The best jackets and pants should not only be stylish, but also keep you dry and warm.
Options for jackets and pants range from down fill to waterproof Gore-Tex, heavy-duty rain gear to lightweight and stretchy. We tested many options from a variety of brands to compile our favorites below.
These are the best jackets and pants for the outdoors enthusiasts in 2020
| Grundéns Tourney Jacket and Bibs grundens.com  This set is lightweight and allows full range of movement, but it is also tough and waterproof, which are essential characteristics for success in Alaska’s saltwater. Features include multiple pockets, and an adjustable hood, hem, and cuffs on the jacket. The bibs include multiple pockets and a double-layered seat and knee. We think that the two-tone, blue-gray pattern is eye-catching, making this gear both functional and stylish. |
| Grundéns Women’s Weather Watch Jacket and Pants grundens.com  This set sports an adorable matching design for both jacket and pants. They feature quality reinforced stitching throughout, convenient pockets inside and out, and incorporate smart design elements like elastic in the hood and Velcro in the sleeves. Our tester felt warm and protected from the elements in the jacket and especially appreciated the high-quality adjustable belt and two zippered pockets and another snapping side pocket in the pants. She also stated that the Velcro and zippers at the bottom of the legs made it easy to get in and out of the pants with boots on. |
| Grundéns Women’s Neptune Jacket & Bib grundens.com  This waterproof set was well received by our female tester. She said that they kept her dry in some very wet conditions, allowed for good range of motion when fighting big fish on the saltwater, and are more comfortable to wear than most rain gear. We believe that every saltwater angler needs a set of Grundéns rain gear when fishing in Alaska. |
| Grundéns Women’s Nightwatch Jacket grundens.com  This jacket is beautiful, light, warm and comfortable—easily a jacket that has become a favorite and a go-to jacket for our tester. It is easy to layer under this jacket. It is great for spring, summer and fall in Alaska. The zippers and inside cell-phone pockets are well designed and appreciated. |
| Columbia PFG Tamiami Hurricane Jacket columbia.com  This jacket is lightweight, packable, breathable, and waterproof. The hood fits well over a ball cap, and the jacket kept our tester dry in some wet weather. The jacket features sealed seams, coated zippers and both sun and wind protection. |
| Drift Creek Outdoors Tundra Tech Men’s Hooded Rain Jacket Style #7600 driftcreekoutdoors.com  We liked that this jacket is both windproof and waterproof, which came in handy during some foul-weather weeks in the fall of 2019, where testers were pulling on silvers in rivers like the Tsiu, Kenai and Kustatan. Ample pockets allow for essential storage. Features include waterproof zippers, a large hood with visor and 3-way adjustment, fleece-lined chin guard, adjustable cuffs with Velcro, and a draw cord at the bottom hem. |
| Simms ProDry Jacket and Bib simmsfishing.com  Fishing in Alaska often means fishing in the rain. If you’re in a boat, good rain gear is essential. The Simms ProDry Jacket and Bib are 25% lighter than their predecessors, making them more comfortable and also allowing them to pack down for easier storage when not in use. ProDry products use waterproof, breathable 3-layer Gore-Tex. The jacket has YKK water-resistant zippers; a 3-point adjustable, tuck-away Storm Hood; two zippered chest pockets; two hand-warmer pockets; an oversized collar; and the Cohaesive cord management system at hood and hem. It’s available in three colors and six sizes. The bib is made of the same material, features YKK water-resistant zippers; 2-way, full-length leg zippers; two top-load thigh pockets with plier sleeves; one zippered chest pocket; two micro-fleece lined hand-warmer pockets; and an adjustable lower leg hem. The bib is available in two colors. Our tester said he was astonished at how light and comfortable the ProDry Jacket and Bib are, yet so waterproof. |
| Under Armour Men’s Ridge Reaper Raider Pants underarmour.com  Quiet, waterproof, windproof, and comfortable, these pants are a fine choice for outdoorsmen in Alaska. Our tester loved the fit of these pants and found them to be very easy to move in. Articulated knees and four-way-stretch fabric contribute to the functionality of this garment. Pockets are adequate and properly placed. |
| Mammut Women’s Aconcagua Light Hybrid Jacket mammut.com  Our tester found this jacket to be multi-functional; well-suited as a top layer when actively hiking to the river, as well as a mid-layer when wading and casting for trout and salmon. It seamlessly combines the moisture-wicking properties of fleece with the wind protection of a shell, and the warmth provided through insulation. It’s available in three colors and five sizes. |
| Black Diamond Women’s Cirque Shell blackdiamondequipment.com  Our tester likes the range of motion she has while fishing in this jacket, and also commented that the protection from wind and water is paramount in choosing this shell. It sports an adjustable helmet-compatible hood, a chest pocket that can house your phone, and hand pockets. It’s made from 4-way stretch, double-weave fabric and treated with DWR. This shell comes in multiple sizes and three colors. |
| Simms Challenger Fishing Jacket simmsfishing.com  This is a quality jacket for the elements, rain or shine, windy or calm. It is well designed with large zippered pockets inside and out, in addition to storm flaps and felt-lined pockets. It is waterproof and breathable; comfortable to wear in a wide variety of conditions. The jacket has an adjustable storm hood and collar. Our tester really appreciated this jacket’s focus on details. |
| Helly Hansen Women’s Moss Insulated Coat hellyhansen.com  This 3-in-1 coat incorporates an outer rain coat and inner snap-out lining, giving the wearer three options. It’s often both cold and wet in Alaska, even in the summer and especially on the saltwater, so this coat was a winner in our tester’s mind after several stormy outings. The insulated rain coat offers full waterproof and windproof protection. It’s available in five sizes and two colors. |
| Mammut Men’s Broad Peak Light Down Jacket mammut.com  This lightweight jacket provides exceptional warmth and weather protection. It works nicely as a top layer and beneath a shell when the weather turns snotty. We like how it fits into the side pocket when stowing for travel. Mammut offers this jacket in three colors and five sizes. |
| Patagonia Men’s Snap-Dry Hoody patagonia.com  We appreciated the comfortable feel and technical performance of this garment. Worn both as a top layer during cool and dry conditions, as well as a sub-shell layer during typical wet fall conditions, this hoody combines a stretchy face fabric with fast-wicking insulation. The combination provides for freedom of movement and for a garment that breathes and dries quickly. It’s lightweight, which increases its packability. Testers also commented that the hood fits well over a standard baseball cap. |
| Eddie Bauer Women’s MicroTherm 2.0 Down Hooded Jacket eddiebauer.com  This jacket is in its second version and received several improvements over the original. These include a more comfortable fit that promotes greater mobility, more room in the chest, a slightly longer length, softer fabric and drawcord hem. Our tester loved that the jacket is super-comfortable, light and warm. It features 800 fill-power goose down, a windproof ripstop polyester shell treated with DWR, ample pockets and stretch side panels for mobility and breathability. Eddie Bauer’s MicroTherm construction creates warmth with minimal bulk through streamlined micro channels coupled with premium goose down. |
| Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge II Stretch Pant columbia.com  Lightweight, comfortable and quick to dry, we thought these were great pants for the traveling angler. The pants are available in a range of colors, waist and inseam sizes. |