Gear

Buyer’s guide: rain jackets

Race cape, showerproof, softshell, entry-level, 2.5 layer, three layer

Wet and windy

The coming of autumn means the coming of dodgy forecasts and plenty of the wet stuff - dress prepared
Most lightweight jackets will be water resistant, but not waterproof
Endura's Pakajak is an example of a showerproof jacket, a type that combines limited water resistance with excellent breathability
Softshell jacket offer some resistance to the rain from a stretchable fabric
The pit zips on Endura's Gridlock II jacket are intended to increase breathability
Taped seams are an essential requirement for any jacket claiming to be waterproof. Those shown here are from Endura's Helium jacket
Castelli's three-layer Muur jacket is made from a proprietary technical by fabric made for them by eVent

Wet and windy

Autumn’s arrival and some ominous looking weather forecasts – with plenty of rain and wind across the UK – does not bode well for cyclists. That needn’t keep you off the bike, but you need to dress correctly to stay warm and dry.

As it is with most of the many and varied garments in cycling, choosing a rain jacket is far from straight-forward, and there are many options to cater for the range of conditions you’ll face on the road across the seasons.

We headed to our local bike shop, Ride, to take stock of the key types of rain jacket on the market, and to gain the thoughts of main man, Ritchie Hilton-Foster.

Over the next five pages, we’ll consider the various components that make up a rain jacket, including fit, features, and fabrics, with examples from some of the leading brands.