12 Running Jackets Compared by Weight and WaterproofingOnly mont-bell's 3 pieces state taped seams on the official page

The pick for a running rain jacket is mont-bell's Versalite Jacket (143g). With 20,000mm or more of waterproofing, taped seams and a hood, it was the lightest 1 piece. Lining up the 9 waterproof pieces by official numbers, weight runs from about 120g to 300g and waterproofing from 10,000mm to 30,000mm. Among them, the only ones whose product page said "taped seams" were 3 pieces from mont-bell. Water-repellent-only windshells run 45g to about 125g and cannot count as mandatory gear for a race.

Lining up rain jackets by lightness does not give the answer for mandatory gear

The lighter a rain jacket, the better. Thinking that, I lined up the 9 pieces from lightest: the first is about 120g and the last 300g. But what is asked at reception of a mountain race is not weight.

As I read in the article on trail mandatory gear, there are 3 conditions: both waterproofing and breathability, seams sealed with taped seams, and a hood. The Izu race adds a "recommended" waterproofing of 10,000mm or more.

I opened the product pages of the 9 and checked 1 by 1 whether these 3 were written in words. 7 had a waterproofing number. Only 3 from mont-bell had the words "taped seams."

That does not mean the other 6 have no seam treatment. They are sold as waterproof, so it is natural to assume they do. But whether the official page can say so outright is a separate matter, and this article draws its line there.

How to choose running jackets: the conditions I used

I lined up 12 men's pieces (including unisex). Weight and price are the Japan official site listing of Oct 13, 2026. I split the table in 2: 3 water-repellent-only windshells and 9 waterproof rain jackets. Both are sorted lightest first.

The total weight together with shirt and shorts is calculated in the article on running apparel. This one narrows to the outer layer only and adds more pieces.

3 windshells: a hood weighs 11g

No. 1: EX Light Wind Jacket. The lightest of the 3 at 45g. The outer fabric is 7-denier nylon, and packed it is 11.5×8.5×4.5cm. What to watch: if you need a hood, you go to the parka, which is 11g heavier.

No. 2: EX Light Wind Parka. The sibling with a hood added to the same 7-denier fabric, about 56g. The difference is 11g (56 − 45). That is the weight of 1 hood, and the packed size is nearly the same, 11.5×8×4.5cm. The hood can be drawn in around the face with a drawcord. What to watch: it is unisex sizing, so choosing it with the same feel as the jacket may not fit.

No. 3: Swallowtail Hoodie. About 125g, about 2.2 times the parka (125 ÷ 56). Being heavier, it is built differently. The side against the skin is a smooth double-weave fabric, with vents on both sides and zippered pockets. Price per gram is the lowest of the 3 at about JPY 158 (19,800 ÷ 125). What to watch: it is large to run with in a shorts pocket.

The 2 siblings divide like this. If you use it only while waiting for the start of a race, the jacket. If you run in it on a winter morning, the parka, which stops wind up to your ears and neck.

For people who want pockets and vents, or who will wear it in the mountains and in town, accept the weight and take the Swallowtail.

What waterproofing and breathability numbers mean

The unit of waterproofing is mm, the height of the water column a fabric can withstand without letting water through. 10,000mm is 10m and 30,000mm is 30m. The bigger the number, the better it withstands hard rain and water pressed in by backpack straps.

Breathability is the weight of water vapor that passes through 1 square meter of fabric in 24 hours. The unit is g/m²/24h. 50,000g is about 2,083g per hour (50,000 ÷ 24). That works out to about 2.1kg of sweat vapor leaving through 1 square meter of fabric.

There is a little-known pitfall here. Breathability numbers change a lot with the way they are measured. mont-bell writes even the method: "JIS L-1099 B-1 method, reference value." The product pages of Salomon, Teton Bros. and Millet give only the number.

So comparing breathability across makers is a rough guide at most. The most reliable way to read it is as an order within the same maker (for mont-bell, 50,000 and 40,000).

