3 in 1 Jackets - Rain Jackets, A Shell With Removable Insulation, Men's & Women's

A breathable, wind and waterproof outer layer adds versatility when paired with a fitted inner jacket, wear them separately or combine them for added protection.

3 in 1: (sometimes also called 2 in 1)
1 - Windproof and waterproof outer shell.
2 - Insulated soft lightweight inner jacket.
3 - Shell and inner worn together.

Features of a 3 in 1 jacket

Why does this idea work so well?

• The outer shell provides year-round rain protection.
• The soft inner jacket works perfectly in place of a fleece or hoodie.
• Worn together, the two layers form an integrated system that traps warm air both between and within each jacket, delivering far more warmth than you'd expect from such a low-bulk combination.
• Because they're designed to work as a pair, the fit and coordination are far better than with two unrelated garments.
• Many designs include fastening points to secure the jackets together, making it easy to put them on or take them off as a single piece in colder weather.

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A smart solution for year-round outdoor protection is a versatile outer coat that can adapt its insulation as the weather changes. I own one of these jackets and use it throughout the seasons, it's warm enough to keep me comfortable down to about 20°F (-6°C), which is ideal for my climate since temperatures rarely drop lower and the outer alone is good as a summer waterproof. Some versions offer more insulation, but these coats aren't meant for extreme cold. To achieve that level of warmth, the added bulk would make the outer shell too loose and impractical when worn on its own.

The Outer Jacket

Shell layers are made from breathable, waterproof, and windproof fabrics (if it's not, find one that is, as the difference in comfort is substantial). You'll find endless debates, charts, and graphs claiming to show which fabric is "best", but in reality, those comparisons often say more about marketing budgets than real-world performance.

In this context, breathable fabrics use a membrane with microscopic pores, small enough to block larger water droplets from rain, yet large enough to let tiny water vapor molecules escape. The result is a material that keeps you dry from the outside without making you sweaty inside.

The breathable membrane is bonded to an outer fabric layer to provide protection and increase durability. On the inside, it may have either a full lining or a very light layer, enhancing both strength and comfort against the skin. These three constructions are commonly referred to as:

• 2 layer - membrane + bonded outer, these will often have a layer of loose hanging fabric or mesh on the inside. This gives the quietest material.
• 2.5 layer - membrane + bonded outer + thin inner part-layer. This gives the lightest material.
• 3 layer - membrane + bonded outer + bonded inner. This gives the overall best performance.

You can find the same basic membrane with quite different textures and fabric weights (and cost to some degree) in different garments.

Well-known breathable waterproof membranes include Gore-Tex, eVent, DryVent, H2No, and HyVent, all of which perform to a high standard. Other membranes are available as well, though in practice they tend to be more alike than they are different, despite manufacturers rebranding them and promoting their own as superior. When it comes to established brands, you can generally trust that their non-budget jackets will deliver excellent performance.

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The Inner Jacket

Typically lightweight, these jackets may feature synthetic insulation, down fill, or be made of synthetic fleece. They are designed to function perfectly well on their own, without appearing to be just one half of a pairing system.

Synthetic insulation - Performs better than down in wet conditions, though it is bulkier and heavier for the same level of warmth. It is generally more affordable but does not compress as effectively. Since the insulation in a 3-in-1 jacket is typically lighter than that of a dedicated insulated shell, the benefits of down are less pronounced in this context.

Down - Considered the highest-quality insulation, though less commonly used in 3-in-1 jackets. These jackets can appear especially expensive, not only because down itself costs more than synthetic, but also because manufacturers typically pair it with premium materials and design features. As a result, 3-in-1 jackets with down insulation are usually high-end in all respects.

Fleece - A more affordable option that still delivers excellent insulation and reliable performance across the board.

Underarm ventilation in the form of "Pit Zips" are found on some shell layers.  These take the form of 2 zip-pullers starting in the arm pit, one stretches to near to the elbow, the other goes down the side of the jacket. As they are protected they may be unzipped even during rain to give significant ventilation without unzipping the front of the jacket, equally as useful on windy days to stop the front flapping about.

Toggles and tapes on zip pulls make them easy to use with gloves and mittens on. A storm flap covering the main zip avoids a thin insulation area where heat could escape, they also keep the wind, rain and snow at bay.