A little rain should never be the reason you cancel your trekking plans. In a women’s waterproof jacket, including a hillwalking jacket or a longline women’s waterproof parka, you can stay dry, no matter what the forecast says. Whether you’re discovering new mountain trails or simply taking a walk in the great outdoors, our waterproof jackets and coats are perfect for every season.

Our waterproof jackets for women make sure you can handle anything nature throws at you. Columbia’s waterproof technology ensures rain is slides straight down and off, keeping you nice and dry, so you have no excuse to cancel your outdoor adventures. No matter what climate you’re tackling, you can rest assured that your raincoat is tested tough. We’ll also keep you comfortable with our breathable and wicking technologies because nobody likes being in a stuffy, padded raincoat when you’re already dealing with the rain.

Since 1938, Columbia has been manufacturing outerwear to keep people outdoors. For over eighty years, we have been the experts in outdoor apparel. We’ll never forget how the great founder of Columbia Sportswear, Gert Boyle, strapped her son to the roof of her car and drove through a rainstorm. Her famous sense of humour truly shone through the iconic Columbia ads during the 80s and 90s. In these ads, the “One Tough Mother” performed experiments, such as sending her son through a carwash—all in the name of product testing, of course. Gert Boyle had the famous motto, “It’s perfect. Now make it better.” And here at Columbia, we keep striving towards that standard.

Be prepared for drizzle, rain, downpour and deluge

Many branded jackets will use technical terms to explain how water-resistant they are or use homogenised mass-produced solutions for their waterproofing properties. They tend to believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to water protection, resulting in an inferior product. But not us, and that’s why we harnessed our decades of experience to research and design industry-leading waterproofing solutions with plenty of durability. You’ll see the fruits of our expert labour in our list of women’s waterproof jackets.

Here at Columbia, we don’t think it should be hard to understand your clothes—identifying them should be as easy as wearing them. That’s why, as you’ll see in our Guide to Waterproof banner at the top of the page, our clothing has four different easy-to-understand waterproof ratings (in increasing order): drizzle, rain, downpour and deluge.

Clothes with the level “drizzle” include jackets from our women’s windbreaker jacket collection and softshell women’s jacket collection. They aren’t truly waterproof, but are perfect for a drizzle, as their materials can resist moisture absorption with a lasting repellency. With these coats, you won’t find yourself soaked with water from a light drizzle. Just make sure you don’t expose yourself to heavier rainfall, because our windbreaker jackets for women aren’t designed to withstand those.

If you pick the level “rain”, you’ll find light rain gear made of waterproof fabric with sealed exposed seams. They can withstand more water than the ones on the “drizzle” level, so you can stay dry even when the rainfall starts to pick up. Taped seams ensure there aren’t any leaks inside your jacket.

Clothes in the “downpour” level have air‑permeable waterproof protection and sealed seams. As the category suggests, these jackets can protect you from a “downpour,” eliminating the need for an umbrella. They may also have adjustable hems, hoods, and cuffs to ensure no water sneaks its way in.

Last but not least, clothes with the level “deluge” offer complete protection and zero wet out. Jackets in this category are the ultimate rain gear, which you can face any weather in. They’re made with an impenetrable outer shell paired with sealed seams and a zero-gap design. Even the pocket and zip flaps are well-protected to ensure not a single droplet ever touches your skin.

It’s important to note that even though these classifications focus on how much rain your coat can withstand, they’re all lightweight and breathable. Columbia understands the importance of travelling light, so we designed everything to be light yet highly versatile and functional. Some parts of our jackets feature a waterproof, packable raincoat hood that can be easily removed and tucked away in a hiking rucksack or a rucksack bag whenever you want. That way, you don’t have to wear anything you don’t need at that moment—allowing you to stay lightweight.

We also know how easy it is for a jacket to become too warm and stuffy, so we made sure to develop breathable and wicking solutions to regulate airflow within the jacket (like the ones you’ll find in our women’s ski jackets).

