3 Things We’ve Learnt About Waterproof Trail Jackets by Running in the Rain

Running is hard enough, let alone committing to a run in the rain. Trail running rain jackets make it a little more comfortable, but are they actually that waterproof and worthwhile?

Salomon should call their next trail jacket the ‘Salomon La Niña’. 

As we buckle up for another wet summer, lightweight waterproof jackets have become a whole ‘nother kind of currency. 

Earlier this year, Editor Tim and myself received a Salomon Bonatti Trail Jacket and a Salomon Bonatti GTX Shakedry Trail Jacket. 

After several months of testing them in wet, cool, hot and humid conditions, here’s what we found.

1. Trail Jackets Are Way More Waterproof Than You’d Expect

For such a lightweight piece of kit (180 – 195g), the Salomon Bonatti Jackets are seriously waterproof. 

They stand up to pretty consistent rainfall, if not a complete deluge, and repelled a jet stream of hydration flask without breaking a sweat — more on sweating later.

Said hydration flask repellency…

The Shakedry jacket is made of the premiere GORE-TEX Active with Shakedry® technology while the (dare we say ‘regular’?) Bonatti, is made of Japanese PERTEX® fabric, which still has a 20k/20k waterproof rating.

This is a rating you’d be more than happy with in a more sturdy dedicated rain jacket, so to get the same result from fabric more comparable to a garbage bag is very impressive.

2. It Needs to be Pretty Cold to be Comfortable

The double-edged sword of impeccable waterproofing is that breathability tends to suffer, no matter how much a brand says otherwise. 

Despite the Bonatti boasting a breathability rating of 20,000 g/m²/24h, it didn’t stop sweat accumulating on the inside of the jacket whenever I ran in temperatures above 15°C.

The Shakedry jacket allegedly performs a little better. According to GORE-TEX, ‘Our rigorous testing assures the laminate breathability score as being RET <3, putting it firmly in the best possible category: ‘extremely breathable’.’

It’s arguably less a question of breathability and more an issue of temperature management.

Tim generally found himself overheating in the Shakedry on more arduous runs in milder temperatures — anything above 14 degrees.

However it’s worth noting that this temperature was often accompanied by Sydney humidity. On similar temperature runs in the Blue Mountains the jackets were more comfortable, and on windy ridgelines, actually very essential.

The Shakedry can roll down into its own elastic ‘belt’, which makes it easy to take on and off as you move through different microclimates and conditions.

In my experience, the sweet spot for a jacket like this is single digit temps, so clearly Sydney may not be the best place for it. 

If the temps and rain are borderline, I’ll probably just opt to get wet from the rain, rather than sweat on the inside. But on longer runs it’s always in my pack as an essential safety item if I have to stop or the weather turns nasty.

If you find yourself in the Blue Mountains with a crisp wind blowing, or you’re setting out on some long, easy paced training runs where you won’t be heating up, then there’s definitely a place for this piece of kit.

3. Trail Run Rain Jackets Would be Pretty Great for Hiking

Given their lightweight and competitive waterproofing, there’s no reason why these kinds of jackets couldn’t double as your lightweight hiking rain jacket, or more casual waterproof jacket — if you can get over the fact that the Shakedry kind of looks like a bin bag.

The Shakedry jacket comes with a stow in stretchy waistband that not only seals the jacket for added protection, but allows you to stuff it in place (as opposed to tying around your waist) when not in use.

If you find yourself having to invest in a trail jacket as a mandatory piece of gear for trail run races like Ultra Trail Australia, it’s an easier pill to swallow knowing you can get other uses from it. 

Check out our recent Trail Running Gear Packing List, where we discuss what to wear depending on the distance.

Unisex Shakedry Jacket

Men’s Bonatti Jacket

Women’s Bonatti Jacket