How to choose a women's waterproof jacket for Irish weather
Rain in Ireland is a long, windy, all-day affair, not a passing shower, and it is the reason a jacket that only claims to be shower-resistant lets you down halfway round the Glendalough loop. Every jacket in this collection has a waterproof membrane or coating and fully taped seams, in a women's cut with shaped sleeves and a narrower shoulder. The decision is about length, how hard you will be working in it, and whether you want warmth built in or prefer to layer.
Types of women's waterproof jacket at a glance
- Lightweight packable rain jackets. Light 2- and 2.5-layer shells from Trespass, Target Dry and Dare 2b that fold into a pocket or stuff sack. Best for the commute, travel, festivals and a just-in-case layer on a summer walk. Worth knowing: the lighter the fabric, the sooner it wears under rucksack straps.
- Hillwalking jackets. The heart of the range, from Sprayway, Craghoppers, Mountain Equipment, Berghaus and Helly Hansen. Best for Wicklow, the Mournes, Connemara and weekend walks in every season. Look for an adjustable hood with a stiff peak, a hem that covers the hips, and pit zips if you run warm.
- Gore-Tex and 3-layer mountain shells. Rab, Berghaus and Mountain Equipment. Best for winter hills, multi-day treks and any day you cannot turn back when the weather changes. The toughest, most breathable jackets we sell, with hoods that fit over a helmet or a warm hat.
- Padded and insulated waterproof jackets. A waterproof outer with built-in warmth from Trespass, Dare 2b and Helly Hansen. Best for cold, wet days at a gentler pace: the school run, the sideline, winter dog walks. Warmer than a shell, but harder to cool down in once you climb.
- Long waterproof coats. Longer-length jackets from Trespass and Helly Hansen that cover the thighs. Best for town, cycling and anyone who is tired of wet trouser legs. For the hills, a standard-length jacket with waterproof overtrousers gives the same coverage with more freedom to move.
Shopping for someone else? See our men's waterproof jackets, or browse every waterproof jacket and pair of trousers we stock.
What the waterproof ratings mean
Waterproofing is given as hydrostatic head in millimetres: the height of a column of water the fabric holds back before it leaks.
- 10,000 mm handles steady rain on the way to work or a short walk. Most lightweight packable jackets sit here.
- 15,000 to 20,000 mm is the right level for hillwalking in Ireland, where you may be in rain for 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 walks every weekend whatever the forecast.
Breathability is the other half of staying dry. A jacket that traps sweat leaves you as damp as one that leaks. Gore-Tex and the brands' own membranes let moisture vapour out while keeping rain off, and 3-layer construction, where the membrane is bonded between the outer fabric and an inner lining, is the most durable and breathable option. Each product page lists its rating and construction.
Fit, length and layering
Try a waterproof on over what you will really wear underneath, usually a base layer and a fleece. Lift both arms above your head: the sleeves should still cover your wrists and the hem should not ride up past your hips. Women's jackets are cut with a shaped waist and narrower shoulders, so a men's or unisex jacket in a smaller size rarely fits as well across the hood and chest. Check the hood too: it should move with your head, close snugly around your face and have a peak that keeps rain off your glasses.
Length is a matter of use. Hip-length jackets are the most versatile for walking and layering under a rucksack hip belt. Longer coats are better for town, cycling and pushing a buggy, but the extra fabric catches on a hip belt on the hill. For warmth, add a light insulated or down jacket underneath rather than buying a heavier shell. Our layering guide shows how the pieces work together.
Looking after a waterproof jacket
Dirt and skin oils block the membrane and stop the outer fabric from beading water. Wash the jacket every few months in a technical cleaner rather than normal detergent, never add fabric softener, and tumble dry on low or iron on cool to revive the water-repellent finish. When rain starts soaking into the face fabric instead of rolling off, reproof it with a wash-in or spray-on treatment. Treated this way, a good jacket lasts for years.
Women's waterproof jacket FAQs
What is the best women's waterproof jacket for hiking in Ireland?
For most hillwalkers, a 15,000 to 20,000 mm jacket in a women's fit, with an adjustable hood, a hem that covers the hips and pit zips, handles Wicklow, Kerry and the Mournes all year. If you are out every weekend in winter or regularly above the cloud, a Gore-Tex or 3-layer shell from Rab, Mountain Equipment or Berghaus earns its place in durability and breathability.
What is a good lightweight waterproof jacket for women?
A 2.5-layer packable jacket around 300 to 400 grams gives real waterproofing in a jacket that disappears into a bag. They suit travel, commuting and summer walking. For regular hillwalking, step up to a slightly heavier hillwalking jacket: the extra fabric weight buys durability under a rucksack and a better hood.
Are longer-length women's waterproof jackets better?
Longer coats keep your thighs dry in town, on a bike or on a flat walk, and many women prefer the coverage. On the hill, a hip-length jacket is easier to move in and sits properly under a rucksack hip belt, so walkers usually choose a standard length and add overtrousers when it is really wet.
What is the difference between waterproof and water-resistant?
Water-resistant fabrics shed light rain briefly but have no membrane and untaped seams, so they soak through in sustained rain. A waterproof jacket has a membrane or coating with a hydrostatic head rating and fully taped seams. Softshells and most fashion coats are water-resistant; everything in this collection is waterproof.
Is Gore-Tex worth it?
Gore-Tex is still the benchmark for durable, breathable waterproofing, and its newer ePE membrane is PFAS-free. Berghaus, Rab, Mountain Equipment, Sprayway and Helly Hansen also make excellent jackets on their own membranes, and are well worth comparing. Compare the hydrostatic head, breathability and construction rather than the label.
How should I wash a waterproof jacket?
Close every zip, wash cool with a technical cleaner made for waterproofs, and leave out the fabric softener. Tumble dry on low to reactivate the water-repellent finish, and reproof when water stops beading on the surface.
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. To try before you buy, bring the fleece you plan to wear underneath and visit us in Bray or on Paul Street in Cork. Finish the kit with hiking boots, walking trousers and a women's rucksack with a rain cover.