If you’re ever unsure which waterproof level a specific coat belongs to, the individual product pages will have a list of everything you need to know. Aside from its waterproofing level, you’ll also find out which other Columbia technologies that particular product uses. That way, you get a complete picture of everything that item can do for you.

Omni-Tech™ and OutDry™: Columbia waterproof technologies

You can rest assured that our waterproof technologies will keep you dry no matter the outdoor adventure you’re tackling next. Just zip up and count on us to keep you from getting wet while making sure you’re still comfortable. And because we developed these technologies ourselves, we can guarantee each item’s performance.

Columbia’s Omni-Tech™ technology delivers water-defying versatility, featuring multi-layered waterproof protection. Omni-Tech™ jackets (like our women’s 3-in-1 jackets or our women’s waterproof parka) are waterproof and also provide protection against the wind. What’s more, they have high breathability, allowing excess warmth and moisture to escape. This means that you can stay active all day and still remain dry both inside and out.

There are two types of Omni-Tech™ technology: base Omni-Tech™ for a breathable, waterproofing solution, and Omni-Tech™ 3D for an excellent combination of waterproofing, wicking, and breathability.

Our technology, OutDry™ Extreme, means your jacket is equipped with an external impenetrable membrane and sealed seams. You can bravely face extreme conditions in these waterproof jackets. Furthermore, they offer excellent next-to-skin comfort because of their internal wicking. OutDry™ Extreme Mesh takes comfort a bit further by using a mesh inner fabric with additional stretch for movement.

Finally, we believe the waterproof outerwear you choose shouldn’t just take care of you. They should also take care of the planet we love exploring so much. That’s why OutDry™ Extreme Eco offers clothes that are waterproof and breathable but also eco-friendly. This means that the jacket fabrics are 100% recycled. Also, the fabrics are dyed completely without water or with significantly less water. The result is an outerwear that provides the same waterproofing protection as the others but with less environmental impact.

Which waterproof jacket will suit you best?

When you’re buying women’s rain jackets, don’t settle for the first rain jacket you stumble across – even if it’s on clearance. Browse through the wide range of colours and styles that our women’s outdoor jackets are available in. We understand that your style is a part of your personality, so we made sure our waterproof jackets can match your fashion sense. Choose from classic colours like black, white, or khaki, or go for bold colours like pink and electric blue.

You can choose between various designs and features which you appreciate in a functional waterproof jacket. In our selection of women’s waterproof jackets, you’ll find waterproof hooded jackets with drawcord-adjustable hoods (so you can customise your protection whenever you want) and jackets with fleece-lined hoods. You’ll also find long waterproof jackets and women’s sleeveless jackets of a shorter length, as well as jackets in flashy colours and more sober shades that match your style. Additionally, you will discover a great selection of waterproof packable raincoats, making travelling a breeze.

No matter what outdoor activity is on the agenda, our women’s softshell jacket collection has you covered. If you’re going hiking with friends, you don’t want to stress over the weather forecast. Just kit yourself out in a stylish women’s hiking jacket from our hiking jacket collection like a pro and you’re good to go. Unless there’s going to be some extreme weather conditions at your destination, most of our waterproof and breathable jackets and cycling rain jackets can keep you dry (and fashionable) in a downpour.

If you want to stay both dry and warm in the city, a waterproof and insulated women’s parka coat or hooded parka can be a great solution. Our durable urban women’s parka jackets, including our women’s waterproof parka, aren’t just warm; they’re also very lightweight and packable. When packed up, the light jacket only takes up a small space in your closet and fits easily into your bag. You can also opt for a 3-in-1 interchange jacket if you want the waterproofing properties and warmth of three different coats in one.

Carefully consider which design features are important to you before buying a jacket. That way, you can choose a hiking jacket that you can explore nature in for a long time. Great things are never rushed, and so your women’s warm jacket shopping experience shouldn't be either.

