REASONS TO BUY
Excellent breathability
UPF 30
Portable
Great updates
Stashable hood
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very weather resistant
Less flattering fit
Brooks Canopy - Women's Review
A packable and semi-affordable jacket that offers sun protection and great breathability so you can focus on your run and not your clothing
The thin ripstop nylon make for a flowy jacket that allows heat to dissipate as soon as it starts to collect against your body.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Our Verdict
The Brooks Canopy is an ultra-breathable running jacket with notable scores across our different performance metrics. Despite providing less weather resistance than some of the best running jackets on the market, the fabric offers UPF 30 sun protection, which we love for high-altitude excursions. The Canopy provides just enough warmth to keep you cozy without feeling stifled. But it also allows for heat dissipation, which is crucial when you're working up a sweat. We chose the Canopy as our Top Pick or Versatility because of its breathability. If you want a jacket that you won't be tempted to shed mid-run, this is the jacket for you. The UPF rating helped secure this jacket's standing since it ensures functionality in cooler, higher altitude locales and also in sunnier, warmer climates.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Brooks Canopy - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $130 List $87.73 at REI | $130 List $97.50 at Backcountry | $65.40 at Backcountry | $130 List $83.40 at Backcountry | $100 List $85.27 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Excellent breathability, UPF 30, portable, great updates, stashable hood | Breathable, comfortable, great features | Lightweight, super portable, comfortable, decently weather-resistant, affordable | Super comfortable, breathable | Lightweight, comfortable, flattering, breathable, semi water-resistant |
| Cons | Not very weather resistant, less flattering fit | Not the warmest | Lacks some features, nylon is thin, not very warm | Less weather protection, no pockets | Not very warm |
| Bottom Line | A packable and semi-affordable jacket that offers sun protection and great breathability so you can focus on your run and not your clothing | A comfortable, breathable jacket that is well-equipped with great features for any runner | An easy-to-transport and lightweight running jacket that offers just enough protection from inclement weather | This is a wildly comfortable and breathable jacket that's simple and effective | An affordable and surprisingly functional running jacket that is loaded with unexpected features |
| Rating Categories | Brooks Canopy - Wom... | Smartwool Merino Sp... | Patagonia Houdini | Patagonia Airshed P... | Salomon Agile Full-... |
| Breathability (30%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
| Comfort and Mobility (20%) | |||||
| Portability (15%) | |||||
| Features (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Brooks Canopy - Wom... | Smartwool Merino Sp... | Patagonia Houdini | Patagonia Airshed P... | Salomon Agile Full-... |
| Measured Weight (size Small) | 4.10 oz | 5.10 oz | 3.10 oz | 4.10 oz | 5.20 oz |
| Number of Pockets | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Main Material | Polyester | Main Body: 100% Recycled Nylon. Trim/Lining: 54% Merino Wool, 46% Polyester | 100% recycled Nylon ripstop | Capilene Cool Polyester in sleeves and hood, Nylon Stretch Taffeta shell | 88% Polyester, 12% Elastane, DWR finish |
| Unique Features | Media port, hood packs away, UPF 30 | Merino wool panels, reflective material, media port | Chest pocket converts to stuffsack with a reinforced carabiner clip-in loop | Two-way zipper | Lightweight |
| Vent Type | None | Back and underarms | None | Under arms | None |
| Reflective Material? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Hood? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Brooks Canopy is a highly breathable jacket at an approachable price point. It is comprised of DriLayer Seal 100% ripstop polyester and weighs in at an impressively low 4.1 ounces. With a stuff sack and a stashable hood, this is a jacket you can wear during your adventure or pack in case you need an extra layer.
Performance Comparison
Breeze or shine, the breathability of the Canopy helped us enjoy our long-distance runs.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Breathability
Because running is a high-output activity, no matter how fast you're going, being able to breathe and release some heat is crucial. The updates to the Brooks Canopy make it one of the more breathable jackets we tested this time around.
It's made with very thin ripstop polyester, which never seemed to hold in excess heat. We found the snaps beneath the zipper were great for days when we needed some extra ventilation. This is the only discernable breathability "feature" that Brooks built into this jacket, but the overall body of it provides enough to make it a highly breathable choice. If you want a jacket to help keep you warm, this isn't going to be it. But if you want a running companion that will provide a bit of protection without allowing you to overheat on brisk morning runs, we cannot recommend the Canopy enough.
The hood acts like a parachute and catches the wind while running with it up. Because of this, we never had great luck keeping the hood up while we ran.
Credit: Ally Meller
Weather Resistance
Weather can come in a wide range of types. We looked at wind, rain, and temperature for this review to help guide our judgments. We found the Brooks Canopy to have average weather resistance in some ways and poor protection in others.
