Why are so few of these jackets fully waterproof?
With the exception of the VENTURE II and the RESOLVE II, almost none of the jackets on our list are completely waterproof. One of the biggest reasons is that many of the jackets we reviewed were designed as mid-layers, as opposed to waterproof jackets.
Waterproof materials are not very breathable, so they are not often used on cold-weather jackets. In addition, cold snow is actually quite dry, and does not usually penetrate the outer shell of a jacket that is only water-resistant.