Men's lightweight jackets

[ObviouslyNotAGolfer]

Looking for one jacket that will replace both my rain jacket and non-rain jacket ( a dumb "Polo" Ralph Lauren that didn't last all that long). It should provide a bit of warmth, but also, it should be rain/water-proof, preferably with a hood included.

I am not climbing Everest in this, just wearing it around coastal California and non-frozen parts of Europe and North America (although I LOVE the frozen parts of Europe and North America, but I have other jackets for that).

Any suggestions for something reasonably priced, yet good looking (not out of place with  business casual attire), and very durable? LL Bean? Patagonia? Something else?

Thanks!

[mustachedad]

I had great success with a Marmot jacket... wore it for 15+ years. Had a hood that zipped into the collar, had zippered vents under the armpit to cool off, pretty good in light rain. Best article of clothing I've ever owned.

[Greystache]

Despite your username, you might like golf rain gear. The jackets are light, weather proof and the major brand names are well made. There are several discount golf sites out there. My favorite is Rockbottomgolf.com.

[Acastus]

I made components for waterproof, breathable jackets in a previous life. I will always own 1 for rain and 1 for snow. Columbia and North Face are solid, big brands. Mountain Hardwear is higher tech for a little more money. The best brand, bar none, is Arc'teryx. You will pay a lot, and you will love it. I never did business with Patagonia, but they have a great reputation. Gore Tex construction is very nice, but the more common polyurethane coatings work nearly as well and they cost about half.

[ol1970]

I got a Kuhl wax coat for Christmas this year and absolutely love it.  Kollusion I believe is the name of it, its the perfect weight for me and has a hood that you can zipper up and stow away.  Might not be your style, but I give it two thumbs up.

[ericrugiero]

I had great success with a Marmot jacket... wore it for 15+ years. Had a hood that zipped into the collar, had zippered vents under the armpit to cool off, pretty good in light rain. Best article of clothing I've ever owned.

+1  I could have almost written this post.  Mine is at least 15 years old and is still going strong.  Waterproof but fairly light weight.  Fits well but is loose enough to wear layers underneath.  I've used it for skiing, hiking, working, casual wear and everything in between. 

[FINate]

I've had plenty of higher-end jackets. While nice, they're prohibitively expensive and often the fit is too tight/constrained for my tall frame.

More recently I've become of a fan of Columbia jackets. Pleased with the quality, wide range of fit and size, and pretty good prices. They are a bit heavier overall, but that's fine since the super lightweight stuff is just too delicate for me. If you're looking for versatility you may consider one of their 3-in-1 jackets which includes different layering options.

[ketchup]

I'll second Columbia.  I have two jackets of theirs (lightweight one kind of like you're describing, plus a heavier winter coat) and they are great.  They both look brand new and I've had them for at least ten years.

[ObviouslyNotAGolfer]

Thanks for the suggestions! I will likely go out and try some on in person before buying.

Anyway, nice Marmot (sorta NSFW): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Ni4gfKw_M

[ApacheStache]

Carhartt is another affordable quality brand worth checking out. I currently have a rain jacket and several sweatshirts that have held up well over time. If you're trying to save a few bucks, it might be worth checking out Sierra Trading Post because they tend to have good deals on their website. Their selection in an actual retail store is pretty hit or miss.

[elaine amj]

I don't deal that much with rain, but my multipurpose jacket is my plain black softshell Columbia jacket I bought 6-7 years ago.  Unfortunately my teen son fell in love with it a few months ago and has swiped it. When he leaves it lying around too long, my teen daughter grabs it. *sigh* I miss that jacket.

I was thinking of hitting up thrift stores for another softshell, but in the spirit of Mustachianism, I am making do with a good quality fleece (has lining that blocks the wind) layered with a thin windbreaker, both free logoed workwear from my office.

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[Arbitrage]

Loving me some North Face Men's Venture 2 jacket in coastal CA, including as a biking jacket in the rain.  Fits all of your criteria except perhaps one - I don't know if you would consider it appropriate in business casual or not.  Perhaps with the right color choice.  I don't have any qualms about wearing it with my business casual, but I'm not that picky.

[Fi(re) on the Farm]

Lands End jackets are the go to jacket in my house. They're a little pricey but if you sign up for their emails they usually have 40 or 50% off coupons. I usually scour the sales and can find a pretty good deal with them.