POC Raceday Rain jacket review

Let’s get one thing clear. As a waterproof jacket, the POC Raceday Rain jacket is impossible to fault, keeping you dry through all conditions without overheating. However, at £230, it’s difficult to ignore the pricetag when admiring the great job that POC has done.

>>> Buyer's guide to waterproof jackets (video)

Providing, of course, that you can afford it, then the POC Raceday Rain jacket is an excellent choice even when riding in monsoon conditions. The three layer DWR (durable water-resistant) coated nylon fabric has a 20,000mm waterproof rating, meaning that if you if you put a 1in x 1in square tube over the fabric, you could fill it to a heigh of 20,000mm before water would start to leak through.

In layman’s terms, this means that you can head out even in the heaviest rain, safe in the knowledge that the POC Raceday Rain jacket will keep you lovely and dry.

>>> How to dress for wet weather cycling

This waterproof fabric is complemented by taped seams, which stop water from getting in between the various panels, and although the zip itself isn’t waterproof, it is covered by a flap made of the same 20,000mm waterproof fabric as the rest of the jacket, so you can be sure that this isn’t going to be a vulnerable area.

Watch: buyer's guide to waterproof jackets

But despite being so completely waterproof, the POC Raceday Rain jacket still manages to marry this with impressive breathability too. If you live in Britain then the a hefty proportion of your rides will be in wet conditions with the temperature hovering in the low to mid teens, and in these conditions I never suffered from boil-in-the-bag syndrome however hard I was riding.

>>> Better than the Castelli Gabba? Wet weather racing jackets on test

The fit of the POC Raceday Rain jacket is also impossible to fault. It’s not super-slim to the point that you can fit layers underneath for colder days out, but it’s not baggy so that it flaps in the wind. Instead it occupies a Goldilocks middle ground, with a comfortable fit with good length sleeves and body to ensure adequate coverage from the rain.

A couple of other features really help to mark the POC Raceday Rain jacket out as a really high quality waterproof jacket. The cuffs are extended with a thin piece of lycra material, which gives a little extra coverage to keep your hands warm and dry, and slips easily underneath gloves. The cuff also has a fleece lining on the inside for added comfort, while a low tail keeps your bum dry from wheel spray.

>>> Winter cycling: the shortest day, longest ride challenge

Of course, while all that is highly impressive, it’s impossible to ignore the £230 pricetag. That’s a hell of a lot of money for a full-blown winter jacket, let alone a waterproof jacket, and although the POC Raceday Rain jacket cannot be faulted in itself, that pricetag is always going to be hard to fully justify.

For more details visit the POC website.