One of the most prominent features of the Pacific Northwest is its rain. Nowhere else in the America will you become acquainted with overly optimistic terminology like “partly sunny” or “sunbreaks.” In fact, it’s almost normal to have a jacket or hoodie on standby to combat the eventual rain. Living in this region of the country, it’s best to become Zen about inclement weather. Luckily, Columbia has a lightweight jacket that helps pave the path to rain-repelling nirvana.
The Sleeker Jacket is a terrific standby jacket. I took the Sleeker into a rainstorm, and it absolutely kept me dry. Impressively, I found the Sleeker as effective as a heavier duty rain jacket but without all the bulkiness. As the rain came down, the water beaded up and rolled off the Sleeker. I was also thrilled to find that the Sleeker’s hood sheltered my glasses from the rain. People who aren’t bespectacled don’t have a full understanding about the havoc rain can wreak on glasses. Well played, Columbia.
The Sleeker can easily be stored in a backpack or big pocket. It can be rolled up into a small, tight roll and bounces back right away. The jacket is breathable, but I found the best way to achieve this is to unzip the front and the pockets. Since its purpose is to keep moisture out, the material isn’t exactly porous. Moreover, if you are wearing the jacket for a prolonged period of time, your arms might get sweaty. To reduce this effect, it’s best to wear a light sweater underneath the Sleeker. Another cool aspect of the waterproof material is that it quickly dries when the rain is over.
After wearing the Columbia Sleeker Jacket out in different rain conditions, I have concluded that it’s a perfect rain jacket if you’re on the go. I would recommend this jacket if you want a lightweight alternative to a bulky raincoat. In fact, it seems that it works almost too well.
The good:
- Waterproof, repels rain
- Hood keeps head (and glasses) dry
- Quick dry
- Durable
- 4 stylish colors
The bad:
- Might need a sweater or sweat shirt underneath for additional comfort
The Columbia Sleeker Jacket is available on Amazon.
Photo provided by Columbia