Columbia Arcadia II (women’s) review: an inexpensive everyday rain jacket
A first rain jacket does not have to cost much. The Columbia Women’s Arcadia II is an inexpensive, seam-sealed, packable shell with an adjustable hood, suited to everyday rain and short walks.
Quick take
An inexpensive everyday rain jacket. The Arcadia II has Columbia’s Omni-Tech membrane, sealed seams, an adjustable hood, zipped hand pockets and a drawcord hem, and it packs small. It handles commuting, travel, dog walks and showers on an easy hike. It has no pit zips and holds heat on a climb, and it is among the weaker jackets in its class in sustained rain. For hiking in wet weather, choose a more capable shell.
What it does
A rain shell’s job is to keep rain and wind out while letting some of your body’s moisture escape, and the Arcadia II does it with Columbia’s Omni-Tech membrane and fully sealed seams . The taped seams being what separates a real rain jacket from a water-resistant one. It adds the features that make a shell livable: an adjustable, attached hood that actually stays up in wind, zippered hand pockets, elastic cuffs, and a drawcord hem to seal out drafts, and it stuffs down to travel easily in a bag. It is the outer layer of the three-part system, a base layer against the skin, an insulating layer for warmth, and this shell on top when it rains or blows. See how to dress for the bush for the full picture.
What verified buyers say
Owners are consistent about the value:
- Keeps you dry. The core praise: it genuinely sheds rain, with a hood that works in wind.
- Light and packable. Buyers stuff it in a bag for travel and commuting and forget it is there until they need it.
- Great price and colors. The recurring verdict: an excellent everyday rain jacket for the money, in lots of color options.
- Sizing and layering. Several size up to layer a fleece underneath; the cut is on the trimmer side.
Worth knowing
This is a two-layer budget shell for everyday rain. In a long, steady downpour it wets out sooner than a hiking shell and you will feel damp, so do not rely on it for a full day of rain in the backcountry. There are no pit zips, so on a hard climb it holds heat and can feel clammy; opening the front helps. It is a shell with no insulation, so wear it over warm layers in the cold. Renew the water-repellent finish when water stops beading.
Who it is for
The Arcadia II is for a woman who wants an affordable rain jacket for daily life, travel and short hikes in showers. If you hike in wet weather, the Marmot PreCip Eco (women’s) vents better, and the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L (women’s) is more waterproof and lasts longer. For sustained mountain storms, see the Outdoor Research Aspire 3L. Layer it over a fleece and base layer, and see how to dress for the bush.
Specs at a glance
- Type2-layer waterproof-breathable shell
- MembraneOmni-Tech, sealed seams
- Hoodadjustable, attached; drawcord hem
- Ventingnone (no pit zips); fit runs trim
- Listed weight9.6 oz (272 g) · women's
- Best foreveryday rain and short walks
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The Verdict
The Columbia Arcadia II is an inexpensive, packable, hooded rain jacket for everyday use. It is not the jacket for sustained rain or hard hiking. Size up if you plan to layer under it. For hiking in wet weather, step up to the Marmot PreCip Eco (women’s) or the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L (women’s). For mountain storms, see the Outdoor Research Aspire 3L.
