- Unsettled…
Where did summer go? Or did it even start? London – where we’re based – has been besieged by unsettled weather this week – dark clouds, rolling across the capital and briefly replaced by glimpses of blue sky and warm sunshine, before the rain returns.
Temperatures still remain acceptable, hovering in the upper teens, making it nigh-on impossible to choose the right kit before heading out on the bike.
So, with rain potentially lurking around every corner, that makes a lightweight jacket essential.
However, finding something that will keep you dry but avoid that boil-in-the-bag feeling is tough. So here’s six of the best jackets to stave off what’s left of the British ‘summer’ and keep you dry through autumn…
dhb Minima Jacket – £47.99
dhb’s Minima Jacket gets us off and running. It’s the cheapest jacket featured, but you’ll still be shelling out nearly £50 – so what do you get for your money?
The Minima Jacket, available through Wiggle, is Teflon coated, with fully taped seams, elasticated cuffs and a waterproof zip; all features that help ensure the rain remains on the outside and you stay dry.
It also has a relaxed fit and reflective details, making the jacket ideal for commuting, while a mush stuff sack ensures it’s easy to pack down and put in your rear pocket until called into action.
Agu Secco Condom Jacket – £69.99
Agu’s oddly-named Secco Condom Jacket weighs a paltry 172g – ideal for stowing away in case you get caught out in a short, sharp summer shower.
The jacket’s manufactured using a polyamide (nylon) fabric, with a breathable Poray 5000 coating. That’s designed with pores that allow sweat to wick away from the body, but stop any rain getting in.
The Agu Secco Condom Jacket has a slim cut, with cycling-specific features that include fully taped seams and a long dropped tail.
Montane Featherlite Velo H2O Jacket – £80
“Bike weather protection that packs down to the size of an apple,” boasts Montane’s marketing blurb for the Featherlite Velo H2O Jacket. “Wear on long spring, summer and autumn rides where the weather can change from warm sunshine to hostile carwash.”
Manufactured using Montane’s breathable and waterproof Freeflow H2O fabric, the jacket also features rear vents, while a size medium weighs a claimed 150g.
Craft Performance Rain Jacket – £85
Next up is Craft’s Performance Rain Jacket. The 2011 version built upon the success of its predecessor by stripping off more weight, enhancing the shape and introducing a more breathable fabric. It’s also now fully stowable and, like all of the jackets featured here, small enough to store in your back pocket.
The jacket features an ergonomic shape and cut, with a mesh lining, large zipped rear pocket and reflective details.
Rapha Wind Jacket – £165
The Rapha Wind Jacket, previously known as the Stowaway Jacket, is an old RCUK favourite.
Strictly speaking it’s not waterproof – just water resistant – but that’s not to say it won’t keep out sudden showers. The lightweight, breathable fabric also has a windproof coating, meaning that, with enough layers underneath, the jacket will see you through colder weather, while other features include a dropped tail, elasticated cuffs, zipped valuables pocket and reflective detailing.
Bioracer Cristallon Gilet – £24.95
Ok, so this isn’t a jacket, nor does it seem particularly intuitive to use a sleeveless gilet to keep out the rain. Consider it our wild card.
We’re still due a handful of warm days before the summer’s out and that can mean that, no matter how breathable it is, a jacket just won’t do the trick and you’ll quickly become a sticky mess.
That’s where the Bioracer Cristallon Gilet comes in, with its windproof and water resistant body keeping your trunk warm, while the exposed arms serve to keep your overall body temperature down. It’s not necessarily a solution for long, wet rides, but will do a sterling job during short summer showers.
