Lightweight rain protection in fun colors.
Stylish Design
The best time to have a rain jacket is on vacation because getting soaked when you might be far from your hotel and not sure how to get back is a real drag. My “caught in the rain” moment happened in a tiny village in Sweden. I was only a few blocks from my accommodations, but I was waiting for a bus, so I was really happy I was wearing my Rossignol Women’s Active Rain Jacket when it started raining. (Also available in men’s sizes.)
I pulled on the hood over my baseball cap. This hood has a slightly cinched contrast ribbon of nylon covering the hem in lieu of toggles on each side to adjust the fit. I like this design a lot because it’s simpler; the hood has enough cinch to stay put. Then I started looking over the jacket to see how it was handling the rain.
The first thing I noticed was the elegant design of the sleeve hems. The top part of the sleeve extended over my wrists like little carports, while the bottom part of the sleeve opening was cinched by a wide piece of elastic. That design worked perfectly for me. I had enough room to move my wrists and hands freely, and at the same time I was protected from the weather.
The second thing I noticed about the Rossignol Women’s Active Rain Jacket was that the raindrops were beading on the surface of my jacket. That’s exactly what I wanted to see. Nothing collecting or seeping in. Bead and roll away!
The Rossignol Women’s Active Rain Jacket is made out of polyester with PFC-free Durable Water Repellent covering. The “critical seams” are taped (it looked like all the seams were taped to me, but this is the description from the Rossignol site.)
Hidden Pockets
Pockets are everything to me because I have a lot of stuff to carry: a wallet, a passport, an inhaler, an inhaler space, lip balm, maps, a flashlight, and a Lara bar. The Rossignol Women’s Active Rain Jacket has two large zippered front pockets. The zippers are not waterproof, but instead are tucked under a flap of material to keep the contents in the pockets dry. The pockets are made out of a lightweight, stretchy black nylon material, and form deep sleeve-style pockets on the inside of the jacket. I used the zippered pockets, which have nice long cord pulls, for the valuables, then stuffed the rest of my things into the sleeve pockets. Everything fit, and I could still zip up the jacket.
Size and Fit
I often wear men’s tops and jackets because I’m tall and have a large chest, but I was really happy to find an excellent fit in a women’s size 2XL. I think the jackets run a size smaller than US garments because I am always an XL in jackets. The jacket is gently shaped, with subtle darts and princess seams on the front. Inside there is a covered and toggle-adjustable waistband for pulling in the waist of the jacket for a more contoured fit.
The length is great. Not too short, and not a parka. Again, I was surprised that I liked the length because I’m 6’ tall, and usually think everything is too short. I felt like it was the ideal length for me and hit well below my waist. Just what I want for travel, urban outings, and half-day to full-day outings where I’m not carrying tons of stuff. I have a waterproof daypack I wear with it sometimes.
I have been wearing the Rossignol Women’s Active Rain Jacket with short-sleeved merino wool tops and with long-sleeved cotton tops in temps around and just below 60 F. I could comfortably add a thin merino mid-layer, but I really like wearing this jacket as an urban and part-day outing jacket.
Fun Colors
I like to keep it simple, so I usually wear black for everything. Then I saw the jacket in purple on the Rossignol site, and had to have it. I love the color. It’s richer than lavender but not as dark as deep purple. It goes with all my black clothes, so I love that. But mostly, I just love wearing a purple jacket. It’s a color that looks good on everyone, and imo, it’s a magical color.
Bottom Line
I love this comfortable and functional jacket that fits well, keeps me dry, and has enough pocket space for my essentials. The sleeve design stands out to me as a feature that might be subtle, but it adds so much to my comfort. It’s rare to find a women’s jacket with sleeves long enough. Thank you, Rossignol.
Details
Available in women’s sizes XS-2XL (runs a size small), in colors: “black-200, soft grape, flameorange, birch, and darknavy-175.” Rossignol also makes an Active men’s jacket, which is available in sizes: XS-3XL in colors: “black-200, ebonygreen, flameorange, birch, and darknavy-175.”
Manufacturer: Rossignol.com
$160 men’s jacket, $160 women’s jacket