cold, windy rain that makes running miserable.
Highly packable doesn’t always mean highly functional, but the Hyper 140 manages both. When conditions deteriorate on exposed moorland or mountain ridges, you’ll appreciate having full waterproof coverage that doesn’t feel like wearing a garbage bag during hard efforts.
