Best 10 Backpacking Windbreaker Jackets Of 2024

Strong winds are often a problem whenever you find yourself at a very high mountain. The weather is often unpredictable and you may end up without any sort of protection. Having a lightweight windbreaker jacket can help you against the winds and keep you somewhat warm while hiking or backpacking. I have listed a few very good ones below, hopefully, you will find one of them to be satisfactory to your needs. They all look great and very stylish as well.

Best Backpacking Windbreaker Jackets – Quick Chart

How To Choose A Windbreaker Jacket

Common Types Of Outdoor Jackets

Windbreaker Jackets

Windbreaker jackets are meant to resist the wind. These jackets are often very light and very easy to carry. These will often have around 5-8 ounces of weight. These jackets are often treated with a DWR coating to repel water. These jackets are not completely waterproof but they do offer some protection against the rain. Not that good against a downpour or storm though.

Rain Jackets

Rain jackets for the spring and summer are not very thick. These are a little bit heavier than windbreaker jackets. These will weigh around 1 pound or more. A little bit heavy but not that heavy also. Most people would use a rain jacket rather than a windbreaker because rain jackets offer more protection and they are not that heavy.

Casual Jackets

Casual jackets are used for hanging out and for work also. These jackets are often heavier than rain jackets since these will have a lot of pockets and other miscellaneous features. These jackets can also have an inner jacket that you can combine to make it more suitable for winter. These are very cost effective and they work well.

DWR Finish

Most jackets that you will see that can repel rain will have a DWR finish. DWR finish is a type of coating that is applied to a fabric so that water will not clogged the surface of the jacket but actually repel the water from the surface. A rain jacket’s face fabric or surface exterior becomes waterlogged and heavy. This will make the fabric damp which tends to sag and cling to the skin.

Choosing The Material

Nylon

Nylon has a lot of advantages over other materials which is why a lot of people like this. Affordable material that is also very popular. I love that nylon can repel water very easily. There are many items made from nylon and they are often very durable. We can easily notice that nylon windbreaker jackets are very easy to carry and light.

Polyester

Polyester has a lot of benefits and advantages compared to other materials. A lot of people love items made out of polyester because this is very inexpensive. We can clearly see that polyester is very lightweight and items made from this are very light as well. This material is very durable and items made out of this material are very durable as well. Windbreaker jackets made from polyester will often be water repellent.

Outdoor Activities To Think About

Trail Running

Trail runners will often use windbreaker jackets. They just want to run the trails and finish as fast as possible. Windbreakers are very light and will not require a lot of energy to carry or use. These jackets are ideal for trail running because they are very light and will not interfere with running the trails.

Hiking – Day Hikes

For hiking, most people wear a rain jacket. There are many rain jackets that are very light also. However, they are not as light as windbreakers. People will often bring windbreakers also or have them in their backpacks in case of rain. Hikers tend to bring rain jackets because these are very versatile and can handle different kinds of weather.

Backpacking

Backpackers can use windbreakers or rain jacket. Most will usually have a rain jacket also because these are very versatile. These jackets can keep people dry while in the wilderness. Windbreakers offer water repelling capabilities also. If the forecast is very bright and sunny, people will often just bring a windbreaker with them.

General Backpacking Features To Consider

Weight

The weight of the backpacking windbreaker jacket matters. We have lots of things to carry, and the weight of the jacket adds to the total weight that we are carrying. So while there are a lot of really good jackets, we should pick one that is not too heavy or very light. The more weight that our body carries, the more fatigue it will become. It is just not fun to be tired all the time while in the outdoors.

Packable

It is often recommended that the jacket to be packable. There are times when one part of the hike has a hot and humid weather while another part is cold. When you go up the elevation, the weather changes. In some mountains, the weather becomes unpredictable. They have their own weather that is different from their surroundings. So it is recommended that the jacket is packable.

Waterproof

Since the weather is often unpredictable in certain mountains, it is highly recommended that the jacket is also rainproof or waterproof. This will ensure that you are dry while hiking in the outdoors. You will just feel a lot better and more comfortable when you are dry while hiking. The rain is very annoying and it happens. Sometimes you will be caught unprepared.

