What is the difference between waterproof and water-resistant?

If something is waterproof it means it is impervious to water, whereas water-resistant means its able to resist the penetration of water to some degree but not entirely. There’s also such thing as water-repellent, which tends to mean the item has been treated with a water-resistant coating.

Is Gore-Tex 100% waterproof?

Original Gore-Tex products offer guaranteed waterproof, windproof, and breathable protection, so yes, in short, it is.

What is the best brand for rain jackets?

You can pick up a minimalist Rains’ coat, look sophisticated and stay dry in it, or you could head over to The North Face for an equal parts sensible and sartorial silhouette instead. On the high-street, look to ASOS for water-repellent parkas and trench coats, and if you’re worried about the logistics of carrying one around when it’s not drizzling, most waterproof jackets and coats feature a packaway design, so you can store them neatly in your bag.

How we chose the best rain jackets in this edit

Combining our expert knowledge in fashion – including which brands are worth spending your money on and what trends are living up to the hype – with customer reviews and data on what you’ve been searching for, we’ve curated what we feel is a selection of the best rain jackets for women on the market. We’ve rifled through the good and the bad so you don’t have to, and have paid particular attention to specifics like customer reviews, cost, fabrics/technology, sustainability and wearability in order to narrow it down. Our aim is to find you pieces which will last, and, as a team of 30+ here at GLAMOUR HQ, we’ve tried our fair share of the best raincoats for women to know which ones are worth shouting about.

For more from Glamour UK Senior Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd. For more from freelancer Ria Wolstenholme, follow her on Instagram @riawolstenholme.