At this time of the year a lightweight jacket should, in theory, be the only jacket you need. Or it would be, if the British weather wasn’t unpredictable enough to mean that most of us still keep our winter jackets around just in case.

But still, if you want to put your heavy duty jacket in the attic for the warmer months, a lightweight jacket paired with a jersey and arm warmers can work really well for most spring conditions (and autumn… and summer…)

The great thing about a lightweight jacket is that many of them are constructed so they can be packed in a jersey pocket, making them a great option for early morning rides where you need an extra layer until you warm up. The other bonus of most lightweight jackets is that they’re water resistant, meaning you can keep it in your pocket in case the heavens open mid-ride.

The important thing to remember is that a lightweight jacket is unlikely to save you if things turn genuinely torrential on a ride, instead most are designed to offer packable protection in changeable conditions. The best thing you can do should the weather go all Milan-San Remo 2013 is ride harder and try to keep warm…

Still, there’s plenty to consider when buying a lightweight jacket, and we’ll run through everything you need to know in this guide.