9 rain jackets: from about 120g to 300g

Scroll the table sideways →

Strike Trail Jacket. A 3-layer waterproof breathable fabric at about 120g. The lightest of the 9, with a clear color that lets the bib show through. What to watch: the official store lists the current model number (NP62576) and the previous one (NP12374, about 125g) side by side. The 20,000mm waterproofing and 40,000g breathability are numbers from the previous model's page.

Versalite Jacket. The lightest at 143g among those with the numbers complete. A build without pockets, packed to 7×7×11cm. What to watch: the outer fabric is a thin 7 denier. If you will carry a heavy pack for a long time, a thicker fabric suits better.

BONATTI PRO. A 2.5-layer fabric at 188g. Waterproofing and breathability are both 20,000. It is built so you can wear it with the pack inside. What to watch: the notation is "air permeability," not breathability.

Feather Rain Jacket. A 20-denier Cordura outer at 195g. Abrasion resistance is 200,000 cycles (20 × 10,000) or more in the company's own test. A piece for people who want a fabric that resists rubbing from rock and packs at under 200g. What to watch: it could not be bought in the official store on the day I checked.

BONATTI WATERPROOF. The younger sibling of the BONATTI PRO, with half the waterproofing at 10,000mm. It is 15g heavier (203 − 188) and about 2 tenths cheaper (24,200 ÷ 30,800 = 0.79). The number sits exactly on Izu's recommended line. It has 2 hand pockets, aimed at everyday running.

Norvan Jacket. 3-layer GORE-TEX at 215g. It has vents at the sides and back. The price is about 3.2 times the Versalite (75,900 ÷ 24,000). A piece for people who pay for the GORE-TEX name and a 10-year warranty.

Millet Typhon Stretch Jacket. Its 30,000mm waterproofing is the highest of the 9, and at 300g it is also the heaviest. The hood fits over a helmet, so it is mountaineering clothing. It is not something to buy for a running race.

On's Japan official site writes "waterproof" and taped seams for only 1 piece, the Performance Jacket Waterproof; the Weather Jacket is water-repellent. If you choose On's jackets by role, the article on On running wear compares 8 pieces.

mont-bell's 3 siblings differ by the thickness of the outer fabric

Versalite, Torrent Flyer and Storm Cruiser. All 3 use the same 3-layer membrane named "Super Dry-Tec," with the same waterproofing of 20,000mm or more. The difference is the thickness of the thread in the outer fabric.

The thread thickness goes up almost doubling each time: 7, 15, 30. Weights are 143g, 233g and 254g. The power to stop water does not change; what increases is the outer fabric that resists rubbing, and the pockets.

So the weight you pay on these 3 is not for resistance to rain but for the sturdiness of the fabric. For a few hours in a short race, the Versalite. If you carry a pack for a long time, 15 denier. If you also use it for mountaineering, 30 denier. It is decided by distance and how widely you reuse it.

The Torrent Flyer fabric stretches both ways, and its breathability is 50,000g, the same as the Versalite. The Storm Cruiser is 21g heavier (254 − 233) and breathability drops to 40,000g, but it is the cheapest of the 3. People who run for long hours take the former; people who combine it with walking mountains take the latter.

The calculated numbers, and whether they pass as mandatory gear

I divide weight by price and weight by waterproofing, and rearrange the 7 with a waterproofing number. The right column applies the 3 conditions and Izu's recommendation using only the words on the official pages.

Weight per 1,000mm of waterproofing is smallest for the Versalite at 7.2g. That means it stops the same water column with the lightest fabric. The BONATTI WATERPROOF is 20.3g, using about 2.8 times the weight (20.3 ÷ 7.2).

Price per gram goes in the opposite order. The heavy Storm Cruiser is cheapest, and the light Versalite is about 1.9 times that (168 ÷ 87). Lightness clearly has a price.

There are 6 marked "check the race rules" because the product page had no words for taped seams. For the BONATTI WATERPROOF, the word hood was also missing from the body of the product page (the BONATTI PRO has a hood adjustment explanation on its other-color page). To carry these as mandatory gear, it takes 1 extra step of reading the entry guide of your race next to the product's tag or manual. The 3 windshells cannot count as rain jackets required at any race.