Price

The price also matters. Most of the time, you are not paying for the design or materials, you are paying for the brand name. Don’t get me wrong though, brand names are often synonymous with quality. Most brand name items are very high quality so you in essence you are paying for the trust that the company has built. However, there are some really good jackets out there that are very affordable.

Breathable

You will not feel dry and comfortable if the jacket is not breathable. The sweat that you accumulated while hiking will get stuck inside the jacket or on your body. This can cause embarrassing odor and other similar annoyances. It is highly recommended that the jacket you get for hiking is breathable. You just do not want to be wet because your gear is not properly suited for the outdoors.

Best Backpacking Windbreaker Jackets

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1. Salomon Men’s Agile Wind Jacket

Technical Specs
Weight: 6.1 oz
Material: AdvancedSkin Shield
Water Repellent: Yes
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Blocks cold and blustery winds, but stays breathable, the active fit is contoured for comfortable movement without being tight or restrictive

Short Review: I am usually stunned given that this backpacking windbreaker jacket is extremely good. Salomon is an amazing company that has lots of outdoor gear that I like. I especially like their boots. This one is pretty good. AdvancedSkin Shield which blocks winds rather easily. This is lightweight, provides a lot of wind protection and repels water. This is also very breathable. The front and back vents circulate air to keep the body very well ventilated and comfortable. One of the best windbreaker jackets that you can get at this time.

2. Helly Hansen Men’s Seven J Waterproof, Windproof, and Breathable Rain Jacket with Hood

Technical Specs
Weight: 13.6 oz
Material: 100% PU Face, 100% Polyester Back
Water Repellent: Yes
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Durable Water Repellency (DWR) treatment beads water and fully seam sealed, HELOX+ technology, waterproof, windproof and breathable shell jacket

Short Review: The simple truth is that this outdoor rain jacket is rather good and excellent. This jacket works extremely well and I am happy that I have one. I got the white one which is great for picture taking or photography but it gets a lot of dirt rather easily. This comes in a variety of colors and you can choose the color that is most suitable for you. The item is very light while displaying amazing water repelling capabilities. Of course, this item repels wind very well also. A good jacket that is both stylish and very functional. If you want a very beautiful jacket with a decent price tag then this is it. One of the best jackets that I really like.

3. Outdoor Research Men’s Helium II Jacket

Technical Specs
Weight: 6.4 oz
Material: 100% Nylon; 2.5-Layer 30D Pertex Shield Ds Ripstop Fabric W, Clear Laminate
Water Repellent: Yes
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Packs down to the size of a granola bar, windproof and waterproof, stuff pocket w/ webbing loop, compact and lightweight

Short Review: This windbreaker jacket not only will perform extremely well, but the effective capacity or characteristics of this item is awesome. Outdoor Research is an amazing outdoor company and I have a lot of their items. The space saving design is great and should give us more room in our backpacks. This is precisely what I expected and for the right price as well. Comes in a variety of colors which gives you the capability to choose one that suits your style. The jacket itself is amazing and provides a lot of weather protection while being very light in weight.

4. adidas Men’s Essentials Wind Jacket

Technical Specs
Weight: 8.8 oz
Material: Recycled polyester
Water Repellent:
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Full zip with drawcord-adjustable hood, elastic cuffs and hem, mesh lining

Short Review: You’ll want to look at this hiking windbreaker jacket before this is sold out. The design of this jacket makes it useful as well as extraordinary. You can definitely see that lots of men and women like this remarkable item by checking out the positive customer feedback. A very lightweight jacket that works well. Good enough to repel wind, rain water and protects against a variety of different kinds of weather. The price is also very affordable so if you don’t want to spend a lot on a jacket then this is a good choice to try.