How to Care for Your Jackets (Ladies’ Waterproof Collection)

• Close any zippered fastenings to avoid snagging or tearing.
• Wash with a technical detergent on a gentle cycle in cold water.
• Avoid fabric softeners; they damage the breathability of many fabrics.
• To reactivate waterproof finishes, tumble dry on low-heat.
• Avoid compressing your jacket for long-term storage.

FAQs

What is the best women’s waterproof jacket?

The best waterproof jacket for women depends on what you are looking for. First, narrow your selection down by choosing the level of waterproofing you need: Drizzle, Rain, Downpour or Deluge. From here, it’s a matter of which model and colour you are looking for. Fortunately, Columbia offers a wide range of options to suit every style. Be sure also to check out our clearance section for a great deal!

Need some inspiration? Here are our five most popular styles:

• Women's Pulaski™ II 3-in-1 Waterproof Jacket
• Women's Ampli-Dry™ II Waterproof Hiking Shell Jacket
• Women's Explorer's Edge™ II Waterproof Insulated Jacket
• Women's Drop Ridge™ II 3-in-1 Waterproof Jacket
• Women's Hikebound™ II 3-In-1 Waterproof Jacket

Which jackets are most waterproof?

Jackets made with Columbia’s innovative and patented OutDryTM Extreme are waterproof and durable. These jackets are fully seam-sealed and feature an impenetrable external membrane with an inner layer of soft fabric, keeping you dry both inside and out.

Which of the jackets (ladies’ waterproof collection) are most versatile?

Our most versatile style is Columbia’s 3-in-1 interchange jacket. Not only that, but this style delivers incredible value for money.

With an interchange jacket, you literally get three jackets in one! Each jacket, with its own built-in layering system, has two distinct layers that can be worn in three different ways:

• The outer shell: A technical, seam-sealed design that blocks wind and heavy rain. It typically includes a hood and often features patented technologies, such as Omni-TechTM, for waterproof, breathable protection. The outer shell is ideal to wear on its own on wet, windy, mild days, while keeping you dry and comfortable.
• The inner layer: Typically made of a synthetic material, like fleece, or RDS-certified down. The inner layer is designed to keep you warm and often includes some of our thermal-reflective technologies, such as Omni-HeatTM Infinity. The inner layer can be worn on its own for cool, dry days with little to no wind.
• The combination: For the inevitably cold, wet and windy days that require waterproof protection and insulation, the 3-in-1’s separate layers can be zipped together for unmatched protection.

What is the difference between a raincoat and a waterproof jacket?

As the name suggests, a raincoat is outerwear designed for use in the rain. It can be waterproof or water-resistant. They will often include hoods and may be longer in length.

A waterproof jacket is a specialised type of raincoat that typically offers a higher level of protection from rain. They will also usually include hoods and will vary in length.

Columbia’s jackets (ladies’ waterproof collection) are also crafted with exclusive technologies to ensure you stay comfortable and dry, no matter the weather.

No matter what you’re looking for, Columbia has a waterproof coat to suit everyone’s needs and style.

Does Columbia offer a repair service for jackets (ladies’ waterproof collection)?

If a Columbia product fails due to a manufacturing defect while still under warranty, we will either repair it at no charge or issue a credit note at our discretion. For more information, check out our warranty policy.

Can a waterproof jacket be worn as a hillwalking jacket (ladies)?

Absolutely! Our waterproof jackets are incredibly versatile, ensuring you can wear them for a range of wet-weather activities.

Keep discovering our new women’s collection for the latest arrivals and the many categories of women’s jackets that Columbia offers:

• women's puffer jacket
• women's coats
• quilted puffer jacket women's
• black puffer jacket women's
• women's body warmer
• lightweight puffer jacket women
• womens puffer jacket with hood
• quilted jacket womens
• women's parka with hood
• ski jackets women
• women's 3 in 1 jacket
• long puffer jacket women
• women's walking jacket
• women's casual jackets

And don’t forget to check out our men’s puffer jackets and children's jackets collections to explore our jackets for the whole family. They feature the same excellent Columbia technologies, as well as our meticulous code of quality, you’ve come to know and love.