The pick for each scene

Winter road training: EX Light Wind Parka. What you want to stop in winter training is wind, more than rain. A water-repellent 1 piece is enough, and no waterproof membrane is needed. I choose the 56g over the 45g jacket because 11g buys a hood. If you run on rainy days without a break, the next piece comes first.

Rainy full marathon: Strike Trail Jacket. Road races have no mandatory gear conditions, so I choose not by numbers but by whether you can run in it. In the clear color, you can put it on over the bib without reattaching it. At about 120g, it is 23g lighter (143 − 120) than the Versalite, whose numbers are complete. If you will also carry it to mountain races, the Versalite next fits better.

Trails up to 50km: Versalite Jacket. It meets the 3 mandatory conditions and Izu's recommendation using only the words on the product page. On distances where you wear it less than you carry it, I choose the one with the smaller carried weight. On brushy paths or with a heavy pack, the next piece suits better. The 7-denier fabric is built to favor lightness over resistance to rubbing.

100km, trails through the night: Torrent Flyer Jacket. As in the mandatory gear article, Mt.FUJI 100 asks you to assume waiting 6 hours or more after you can no longer move. The time you wear it and the time it rubs against the pack straps both get longer. So I switch to 15 denier, whose outer fabric is about 2 times thicker. The added 90g is about 63% of the Versalite's weight (90 ÷ 143). If mountaineering is the main use and you run once a year, the cheapest Storm Cruiser fits.

The size of pack that holds a rain jacket is compared by capacity in the article on packs and vests.

Who is it for?

The 9 waterproof pieces suit people who enter mountain races and people who run even in rain. If you run only roads and rest on rainy days, 1 windshell is enough to run in.

If you already have a mountaineering rain jacket, first read the tag you already own. If the 3, waterproof breathable, taped seams and hood, are all there, it passes as mandatory gear even if it is heavy. Replacing it is soon enough once you dislike carrying that weight while running.

Most people also do not need both a windshell and a rain jacket. For those who enter mountain races, the rain jacket stops wind too.

FAQ

What is the difference between a windshell and a rain jacket?

Whether it stops rain. A windshell is a water-repellent garment that stops wind; a rain jacket stops rain with a waterproof membrane and taped seams. The rain jacket side is what becomes mandatory gear at trail races, and since it stops wind too, 1 piece can do both. What goes underneath is compared in the article on running inner layers.

How many mm of waterproofing does a running rain jacket need?

10,000mm or more is enough. The only race number is Izu's "recommended" 10,000mm or more. In the table of 9, the Versalite at 20,000mm or more is 60g lighter (203 − 143) than the 10,000mm BONATTI WATERPROOF.

A bigger number does not always mean heavier. Look at weight and price first, and only check that waterproofing does not fall below 10,000mm.

What is the difference between 2.5-layer and 3-layer rain jackets?

A 3-layer jacket bonds 3 sheets together: the outer fabric, the waterproof membrane and the lining. A 2.5-layer jacket omits the lining and prints a protective layer on the inside of the membrane; Salomon explains it as "no lining needed, so it is lighter too." In the table of 9, Salomon's 2 pieces are 2.5-layer, and mont-bell, Teton Bros., Arc'teryx and Millet are 3-layer.

Do I need rain pants for a trail race?

It depends on the race. As far as I read in the mandatory gear article, Mt.FUJI 100 and Shinetsu Five Mountains require both top and bottom, and Izu recommends pants. Road races have no rule. After choosing the jacket, read the pants line in the entry guide of the race you enter.

