Best waterproof cycling jackets 2023: tried and tested models that'll keep you dry

Key elements to look for in a waterproof jacket are waterproofing, breathability, fit and packability. The best waterproof cycling jacket for you will perfectly match your priorities for your style of bike riding. We’ve got in-depth details of all these features below – but as a quick summary:

• Waterproofing: There’s a big difference between waterproof and water-resistant. Waterproof will normally come with a claimed waterproof rating of at least 10,000mm, be multilayered fabric with a perforated membrane, have taped seams and storm-proof zips. Water-resistant will usually have a Durable Water Resistant (DWR) coating and be lightweight, making it more packable.
• Breathability: It’s a tricky balance between staying dry from rain and staying dry from sweat. Breathability can also be rated and claimed ratings of above 10,000g will help prevent you from boiling on the inside. Generally speaking, the more waterproof a fabric is, the less breathable it becomes, although there are some expensive exceptions to the rule. Jacket design often takes account of breathability with the inclusion of more breathable fabrics under the arms, or additional ventilation.
• Fit: It’s horses for courses, or in this case: jackets for jockeys. Fast riding or racing will require a tight-fitting rain cape, which minimizes fabric flap to maintain your aero performance, while slower all-day affairs may be more comfortable with a looser fit for layering up underneath. Other fit details, such as a long tail to keep your backside dry or thumb loops will appeal to some, but not others.
• Packability: If conditions are changeable, then it’s likely you’ll want to be able to stow the jacket in a rear pocket. Waterproof jackets tend to be heavier and bulkier, and don’t often pack down small enough for a rear pocket, while water-resistant options can usually be scrunched into a ball the size of a fist. But the technology has come a long way since the original Gore-Tex days, and Gore's 'Shakedry' technology, also adopted by some third parties like Castelli and Rapha, is exceptionally waterproof and very lightweight. Take a look at our guide to the best packable rain jackets if that's better suited to your needs.

Even the best waterproof cycling jackets will tend to become less effective over time, with reduced waterproofing and/or breathability. That's due to a combination of the build-up of dirt on the outer surface and oil residues from sweat on the inside, as well as loss of the outer DWR layer. 

It's important to wash your waterproof jacket correctly to retain or restore breathability; take a look at our pieces on how to wash a waterproof jacket and the best products to use to learn how.

Clearly the most important thing you want to know about any waterproof cycling jacket is how waterproof it is. There are plenty of jackets out there that claim to be "water-resistant" (usually meaning that they have a Durable Water Resistant (DWR) coating applied to the fabric), but these will only keep you dry through showers and relatively light rain. If you want a proper waterproof cycling jacket for real wet weather riding, then you're going to want something with a little more protection.

The good news is you can get some idea of how waterproof a jacket is by doing a bit of research into any prospective purchase, with an increasing number of manufacturers stating the waterproof rating of their waterproof cycling jackets.

"But what's a waterproof rating!?" we hear you cry. Well, it's basically a number, and the higher the better. The number is calculated on the basis that if you put a 1cm x 1cm square tube over the fabric, how high could you fill the tube with water before it starts to leak through.

For the best waterproof cycling jacket, you're going to want something with a waterproof rating north of 10,000mm, although there are a number of jackets on the market that claim to offer more than this. However, "claim" is the keyword in this sentence, with no central body set up to test these figures, and manufacturers generally doing the testing of their own products.

It's also not all about the fabric when it comes to making a waterproof cycling jacket waterproof, with other features playing an important role. Most crucial of all is the seams. You can make a waterproof jacket out of the most waterproof material in the world, but if you then stitch a load of tiny holes in it, it's not going to do its job very well.

The solution to this is taping the seams, a process which covers the seams with a waterproof material, helping to keep the water out. All of the best waterproof cycling jackets will have this feature, although some will only have taped seams in crucial areas such as the shoulders and back, rather than across the whole jacket.

The other area where water is likely to get in is through the zip. This is particularly the case if you're riding in the wet in a group, where water is constantly being sprayed up onto your chest by the back wheel of the rider in front. Unsurprisingly the solution is a waterproof zip, which has tightly meshing teeth. It may have a storm flap either on the outside or on the inside too.

Take a look at our 11 tips for riding in the rain and our advice on how to dress for wet weather cycling to improve your wet weather riding experience.

For all that, probably the major factor that distinguishes a good waterproof cycling jacket from a bad one (or at least a great one from a good one) is breathability. If you're working hard (as we hope you are!) then you're going to be building up quite a lot of heat inside the jacket, so a good degree of breathability will allow sweat to escape.

