Baleaf Rain Jacket Review: Is This Budget Rain Shell Worth It for Hiking?

The Baleaf Rain Jacket is a high-visibility rain jacket that can be used for hiking, trail running, cycling, and most outdoor activities.

I have used this rain jacket for both hiking and cycling in light to heavy rainfall.

This is a great choice for hikers, backpackers, trail runners, and cyclists who are on a budget and looking for inexpensive but still durable outdoor gear.

In this review, I’ll be covering overall fit, comfort, weather performance, breathability, and packability, as well as negative issues I’ve personally experienced with the Baleaf Rain Jacket.

Baleaf Rain Jacket Quick Verdict

The Baleaf Rain Jacket is an affordable option for outdoorsy folks who need a good rain jacket.

My opinion of this rain jacket is that it’s a good choice for hiking and cycling if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on gear.

I would definitely recommend this rain jacket for folks looking for budget gear, but if you have more money to spend, I’d recommend going for something even more durable.

The Baleaf Rain Jacket is best for casual hiking, day hiking, trail running, cycling, people on a budget, or even as an extra layering for rainy activities.

I wouldn’t recommend this rain jacket for heavy backpacking, extreme weather use, those who need something more premium, or those who need something with venting features.

Baleaf Rain Jacket Overview

The Baleaf Rain Jacket is a lightweight budget rain shell at best.

It is marketed as waterproof, a windbreaker, packable, and breathable. They offer both men’s and women’s options. My wife and I both use the men’s option.

The main features of the rain jacket include:

• Waterproof and ventilated
• Lightweight and packable
• Fully featured rain protection
• Reflective systems and bright color
• Versatile fit for hiking, cycling, and outdoor use

The material of the jacket is waterproof and uses water-resistant fabrics. It is a lightweight design with a hood, multiple zip pockets, adjustable cuffs and hems, breathability features, and can be easily packed.

It’s an affordable option, sitting at $55 on Amazon. If you use my life, I’ll earn a commission, but it will not impact your price.

First Impressions

My first impressions after using the Baleaf Rain Jacket stem from using it multiple times throughout a period of about four years.

I love the look and feel of the rain jacket. It’s bright safety yellow, which makes me more visible when I’m on my bike. The material is comfortable and has a good feel to it.

The material almost feels like a typical raincoat, but thicker and more durable feeling as if it would be hard to tear.

The construction quality is fairly decent for the raincoat. The hems and seams don’t tear or make stitching noises when you put it on. It seems very durable and has been for the past four years.

The overall appearance of the Baleaf Rain Jacket is very outdoorsy and looks like something you would wear cycling more than anything else.

The rain jacket has a nice fit. I wear an XXL, and that is what I got. It still fits close to the skin without being too tight or too loose. It really fits perfectly for how I want it to fit.

I would say that it’s true to size, but if you prefer a very loose rain jacket, then I would recommend sizing up twice to get that.

It fits well over base layers and other clothing. It does get a little tight over thicker clothing like hoodies and lighter jackets, but not so tight that it’s uncomfortable. I would recommend sizing up twice if you want to wear it over thicker layers.

The sleeves, torso length, and hood have a great fit for me, and I am 6’5” tall with a longer torso, which compensates for most of my height.

The Baleaf Rain Jacket is comfortable after putting it on, as long as there is a layer under it. I don’t like the way the jacket feels on my bare arms, and it gives you that cold sort of damp on the outside plastic feel if you know what I mean. I mainly use it when it’s colder.

The rain jacket is fairly stiff but flexible enough to wear comfortably without any restrictions or anything like that.

Performance on the Trail

The Baleaf is indeed water-resistant and waterproof for the most part.

I have worn the rain jacket in heavy rain on numerous occasions. I’ve worn it while hiking and cycling through strong thunderstorms. The rain jacket interior is a laminated TPU membrane with 5000mm waterproofing and 3000g/m2/24hr breathability, durable enough to withstand most conditions.

The rain jacket is also designed to be a windbreaker. For the most part, I find it works well as a windbreaker even during the windiest of days. I recently did a gravel bike race in both windy and stormy conditions, and I feel like I would have been miserable if I weren’t wearing the Baleaf Rain Jacket.

I do find the rain jacket is great for mobility, and I can move around without any sort of restriction on my range of motion while hiking and biking.