5. Columbia Men’s Watertight II Jacket

Technical Specs
Weight: 12 oz
Material: Shell: 100% Nylon, Lining: 100% Polyester
Water Repellent: Yes
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Waterproof nylon shell durable, full-function rainwear for backcountry and urban travelers alike, abrasion resistant chin guard

Short Review: You can purchase a lot of rain jackets however, this is still among the finest which can be found right now. The thing that I like most regarding this item is the design. Amazing design that repels water and wind very easily. The item comes in a variety of colors to choose from. So you can pick the color that you want. Columbia is an amazing company and they make a lot of jackets that are very good. This features a waterproof 100% nylon shell that is very durable and great for a variety of different kinds of weather.

6. Rab Men’s Vital Windshell Hoody

Technical Specs
Weight: 5.6 oz
Material: Hyperlite lightweight and windproof nylon outer
Water Repellent:
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Ideal for a wide range of mountain activities, lightweight and packable, offering instant protection from the wind

Short Review: I certainly love this backpacking windbreaker jacket simply because it is marvelous. The jacket works well that it can keep the body dry and protect it from the weather. It is made out of lightweight nylon fabric that is very easy to wear as it does not have a lot of weight. Perfect for hiking and backpacking purposes. The jacket comes with an integrated internal stuff sack so people can easily stow it away when not in used. The price is a little bit high though which is the only drawback that I found.

7. TRAILSIDE SUPPLY CO. Mens Windbreaker Jackets

Technical Specs
Weight:
Material: Polyester/Nylon Shell
Water Repellent: Yes
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Highly wind resistant, durable water-repellent (DWR) finish, engineered, jacket rolls or folds up for storage

Short Review: This wonderful rain jacket will amaze you. I find this company to be an amazing company that creates high quality jackets. This is a very good windbreaker and rain water jacket that is very stylish. I frequently recommend this to everyone I know of since this can keep the body dry and protect it from the weather. This works well at protecting the user from the wind and this looks beautiful also. The  jacket rolls or folds up for storage easy enough requiring very little space for the same. This works well for various outdoor activities and very light in weight also.

8. Under Armour Men’s Storm Launch 2.0 Jacket

Technical Specs
Weight: 7 oz
Material: 100% Polyester
Water Repellent: Yes
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: UA Storm technology repels water without sacrificing breathability, ultra-light, smooth woven fabric

Short Review: This windbreaker jacket is among the greatest that I have ever tried. The price of this vary greatly. It can either be really affordable or really expensive. This works well, stylish and very beautiful. There are a lot of people who are extremely satisfied of this jacket judging from the positive customer reviews in amazon. A very good jacket to have that works very well in lots of different kinds of weather. This is very light in weight too.

9. Columbia Men’s Glennaker Lake Front-Zip Rain Jacket with Hideaway Hood

Technical Specs
Weight: 12.8 oz
Material: 100% nylon Hydroplus
Water Repellent: Yes
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: Omni-Tech fabric for ultimate protection and comfort, softshell exterior and a mesh lining for protection and breathability

Short Review: This hiking rain jacket is awesome and this has a great deal of positive customer reviews. This is one of the best jackets simply because of the distinctive design and very affordable price. This is incredibly good. One of the best I have ever tried and the price is a bargain. Another amazing jacket from Columbia. The amount of positive consumer feedback that this item has is impressive that I am sure that you will really like this, the same as the people who reviewed it. A very good windbreaker jacket that works in various kinds of weather.

10. Arc’teryx Men’s Squamish Hoody

Technical Specs
Weight: 6.6 oz
Material: Tyono 30 denier shell – DWR treatment – 100% nylon
Water Repellent: Yes
Windproof: Yes
Feature Summary: High wind resistance, features ultralight minimalist construction, wind resistant fabric that has surprising strength and resilience, light and compressible, hooded windshell

Short Review: This outdoor jacket is pretty great. This is a pretty good jacket for the outdoors that provides a lot of benefits. Arc’teryx is an amazing company that has a lot of very lightweight and winter jackets that I love. This one is rather good as it has a high performance or high functionality with a minimalist design. It is lightweight which works well for hiking and backpacking. A good jacket that offers a lot of protection while also not having a lot of weight which makes it easy to carry.