How to choose a men's waterproof jacket for Irish weather
Irish rain is rarely a quick shower. It comes in off the Atlantic for hours at a time, usually with wind behind it, so a jacket that is merely water-resistant soaks through on the second hill of the day. Every jacket in this collection has a waterproof membrane or coating and fully taped seams. The choice is about how much protection you need, how hard you will be working in it, and how often it will live in the bottom of a rucksack.
Types of men's waterproof jacket at a glance
- Packable rain jackets. Light 2- and 2.5-layer shells from Target Dry, Trespass and Dare 2b that fold into their own pocket. Best for the commute, travel, festivals and a just-in-case layer on a summer walk. Worth knowing: the thinner face fabric wears faster under heavy rucksack straps.
- Hillwalking jackets. The core of the range, from Craghoppers, Berghaus, Helly Hansen and Dare 2b. Best for Wicklow, the Mournes, the Burren and weekend walks in any season. Look for an adjustable hood with a stiffened peak, a hem that sits below the belt, and pit zips if you run warm.
- Gore-Tex and 3-layer mountain shells. Rab, Mountain Equipment, Berghaus, Sprayway and Mammut. Best for winter hillwalking, multi-day trekking and anywhere you cannot turn back when the weather turns. The toughest fabrics, the most breathable membranes, and helmet-compatible hoods.
- Insulated and 3-in-1 waterproof jackets. A waterproof outer with padding or a zip-in fleece, from Helly Hansen, Berghaus, Craghoppers and Dare 2b. Best for cold, wet days at a slower pace: the sideline, the school run, the winter commute. Less versatile once you are working hard uphill.
- Long waterproof coats. Longer cuts from Sprayway and Helly Hansen that cover the thighs. Best for cycling, dog walking and town. If you want the same coverage for the hills, pair a standard jacket with waterproof overtrousers instead.
Need the same choice for someone else? See our women's waterproof jackets, or the full range of waterproof jackets and trousers.
What the waterproof ratings mean
Waterproofing is measured as hydrostatic head, written in millimetres. It is the height of a column of water the fabric holds back before it leaks.
- 10,000 mm keeps out steady rain on a walk to work or a short dry-ish hike. Most packable rain jackets sit here.
- 15,000 to 20,000 mm is the right level for hillwalking in Ireland, where you may be out in rain for four or five hours with a pack pressing the fabric into your shoulders.
- 20,000 mm and above, including Gore-Tex, is for winter mountains, sustained wind-driven rain and anyone who is out every weekend regardless of the forecast.
Breathability matters just as much. A jacket that holds in sweat leaves you as wet as one that leaks. Membranes such as Gore-Tex and the brands' own equivalents move moisture vapour out while blocking rain, and 3-layer construction, where the membrane is bonded between the face fabric and an inner scrim, is the most durable and breathable option. Every jacket page lists its rating and construction so you can compare like with like.
Fit, hoods and layering
Try a waterproof on over the layers you will actually wear under it, usually a base layer and a fleece. Raise both arms: the sleeves should still cover your wrists and the hem should stay below your belt. The hood is the part most people get wrong. It should turn with your head, close around the face without blocking your view, and have a peak firm enough to keep rain off your glasses. Pit zips, two-way front zips and adjustable hems all help you dump heat on a climb without taking the jacket off.
On cold days, warmth comes from what is underneath, not the shell. A light insulated or down jacket under a waterproof is more adaptable than one heavy coat. Our layering guide explains how to put the system together.
Looking after a waterproof jacket
Dirt and body oils clog the membrane and stop the outer fabric from beading. Wash the jacket every few months in a technical wash rather than ordinary detergent, never use fabric softener, and tumble dry on low or iron on cool to revive the water-repellent finish. When rain starts to soak into the face fabric rather than rolling off, reproof it with a wash-in or spray-on treatment. A jacket cared for this way lasts many seasons.
Men's waterproof jacket FAQs
What is the best waterproof jacket for hiking in Ireland?
For most hillwalkers, a 15,000 to 20,000 mm jacket with an adjustable hood, pit zips and a hem below the hips covers Wicklow, Kerry and the Mournes year round. If you walk every weekend through winter or go above the cloud base regularly, a Gore-Tex or 3-layer shell from Rab, Mountain Equipment or Berghaus is worth it for its durability and breathability.
What is the difference between waterproof and water-resistant?
Water-resistant fabrics shed light rain for a short time but have no membrane and untaped seams, so they wet out in sustained rain. A waterproof jacket has a membrane or coating with a hydrostatic head rating and fully taped seams. Softshells and most casual coats are water-resistant. Everything in this collection is waterproof.
Is Gore-Tex worth it, and is anything better?
Gore-Tex remains the benchmark for durable, breathable waterproofing, and its newer ePE membrane is PFAS-free. Brands such as Rab, Mountain Equipment, Berghaus and Helly Hansen also make excellent jackets using their own membranes, and are well worth comparing. Judge a jacket on its hydrostatic head, breathability rating and construction rather than the label alone.
What does 20,000 mm waterproof mean?
The fabric withstands a 20,000 mm (20 metre) column of water before it leaks. In practice that means it stays dry through hours of heavy, wind-driven rain, including the pressure of rucksack straps. Jackets rated 10,000 mm are fine for showers and commuting; 20,000 mm and above is the hillwalking and mountain standard.
Do I need a 3-in-1 jacket?
A 3-in-1 pairs a waterproof shell with a zip-in fleece or insulated jacket you can wear separately. It suits people who want one purchase for winter walking, commuting and everyday wear. Keen hillwalkers usually prefer a separate shell and midlayer because the combination is lighter and easier to adjust on the move.
How should I wash a waterproof jacket?
Close all zips, use a technical cleaner made for waterproof fabrics on a cool wash, and skip fabric softener. Tumble dry on low to reactivate the water-repellent finish, and reproof when water stops beading. Washing a waterproof regularly improves its performance rather than harming it.
Delivery, returns and trying jackets on
We deliver across Ireland and Northern Ireland, and a jacket that does not fit can be returned or exchanged by post or in any of our stores. Current delivery times and the returns window are on our delivery and returns page. If you would rather try before you buy, bring your own fleece and visit us in Bray or on Paul Street in Cork, where the team walk in these jackets themselves and can match one to the hills you have in mind. Complete the kit with hiking boots, a head torch for short winter days and a rucksack with a rain cover.