The jacket is advertised as being breathable, and it may be to a certain extent. However, I do tend to sweat when wearing it and will often feel clammy after a period of time. There are no ventilation zips on it, and I think Baleaf needs to add them at some point to make the jacket even better.

The hood works great, definitely stays on and protects you, and is built with wearing a bike helmet in mind, as it comes with a built-in visor, but it does slightly block side vision when utilizing it, which makes me leave it off for the most part because of that.

Packability and Weight

The Baleaf Rain Jacket is very easy to pack and carry when you’re not using it for the time being.

It can pack down fairly small, but it’s still a full-size jacket. You should expect it to pack down as a full-size jacket would. The weight of the jacket isn’t too much, either.

I usually just stuff it into my daypack when I’m not using it and forget it’s even there until I actually need to use it.

In an emergency, it would make a great shell layer for when it’s raining or snowing. It’s not insulated, but it’s strong enough to keep moisture off your mid-layer. You’d definitely like the Baleaf Rain Jacket as an extra layer choice.

Baleaf Rain Jacket Pros and Cons

These are my pros and cons of using the Baleaf Rain Jacket after around 4 years of heavy use.

Pros

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Easy to pack
• Good for light to moderate use
• Comfortable for everyday hiking or cycling

Cons

• Limited breathability compared to premium shells.
• May not hold up as well in heavy rain or long storms
• Durability may be less than that of high-end jackets.
• Limited advanced features

I’ll also share that my wife’s jacket had a seized zipper pocket on it. Baleaf sent her tips on how to unseize it (we had to buy extra things), and it didn’t work. Baleaf had a very confusing return process, and we just gave up. I do wish they had provided better customer service in that aspect. We also found a COVID mask in one of the pockets, which was very odd.

How It Compares to Other Rain Jackets

I use another rain jacket from Frog Tog that is cheap and can be found at most retail stores.

The Frog Tog is not as stuffy as the Baleaf Rain Jacket. However, the material is not as durable as Baleaf either. Every Frog Tog rain jacket that I’ve used has ripped within the first year or two of using it, and I’ve never had even a small tear on my Baleaf Rain Jacket, even after 4 years of rugged use.

Who the Baleaf Rain Jacket Is Best For

The Baleaf Rain Jacket is best for outdoorsy people looking for an affordable rain jacket that is still durable and doesn’t weigh a ton.

Beginner hikers and casual outdoor users will love using this rain jacket. Day hikers in mild to moderate conditions will enjoy it. People building a budget hiking gear setup will appreciate the price and durability of this jacket.

If you need a lightweight shell layer that you can pack away and forget about until you need it, then I would definitely recommend this rain jacket.

Who Should Skip It

• Backpackers in harsh or extended wet conditions
• Users needing top-tier waterproof-breathable performance
• Anyone wanting pit zips, premium membranes, or heavy-duty durability

Baleaf Rain Jacket FAQ

Is the Baleaf Rain Jacket actually waterproof?

It is in light to moderate rain and snow conditions. I have found that it starts to take in water when the rain is very heavy or during strong storms.

Is the Baleaf Rain Jacket good for hiking?

This rain jacket is a wonderful choice for hiking. I commonly choose this rain jacket every time I hike when there is a chance of precipitation.

Does the Baleaf Rain Jacket run true to size?

It does, but on the smaller side. It fits well for cycling because it’s closer to your skin but not so tight that it’s restrictive. If you want it loose, I suggest sizing up twice.

Is the Baleaf Rain Jacket breathable?

It’s marketed as breathable, but I don’t find it to be that breathable. I will quickly sweat and feel clammy in it. I usually only use it when it’s cold for that reason.

Can you use the Baleaf Rain Jacket for trail running or walking?

You could use this rain jacket for trail running and fitness walking. In the summer months, the lack of breathability might make it uncomfortable when you start sweating, though.

Is the Baleaf Rain Jacket worth buying?

For $55, you get a budget-friendly and durable rain jacket that works great as an extra layer or a shell layer to pack away and forget about until you need it. We’ve had ours for more than four years, and they’re still like new. I recommend it if you need something budget-friendly; explore more premium options.

Final Verdict on the Baleaf Rain Jacket

That sums up my review of the Baleaf Rain Jacket. I hope you have found this information to be useful. If you have, consider leaving me a small donation for publishing it, or support me on a monthly basis for even more features.

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And until next time, I’ll see you on the trail!