Cycling jackets can help make your ride a much more enjoyable experience.
Keeping you dry, visible and protected against the elements, the top rated cycle jackets help you go the extra distance so you’re road ready no matter the time or day.
Today, many of the best cycle jackets are made with tough materials which can stand up to the elements. Many come with waterproof qualities, reflective strips and you’ll find some are kitted out with a drop tail at the rear of the jacket to help keep you warm and covered. Others place a big focus on using breathable fabrics, stretchy materials and are easy-to-clean from dirt your tyres will flick up on the way.
So, what makes a good cycling jacket?
“A good cycling jacket is comfortable to wear whilst both leaning over in the riding position, and standing upright,” Annabelle Lancaster from Pearson Cycles tells us. “No pinch points under the underarms, bunching up at the front, or gaping back gaps. The jacket should protect you from the elements without becoming a stifling sweat box, it should be able to breathe with your body, protect you from the rain, and biting north-easterly winds, and resist grim road dirt and oil. And with all of this function, of course, it must look stylish.”
You might also want to consider a jacket that has reflective elements on its front, back and arms for signalling, especially if you cycle when it’s dark outside.
How do I choose a waterproof cycle jacket?
If you’re cycling in the UK, you’ll know that you can always count on the Great British Weather to throw a curveball in. We might be hurtling towards summer, but there’s still bound to be a few rainy spells. Which is why, it might make sense to invest in a jacket that can guard against whatever Mother Nature has coming your way. Look out for a jacket that has weather resistance qualities, a good windproof-ness or a durable water repellency (DWR) if it’s not waterproof.
Best cycling jackets at a glance:
- Best for overall: Reflect360 Plus Womens Cycling Jacket - £124, Proviz
- Best for lightweight: Le Col Women’s Pro Wind Jacket - £165, Le Col
- Best for warmth: Endura Women’s Pro SL Primaloft Jacket - £164.99, Endura
- Best for colour: Rapha Commuter lightweight jacket - £100, Rapha
- Best for price: Women’s Cycling Warm Rain Jacket - £69, Decathlon
- Best for style: Cyclechic Florence Ladies Reflective Cycling Jacket - £120, Cyclechic
- Best for wind: UYN woman Biking Ultralight Wind Jacket - £190, UYN Sports
- Best for waterproofing: Pearson Commuter Jacket - £200, Pearson1860
- Best for cycling and other sports: Lululemon Cropped Define Jacket Nulu - £108, Lululemon
- Best for quality: Castelli GABBA RoS 2 W - £170, Castelli Cycling
Shop the best cycling jackets below
6 best cycling glasses and sunglasses for road, mountain and city cyclists
Best mudguards for mountain and road bikes in 2023
Best folding bikes for commuting
Best hybrid bikes that are equally good on tarmac or trails
Best mountain bikes of 2023: from budget to top of the range
Best kids bikes of 2023: Mountain bikes, BMXs and starter bikes for new cyclists
Proviz Sports Reflect 360 Plus womens Cycling Jacket
Best for: overall
You’ll be hard pressed to find a better piece of reflective cycling outerwear than Proviz Sports’ REFLECT360 Plus Women’s Cycling Jacket.
Giving you visibility on dark nights and early mornings, this ingenious jacket might look grey but it’s coated in a 100 per cent reflective material which will shine bright when a headlight catches it. It’s all down to the millions of tiny glass beads it’s made out of. So if you want a jacket you can be spotted in, no matter the time of day, this is it.
But what’s more — this jacket comes with 10,000mm of waterproofing and it won’t make you all hot and sweaty thanks to its shoulder, back and underarm ventilation, all while its soft cotton mesh lining helps to increase airflow. It turns out you can have it all.
Buy now £124.00, Proviz
Pearson Commuter Jacket
Best for: waterproofing
If you a) cycle most places and b) do so no matter the weather, then Pearson’s Waterproof Commuter Jacket could be the piece of kit your rainy rides have been missing. Come rain or heavy downpours, this three-season jacket will stop you from feeling like you’ve been dipped in a puddle.
The jacket is crafted from 100 per cent recycled polyester and comes with a hefty 10,000mm HH rating of water resistance, along with an additional rear storm flap which keeps you and your seat soak-free. It also has a drawstring hood that fits under your helmet along with the all-important reflective patches on the shoulders, lower back and forearms so you can stay in your (bike) lane after dark and during showers.
Buy now £200.00, Pearson
Rapha Commuter lightweight jacket
Best for: colour
Love colour? You’ll be impossible to miss in this bright and beautiful perfect-in-pink commuter lightweight jacket from activewear brand, Rapha. The piece of cycle kit also comes in a more muted hue of khaki and pale blue for those who would rather blend in, rather than stand out.
But one of the best things about this jacket? It has a super swift and small integrated stuff sack on the inside of the front pocket bag so you can carefully pack up your jacket in a neat and orderly fashion once you have reached your destination. Just like many of the best cycling jackets, Rapha’s option also comes with reflective fabric on the cuffs to help with signalling, as well as on the hood and hem to make sure you can’t be lost in a driver’s line of sight. What’s not to love?
