Last Updated on July 9, 2023
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Aldi sold these jackets again in March of 2023 for $14.99, the same price they went for in the spring of 2022.
I’ve got outdoor wear for almost any occasion. I have to, because I live in the Midwest, where the weather can, quite literally, run from zero to a hundred. When it’s toasty out, for example, I’ll don a brimmed hat and clothes that breathe well.
I also have a range of options I’ve collected over the years for cooler temperatures. I’ve got a light jacket for those windy 60+ degree days. I own a mid-light jacket for when temperatures slip into the upper 40s or 50s. I have a windproof and waterproof parka that’s good for temperatures in the 20s and 30s. And I recently purchased a heavy coat good for temperatures below freezing — well below, if I add in extras like base layers.
What I don’t have is a simple solution for warm weather rain. The obvious answer there is an umbrella, but I’ve also been in instances where I can’t use an umbrella, like when I’m doing something that requires the use of both hands. What then?
A rain poncho would work, but those can feel more like wearing a glorified trash bag than a coat, and they aren’t always reusable. A raincoat is also an option, if a large and potentially expensive one.
Enter Aldi, which sells another solution: a rain jacket.
The men’s version.
The ladies’ version.
The Adventuridge Packable Rain Jacket is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a limited time. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, and it won’t be back until Aldi chooses to sell it again, which would likely be next year, if at all. Aldi also does not offer online ordering for a product that is not in stock at your area store.
At the time of this post, the rain jacket costs $14.99. That’s cheap as far as rain jackets go.
(Click to enlarge.)
This year, the rain jacket comes in both men’s and ladies’ versions, which translates to black, green, black / gray, or pink in sizes medium (M) through extra large (XL).
The jacket’s features include:
- Waterproof material 3000mm, which means it can withstand 3000mm of rain over the course of a day before it would no longer be waterproof.
- UV protection from the sun, with up to a UFP 50+ rating
- A zipped pocket
- Taped seams
- An adjustable hood
- An elastic hood draw cord
- An integrated zipped carry bag
(Click to enlarge.)
Using the jacket is pretty easy. You unzip the pouch, pull the jacket out, and you’re ready to go. To put it away, you simply pull the pocket out so the writing is on the outside, then carefully stuff the jacket back in the pouch until you can zip it closed. The zipped pouch is small enough to fit in a large hand.
Testing the jacket during a camping trip. Here’s a view of the front.
On the positive side, the jacket does a pretty good job of keeping out moisture. It’s not completely waterproof — a deluge of rain will soak it — but in a light to moderate rain it should keep you mostly dry. The presence of the pocket (which is also the pouch it folds into) and the integrated hood are nice touches.
A back view of the jacket.
On the other hand, it has a plastic-like texture to it, on the outside especially, and it doesn’t breathe all that well. That’s typical for something that is waterproof, but it’s not hard to see how one could get a little stuffy on a warm rainy day trapped inside this jacket. For that reason, if it’s a warm summer day and it’s raining, you’ll probably be more comfortable with an umbrella if circumstances allow. This will work in a pinch, though.
The Verdict:
The Adventuridge Packable Rain Jacket works if you need a hands-free way to keep the rain away. It also packs nicely into a small pouch, which makes it a little like a poncho. It isn’t terribly comfortable, though, so for most people an umbrella may work better if you can swing it.