As with waterproofing, it's possible to put a number to breathability, and again it's a case of the higher the better. In this case the number refers to the weight (in grams) of water vapour that can pass through a 1m x 1m area of fabric over a 24 hour period. So if you have a jacket with a 20,000 breathability rating, 20,000g of water vapour can escape through the fabric in 24 hours.

Again, for the best waterproof cycling jacket, you're going to want that number to be more than 10,000 (g), but as with the waterproof rating you should always be a sceptic, with manufacturers carrying out all the testing rather than an independent body, and the testing for the fabric only.

As with any piece of cycling clothing, making sure your waterproof cycling jacket fits properly is a crucial part of the equation. However, it's not a case of one size fits all, with different cuts being better suited to different types of riding and riders.

If you're using a waterproof jacket for fast rides, such as heading out for the local chain gang regardless of the weather, then you're going to want a relatively slim-fitting jacket which won't flap too much in the wind or descending, holding you back with its poor aerodynamic performance. However, you don't want it to be too tight, just in case you want to add extra layers underneath in really cold weather.

For everyone else, a slightly looser fit might be more suitable, giving the possibility for bulkier layers underneath and possibly greater comfort too, especially if you're looking for the best commuter cycling jacket and need to fit non-bike wear underneath. If you're riding in cold conditions, then check out our guide to the best winter cycling jackets, which often incorporate some water resistance as well as insulation.

That said, watch for a loose-fitting collar and cuffs that could also undermine an otherwise very waterproof cycling jacket, acting like a bucket for rain beading off your helmet or sleeves.

If you're riding in changeable conditions, then packability is an important thing to look for in a new waterproof cycling jacket. If the sun comes out after it's chucked it down for the first two hours of your ride, then you're going to want something that will stuff down small enough to fit in a rear pocket. Don't forget you'll also be packing spares and ride snacks - so make sure you have space for it if you are starting out your ride with it on.

However, in general, waterproof cycling jackets that offer good waterproof protection are fairly bulky, so the majority will not pack down that small. Although new technology is making smaller jackets ever more waterproof it should come as no surprise that if you want a jacket that will both keep you dry in heavy, persistent rain, and will pack down small enough to fit into a jersey pocket, you'll pay dearly for it. Gore's Shakedry technology is a great example: it's extremely lightweight, highly hydrophobic but usually only comes in the most expensive jackets.

Other fit details such as thumb loops are probably the most common extra feature found on many waterproof cycling jackets. These are designed to stop the sleeves from riding up, creating a gap between the cuffs of the jacket and your gloves, but are a love or hate feature, as some riders find this interferes with radial grip.

To keep your derriere dry from wheel spray it's also worth looking for a waterproof cycling jacket with a drop tail (or bumflap). However this isn't a case of manufacturers just adding an extra bit of material at the bottom of their jacket, and it'll need to have some silicone grippers or other devices to prevent it from riding up. It's also worth considering fitting mudguards for when the temperature drops, as rain in the cold is far worst than a summer shower. Fenders will keep the majority of spray off your backside, but consider fitting extra long ones to be courteous to riders behind.

If you're on a long ride, then you're also likely to need to access the rear pockets of your jersey in order to get at any energy bars or gels you might have stashed in there. With this in mind, many waterproof cycling jackets will have some sort of opening at the rear. If yours doesn't then it's easy enough just to lift up the tail of the jacket to access your pockets that way.

Finally, it's also worth looking for a waterproof cycling jacket that has some sort of soft fabric on the insides of the cuffs and collar. This will really help with comfort, feeling much nicer against the skin than the cold, crunchy material found on the inside of most waterproof cycling jackets.

With the advent of new fabric technologies and new manufacturing techniques, wet-weather bike gear has come on leaps and bounds over the past few years, making the best waterproof cycling jacket a must-have piece of kit for any rider.

The sky really is the limit when it comes to buying a waterproof cycling jacket, with some options from certain premium brands nudging north of £300 /$400. However, the good news is that you don't need to spend nearly that much to get a great jacket for you.

In general, however, you really do get what you pay for in rainwear, as ticking all the boxes of breathablity, fit, size and waterproofing means some serious technology.

If you're looking just to keep the worst of the weather out while not going flat out, then breathability isn't a massive issue (for example, if you're just using the jacket for commuting to and from work) and you are willing to do a bit of shopping around, then you can easily pick up a really good waterproof cycling jacket that will keep you nice and dry for less than £50/ $50.

For something that will offer better breathability, more features, and probably a closer fit, then you are going to have to spend a little more money. You don't need to get the market leader, but expect to spend somewhere between £100-£150 / $120-$200 price range, as this will offer a whole host of options without getting you in too much trouble with your bank manager.