It shields from wind decently, but it isn't quite as bombproof as other jackets we tested. The Canopy isn't going to be our top pick for a wind jacket, but if you find yourself atop a windy ridge and want a thin layer to shield your skin, this jacket is the way to go. The updated cinch cord on the hood adds a bit more protection to the Canopy as a whole.
The updated back panel and hood help to create a more comfortable and dynamic Brooks running jacket than we have seen in recent years.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The Canopy is one of the least water-resistant jackets we tested. Even a light mist easily saturates it. When running through dense fog we found ourselves to be quite comfortable, with water droplets beading on the surface of the jacket. As soon as the mist turned to sprinkles, though, we felt the dampness soaking through to our skin below.
While running in the fog, we felt incredibly comfortable. As soon as the weather started to turn, the Canopy's thin body soaked through quickly.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Comfort and Mobility
The Brooks Canopy scores in the middle of the pack for the comfort and mobility metric. There are certainly less comfortable running jackets on the market, but there are a few that provide a bit more comfort. Its polyester material is pretty soft and has none of the trash-bag feeling of some other wind layers in this review. We like how it feels on the skin and never found it to niggle at us while we ran.
The roomy fit of the Canopy is similar to the other tech-focused running jackets in our review. It doesn't provide the most flattering fit, but it is spacious enough to be worn with another layer beneath it. Moreover, the textile is thin enough to be worn beneath a burlier layer if you run somewhere where snow is inclined to fly.
The fit of the Canopy is forgiving without being too baggy, yet slender enough to be comfortable worn as an under layer.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The last version of the Canopy was unexpectedly short in the body. We are so happy to see that an update has been made to this length discrepancy. While the Canopy is still much shorter than some of the other jackets we tested, it isn't problematically short. The split cut of the back panel provides extra comfort and mobility. The light elastic of the sleeves keeps them close to your skin without being tight. We love that we can comfortably push the sleeves up to our elbows while we run. This comfort further solidified this jacket's spot as an epic choice for versatility.
Though still a shorter jacket than many others, our 5'2" tester wasn't nearly as bothered by the length as with the last version of the Canopy.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Portability
Conditions change, and that's why we need a jacket that's portable enough to pack up if we don't need it anymore. The Brooks Canopy is one of the lighter jackets in this review; it weighs in at 4.1 ounces for a size small.
A mesh pocket with two small, adjustable straps lives in the back of this jacket. We think this is really neat and over having to tie your jacket around your waist. The tiny backpack is smaller and more streamlined than the last version, but we don't know how practical it really is for running. It definitely isn't the most useful engineering, but we love having an out-of-the-way option for quick stow-age while on the move. More often than not, on days we stashed this jacket while running, we stuffed it into its stuff sack and then shoved that whole thing into the depths of our pack.
Features
The details make each jacket unique, and the Brooks Canopy has quite a few of them. One thing that we like about this jacket is the pockets.
With two exterior hand pockets, there's plenty of room for whatever you might need — though we don't really love the feeling of running with stuff in our pockets. There is even a small pill pocket on the inside right pocket. This is your best bet for the safe storage of valuables while running. These pockets are useful and functional in a pinch but not super comfortable when loaded with goodies. The hood rolls away, which makes this piece even more versatile. This is one of our favorite Canopy features. The updated hood has a cinch strap so you can tighten the hood. One of our biggest criticisms of the previous Canopy was that the hood just flapped around in the breeze. This hood design is a major improvement.
The bilateral pockets of the Canopy provide plenty of space to stash essentials.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Our true favorite Brooks Canopy feature is the fact that it offers sun protection. The UPF 30 rating of the fabric makes it great for high-altitude runs. Its breathability, coupled with its sun protection, is perfect for chilly days under harmful rays.
We often choose this running jacket over others because of its UPF rating.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Should You Buy the Brooks Canopy?
The Brooks Canopy, while not the single least expensive jacket in this review, is one of the more affordable options, making it a great value. All in all, yes, you should buy this breathable running jacket if the features are all that you desire. No single jacket scored perfectly, and if you've determined that breathability, a functional hood, pockets, and a UPF rating are your priorities, then we don't hesitate to recommend the Canopy for your running needs.
While some jackets hit the marks better than others, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Canopy to our friends in need of a technical piece of running clothing.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Running Jackets Should You Consider?
The Brooks Canopy is a comfortable and relatively lightweight jacket full of helpful features and easily packable into its own little backpack. This is one of our first choices regarding a running jacket that we are willing to lay down mileage in. Because of its breathability and comfort, we never want to take this jacket off. If you want a slightly more portable option that is a bit more rain ready, check out the Patagonia Houdini or the Smartwool Merino Sport Ultra Light. They weight 3.1 ounces and 5.1 ounces, respectively, and both can be packed down to the size of a small fist.
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Ally Arcuri & Lauren DeLaunay
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