The Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket is a good option that gives a good range of movement and offers more features than comparable rain shells.
See our main guide: 10 Best Waterproof Rain Jackets for Hiking
- Good range of movement
- Packs away into a pocket
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- 5-layers make it a bit less robust and high-performing than 3-layers
- The hood is large and doesn’t keep rain off your face
If you are looking for a flexible rain jacket that gives you a good range of movement, then the Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket would be a good choice.
See all products in our waterproof rain jacket review compared together:Â
Arc'teryx Beta LT | Black Diamond StormLine | Outdoor Research Helium Rain | Marmot PreCip Eco | Arc’teryx Beta | Marmot Minimalist | Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 | The North Face Venture 2 | Columbia Watertight II | The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight | |
Buying Options | ||||||||||
Our Awards | Best Women's Performance | Best Stretchy | Best Ultralight | Best Men's Performance | Best Womens | Best Mens | Best Budget | |||
Weight | 13.9 oz. | 11.3 oz. | 6.3 oz. | 10.6 oz. | 10.6 oz. | 13 oz. | 13.2 oz. | 11.6 oz. | 13 oz. | 12 oz. |
Waterproof | 3L Gore-Tex | 2.5L BD.dry | 2.4L Pertex | 2.5L NanoPro | 3L Gore-Tex | 2.5L Gore-Tex | 2.5L Pertex | 2.5L Dryvent | 2L Omni-Tech | 3L Futurelight |
Pockets | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 Zippered Hand | 2 Zippered Hand | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest | 2 zippered chest | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand pockets; 2 internal drop-in pockets | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest |
Analysis and Test Results
The Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket is an excellent basic jacket with some intelligent features to make it waterproof and lightweight. The sleeves are long with Velcro fastenings, the front zipper is waterproof, and the seams are taped. The BD.dry fabric provides similar waterproofing, wind-proofing, and breathability to comparable 2.5-layer materials. Pit zippers are included to help keep you cool. The hood is helmet-compatible, but it is adjustable if you need it smaller. The best thing about the Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket is the extra flexibility that gives a wide range of movement and makes it comfortable to wear. We therefore recommend this as our Best Stretchy Rain Jacket.
Performance Comparison
Type and Style
The Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket can be worn for both daily use and outdoor activities. The elasticity of the fabric makes this a good choice for sports that need flexibility, such as climbing.
Water Resistance
Black Diamond uses their in-house designed material called BD.dry. The StormLine Stretch rain jacket is made from 2.5 layer BD.dry, which has a 10,000 mm waterproof rating. This will keep you dry all day in normal rain and snow conditions but not during very heavy rain. The StormLine Stretch jacket also has a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating and taped seams for further waterproofing. The front zipper has YKK waterproofing, while the pit zippers are DWR-coated, and the pockets have flaps over their zips to stop the water from getting in.
Breathability
The StormLine Stretch jacket has good breathability. Its 2.5-layer BD.dry has a breathability rating of 10,000 g/m2/24hr. This is achieved by a microporous inner coating to stop precipitation from penetrating through the fabric while still allowing moisture vapor to pass through from the inside out. There are also pit zips to give you greater breathability.
Comfort and Mobility
The Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket’s main feature is the ultra-stretchy fabric it is composed of. It has more stretch than similar materials, such as Gore-Tex. In addition there are underarm gussets. These add up to give you excellent mobility. Climbers, in particular, are fans of this jacket.
The stretchiness also helps to make it a comfortable jacket to wear. There’s plenty of room for layering without feeling compressed. However, as the Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket is made from a 2.5-layer material, it can feel cold and clammy against your skin.
Materials
Black Diamond uses its own trademarked material that they call BD.dry. It is similar to Gore-Tex but not as waterproof or as breathable, but it is more stretchy. The layers are made of nylon treated with a DWR finish, a membrane in the middle, and a half-layer of raised print on the inside.
The center zip is a YKK AquaGuard reverse coil polyurethane (PU) coated waterproof zipper.
Appearance
The Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket is available in a regular fit. The jacket is hip length and slightly longer at the back than the front. There is a full-length zipper down the middle of the front. On most colorways, the zipper is a contrasting black, but on the Kingfisher and Chalk Pink models, it is the same color as the jacket. There are two logos in black print – one on the chest and one on the back of the shoulder. While the material is a bit shiny, the StormLine Stretch rain jacket is smart enough to wear around town.
There are plenty of choices when it comes to colors. Men can choose from Black, Raging Sea (green), Creek Blue, Optical Yellow, Octane (orange), Carmine (red), Kingfisher (blue), Indigo, Red Rock, and Tundra (green). The women’s options are Black, Cherrywood (purple), Aloe (green), Chalk Pink, Octane (orange), Ink Blue, Laurel Green, Blackberry (purple), and Pomegranate (red).
Durability
The durability of the Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket is excellent. High-quality materials have been used, and the jacket is well-designed. The stretchiness of the fabric makes it less likely to rip. The seams are all taped, and the zippers are coated with polyurethane or DWR. Although the jacket uses a 2.5-layer fabric instead of a 3-layer, it doesn’t feel flimsy.
Black Diamond has a two-year warranty policy, but they also offer a repair service on many items regardless of the warranty period.
Weight and Packability
The Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket packs down easily into a compact size. It can be tucked away into the right-hand pocket, which has a handy carabiner clip loop so it can be clipped onto a backpack or harness.
The weight of the Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket is:
Women
270 g (9.52 oz)
Men
320 g (11.29 oz)
Features
Black Diamond describes their StormLine Stretch rain jacket as a “fully featured rain shell’. The jacket comes with a number of features to keep you dry and comfortable.
The sleeves have adjustable Velcro cuffs, and they are a generous length, so you won’t have cold wrists or rain blowing up your arms. The hem also has toggles to tighten it to prevent draughts. The jacket is also longer at the rear to keep your back completely dry when bending or sitting.
The hood has a stiffened wire in the front seam to help keep water out of your eyes that stays firm even after the jacket has been packed down. However, it doesn’t do that good a job of keeping your face dry unless you wear a cap. The hood is adjustable using a toggle on the back of the hood under a flap, which some may find tricky to use. It is big enough to fit over a helmet, so it will need to be reduced in size for everyday use. The zip comes up high enough to protect your lower face. When you turn your head, the hood doesn’t interfere with your sight lines too much.
There are two pockets just below waist height. They have vertical openings with zippers that close at the top. Good-sized flaps protect the pockets to reduce the chances of rain getting in.
Sustainability
The Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket is made from Bluesign-approved materials. This means that all stages of the manufacturing process are sustainable concerning people, the environment, and resources. Black Diamond also uses PFC-Free DWR, which is less toxic and more environmentally friendly.
Conclusion
The Black Diamond StormLine Stretch rain jacket is an excellent basic model with some great features. Although it is made from 2.5-layer material, the jacket has good breathability and will keep you dry for hours unless you’re in heavy rain. It is very light and easily packs into a small bundle that tucks into a pocket. The best thing about this jacket is the stretchy material that gives it a good fit and provides a great range of motion.