Recently I get questions about what would I recommend as a good rain coat. I instantly thought of the Marmot Precip, since it was my first rain coat that I really remember as an everyday raincoat. It is lightweight; weighing only 11.4 oz, breathable, and waterproof. It has fully taped seams to ensure that water is not getting through to you. A roll up hood and pit zips help you keep your sweet hairdo and stay cool when it’s a humid rain. There are also 2 handwarmer style pockets that zip and velcro to make sure your stuff doesn’t go anywhere. The draw cord hem really helps keep the rain out when you are bending or moving as well as the Angel-Wing Movement™ technology under the arms has been a brilliant idea. I tend to be active when wearing this jacket so this has been a nice feature. The downside of this jacket is the lifespan. I got my first jacket before I went to ski camp. It only lasted 2 years before I started to notice that it was not really waterproof and the lining was pealing apart. This is the internal membrane that is delaminating, meaning your coat now is worthless. I sent it back to the company and got a new one. I thought it was from over use on the glacier, but this happened again.
I had tunnel vision for marmot only, and I needed to take the blinders off and see what was around me so I looked in the Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket. It is slightly heavier weighing in at 12.8 oz, but is breathable and waterproof as well as having a water repellant layer making the H2NO fabric. It has a roll up hood as well with a stiffer visor to make sure the rain does not go onto your glasses. The pit zips you want to stay cool in this coat. Again, handwarmer style pockets, and draw string. Although, this draw sting seems to be more difficult to adjust and bring in closer. The arm movement I have noticed is not as free as the Precip, but it does allow for a pretty good range of motion. I have only had this jacket for a few months, so my allegiance is up in this air at this point, but I think I will be making a permanent switch soon.
Precip http://marmot.com/products/wms_precip_jacket_spring_2011?p=217,303,168&ft=168
Torrentshell http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/womens-waterproof-torrentshell-jacket?p=83805-0-952