Gear in this article

Ads and images: Rakuten Ichiba

mont-bell EX Light Wind ParkaThe North Face Swallowtail Hoodiemont-bell Versalite JacketSalomon BONATTI Waterproof Jacketmont-bell Torrent Flyer Jacketmont-bell Storm Cruiser JacketThe North Face Strike Trail JacketTrail running rain jacket (taped seams, hood)

Related reading

Trail Running Mandatory Gear Across 4 Races' Official RulesRUN GEAR NOTECompared by official specs2026.10.15Product image: Rakuten IchibaPictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Headlamp for trail runningTrail Running Mandatory Gear Across 4 Races' Official Rules80-lumen light, 1 L of water, 130×200cm blanket. I compare trail running mandatory gear lists across the official rules of 4 races. The base is 9 items required by 3 of the races, and 7 items have numeric specs, such as a light of 80 lumens or more for at least 4 hours, at least 1 L of water, and a blanket of at least 130×200cm. I also worked through the 2kg gear rule.Trail running · Oct 15, 2026

A Full Running Kit (Top, Bottoms, Socks) for 218gRUN GEAR NOTECompared by official specs2026.10.15Product image: Rakuten IchibaPictured (Rakuten Ichiba): mont-bell EX Light Wind Jacket / mont-bell Cool Light T / Sleeveless Shirt / On Performance-T / mont-bell Cross Runner Shorts LightA Full Running Kit (Top, Bottoms, Socks) for 218gShirts, pants, socks and jackets compared by official weight. A full running kit of top, bottoms and socks comes to 218g and JPY 12,700. The first thing to add is mont-bell's 45g wind shell. I compare mont-bell, Nike, On, Tabio and The North Face by weight, fabric and price from their official Japan sites, and say exactly what to wear for each temperature and distance.Shoes & gear · Oct 15, 2026

12 Running Packs and Trail VestsRUN GEAR NOTEPacks by the Numbers2026.10.15Product image: Rakuten IchibaProducts pictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Salomon ACTIVE SKIN / Salomon ADV SKIN 12 / Osprey Duro / Dyna / The North Face TR 1012 Running Packs and Trail VestsThree top picks by capacity and weight. Choose a trail vest's capacity by mandatory gear, not distance. The 8–12 L top pick is the Salomon ACTIVE SKIN 8 (8 L, 213g, two flasks included). I compared 12 models from Salomon, The North Face, mont-bell, Osprey and Paagoworks by official Japan capacity, weight and price, and also picked winners for up to 5 L and around 15 L.Shoes & Gear · Oct 15, 2026

How to Choose On Running ApparelRUN GEAR NOTEApparel by the numbers2026.10.15Product image: Rakuten IchibaPictured (Rakuten Ichiba): On Weather Jacket / On Performance Jacket Waterproof / On Performance Long-T / On Weather VestHow to Choose On Running Apparel8 pieces compared on water repellency, waterproofing and pockets. For On running apparel, take the Weather Vest on cold mornings and the Performance Jacket Waterproof in the rain. I compare 8 pieces sold on the official Japan site by fabric, water repellency and waterproofing, wind protection, reflectivity, pockets and fit, and work out the price gap between the jacket and vest and the total for a matching top and bottom.Shoes & gear · Oct 15, 2026

Tsurugi Lite Jacket ReviewRUN GEAR NOTEApparel by the numbers2026.10.15Product image: Rakuten IchibaPictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Teton Bros. Tsurugi Lite JacketTsurugi Lite Jacket ReviewThe 2026 version keeps 240g but uses a face yarn 1.5x heavier. The Teton Bros. Tsurugi Lite Jacket (2026 version) is a waterproof shell for people who keep moving in it on rainy mountains. 240g (M), JPY 41,800, 30-denier Täsmä face fabric. I cover the changes from the 2025 version, how to choose between it and the Feather and Yari, fit, and whether it meets mandatory gear rules, all by official specs.Shoes & gear · Oct 15, 2026

Feather Rain Jacket ReviewRUN GEAR NOTEApparel by the numbers2026.10.15Product image: Rakuten IchibaPictured (Rakuten Ichiba): Teton Bros. Feather Rain JacketFeather Rain Jacket ReviewThe 2026 version is 10g heavier at 195g, same price. The Teton Bros. Feather Rain Jacket (2026 version) is rain gear for runners covering long trails with a pack. 195g (M), 20,000mm waterproof rating, over 200,000 cycles in abrasion testing, JPY 31,900. I cover the changes from the 2025 version, the 70g gap to the Yari, fit and mandatory gear.Shoes & gear · Oct 15, 2026