Anyone who has spent time hiking on the east coast knows about the need for a rain jacket that is waterproof, but also strong enough to handle the thorns, branches, and trunks that are frequently encountered.
In our opinion the best rain jacket to wear off-trail is the Marmot’s Impulse Jacket. This jacket is light, well-ventilated, has a decent waterproof-breathable material, and just as important it does not cost a fortune. Similar to the Impulse is Mountain Hardwear’s Cohesion Jacket, which, like the Impulse, uses a proprietary polyurethane-based laminate for good rain protection and adequate breathability.