SOAR RUNNING TRAIL RACE JACKET REVIEW

SOAR RUNNING TRAIL RACE RAIN JACKET

PLEASE NOTE: I paid for the SOAR Running trail race jacket myself and was not gifted this jacket or paid by SOAR Running to give a honest review. This page contains affiliate links. Making a purchase via our affiliate link means I may receive a small share of the sale.

Im currently training for a 24 hour race and 100 miler so kit selection has been high on my list of things to get sorted early this year, and near the top of that list is a waterproof jacket. The SOAR Trail Race rain shell fits the bill perfectly.

Waterproof jackets are one of those pieces of kit where expectations are usually managed rather than exceeded. Most keep you dry for a bit, flap around when you pick speed and end up boiling you alive in your own sweat.

However, The SOAR Trail Race Rain Jacket is one of the few I have used that actually feels designed around running first, rather than adapted from a hiking/walking/ski/ generally daily use jacket.

This is a proper performance waterproof aimed squarely at, road, trail and ultra running. Everything about it points towards bad weather, long hours and unpredictable conditions, which is exactly where this jacket excels.

FABRIC AND WEATHER PROTECTION

The waterproof performance is genuinely impressive. The jacket is rated to 20,000 mm on the Schmerber scale, which puts it firmly into the category of serious rain protection rather than shower resistant compromise.

In real world terms, it deals confidently with prolonged rain and heavy downpours without wetting out.Water beads nicely and reminds me of the older shake dry jackets, while also providing excellent wind protection.

Despite that market leading level of waterproofing, breathability is where this jacket really stands out. With a MVTR rating of 50,000, it sits right at the sharp end of what is currently available in running waterproofs.

On steady to moderately hard efforts it does a very good job of letting heat and moisture escape, meaning you stay dry from the rain without immediately overheating from the inside.

The double zipped flap on the front is also great for venting excess heat and when unzipped it folds back inside itself neatly.

FIT & COMFORT

The fit is athletic and trail focused with a standard cut that allows for thin layering underneath without feeling baggy or restrictive. All SOAR garments are cut quite slim, and this doesn’t stray from that ethos.

I ordered a size L as that was what the sizing chart recommend, on reflection an XL would have been a better fit with slightly more room underneath for colder weather layers. The fabric has a some amount of stretch, which makes a big difference when moving over uneven ground or climbing. It moves with you rather than against you.

The hood is well designed and clearly intended for running in bad conditions. It stays put in wind, offers proper coverage and does not interfere with peripheral vision. When the weather turns properly unpleasant, that detail matters more than you might expect.

Sleeves are long enough to offer good coverage, cuffs sit comfortably, and once you get moving it stays that way without constant fiddling.

The body length is on the shorter side and sits nicely on the waist, I was initially concerned that it might ride up, but true to form, SOAR have done a great job on fit and it stays where it should.

ON THE RUN

Where this jacket really earns its keep is in proper bad weather and I have been “lucky” enough to experience some of that in the last few weeks with two storms rolling through the UK!

When rain is persistent and the wind is cutting, it creates a reliable barrier that allows you to focus on the run rather than how miserable the conditions are becoming.

It feels stable when running and does not flap excessively, even at pace or in exposed areas. That stability makes a real difference on technical trails where the last thing you want is distraction from your footing.

This is very much a jacket you trust. You put it on knowing it will do what it is supposed to do, which is exactly what you want when conditions deteriorate mid run.

PRACTICAL DETAILS

Details are thoughtful and functional rather than flashy. Zips are easy to operate even with cold or tired hands.

It packs down reasonably well for a jacket with this level of protection, making it suitable for races where waterproofs are mandatory kit.

Everything about it suggests it has been designed with real world trail racing in mind rather than just ticking boxes on a spec list.

COST

This sits firmly in premium territory and is not a casual purchase.

However, when you consider the level of waterproofing, breathability and overall performance, the value starts to make sense for anyone who runs trails year round or races in unpredictable conditions.

It replaces uncertainty with confidence, and that is worth paying for.

OVERALL

The SOAR Trail Race Rain Jacket is a serious waterproof for runners who do not let the weather dictate whether they go out or not.

With a 20,000 mm waterproof rating, exceptional breathability and a well executed, runner focused fit, it does exactly what it promises.

If your running is mostly fair weather this is probably more jacket than you need. If you spend time on trails, in the hills, or racing when conditions are variable at best, this is exactly the sort of jacket you want to have ready when things turn dark and wet.