Buy now £100.00, Rapha
UYN Women Biking Ultralight Wind Jacket
Best for: wind
Summer might be on its way (fingers crossed) but that won’t stop the Great British weather from serving up some high winds. And that’s especially the case if you’re pedaling through mountains or swerving down hills with long and fast descents. But whether you loathe the wind or have learnt to accept it, to help you ride safely you’ll need a lightweight jacket that is made of tough stuff. Enter: UYN’s women biking ultralight wind jacket.
The feather-light cycling jacket is designed for maximum protection against wind. Unlike any normal jacket, UYN has kitted this piece of outerwear out with a Flowtunnel technology. Meaning? The jacket can be close to your skin without making things sweaty and the jacket won’t flap around in the wind or hold you back.
Buy now £190.00, UYN
Cyclechic Florence Ladies Reflective Cycling Jacket
Best for: style
Sometimes, it can be hard to find a jacket that lives up to your true style. But that’s where Cyclechic’s Florence Ladies Reflective Cycling Jacket makes a very welcomed entrance onto the cycle scene and into this line up of best buys. The UK-based cycling brand launched in 2008 and puts style and sustainability at the forefront of the products. And as you can see, the results speak for themselves. Bright and beautiful, this hooded windbreaker ticks off all the functional qualities too. It has reflective detailing, zipped pockets and water repellent qualities. So you can cycle in style and do so knowing your jacket has quite literally got your back.
Buy now £120.00, Cyclechic
Le Col Womens Pro Wind Jacket
Best for: lightweight
A good fitting wind jacket that’s comfortable and consistent in delivering water repellent features can be hard to come by. But not with Le Col’s Pro Wind Jacket. The close fitting jacket offers total windproof protection along with water repellent qualities to shelter you from light showers.
If you’re cycling through a multitude of temperatures and forecasts, this lightweight option could be the best option. And then, when you need to shed layers, simply strip off and stash this small jacket into a pocket, bag or small compartment until you need it again. Made from 100 per cent polyester, it also has reflective strips for visibility. Ready for gail force winds.
Buy now £165.00, Le Col
Endura Women’s Pro SL Primaloft Jacket
Best for: warmth
Do you get cold when you cycle? Then you’ll need a jacket which is crafted with core insulation and warmth in mind. If that sounds good, look no further than Endura’s Women’s Pro SL Primaloft Jacket which has a lightweight construction but will still stand up to cold and chilly days.
Guarding against wind protection this small but perfectly formed jacket has the backing of the wonderfully warm Primaloft Gold Active insulation, which has water-repellency, four way stretch and second to none breathability. Plus, it has ventilation under the arms so you won’t retain heat in all the wrong places.
Buy now £164.99, Endura
Women’s Cycling Warm Rain Jacket 540
Best for: price
Prices really can vary with many of the best cycling jackets. But if you’re just dipping your toe into the (cycling) water or you’re looking for a jacket that won’t leave you out of pocket, discover B’Twin’s recycled warm, waterproof and windproof rain jacket.
Priced at under £70, this makes the cycling jacket the most affordable option in our line up and there really is lots to love. This is specifically designed to keep you warm. It has reflective strips for visibility from up to 50m away and it will keep you dry in downpours lasting around two hours. Plus, thanks to its ribbed cuffs, no air can sneak in.
Buy now £69.00, Decathlon
Castelli GABBA RoS 2 W
Best for: quality
If you’re looking for the best short sleeved cycling jacket, the luxurious and beautifully made Castelli GABBA RoS 2 W gets our vote. It has three rear pockets for your valuables, gels or other cycling necessities and a reflective panel to help you be seen.
Plus, if you cycle hot, this jacket is made for your hot rides. Designed from brushed water-resistance fabrics and containing GORE-TEX, this jacket is extremely durable. It’s windproof, waterproof and breathable so you won’t overheat. Priced at £170, this piece of kit is pretty expensive. However backed with the Castelli, you know it’s an investment that will last (and last).
Buy now £170.00, Castelli
Lululemon Nulu Cropped Define Jacket
Best for: cycling and other sports
Lululemon is known for making technical apparel for sweaty pursuits and this Nulu Cropped Define Jacket is no different. This particular sweat-wicking option comes with a back vent for airflow, thumbholes to keep your sleeves down and secure front pockets for all your goods.
Plus, thanks to its oh-so-soft weightless feel and four way stretch you can move without restriction, no matter whether you’re bending forward or waiting at a light.
Although just to note, this jacket is crafted with Lycra so it’s probably not the best option for those who prefer something a bit more loose and freeing.
Buy now £108.00, Lululemon
Verdict
Keeping you waterproof, warm and visible on the road, Proviz Sports’ REFLECT360 Plus Women’s Cycling Jacket tops our list. The 100 per cent reflective material means you can cycle safely around the clock and no matter the forecast. All you have to concentrate on is putting one pedal in front of the other - and that’s a ride we can get behind.
