The best packable rain jackets are an essential piece of your cycling toolkit. Regardless if it's summer or winter the weather can be a fickle beast and in many places, it can almost be expected that you are going to get rained on at some point — even during the warmer months.
While you can go all out and wear a fully protective waterproof jacket, quite often they are pretty bulky. When the rain stops and the time comes to just peel off the layer to prevent overheating, it might prove to be nigh on impossible to pack away. This is where a lighter, packable jacket can pay dividends. And of course, even if it isn't raining, having an additional layer to take on and off can add comfort and windproofing on cooler rides in drier conditions.
As technology has advanced it's often no longer a compromise in weather protection when opting for a lightweight packable. Single-layer Gore-Tex Shakedry and other comparable technical materials pack in the weatherproofing of multi-layered fabrics sans bulk, without sacrificing waterproofing or breathability, avoiding the boil in the bag feel of thicker jackets.
We've compiled a selection of our favourite, best-performing packable jackets below, hopefully taking the guesswork out of which jacket to buy.
The Quick List
Best all-rounder
1. Sportful Hot Pack NoRain
Best all-rounder
Waterproof yet still breathable with a close but not too tight fit, this 120g jacket is versatile and highly packable.
In many respects the Hot Pack NoRain model from Sportful is the quintessential packable cycling jacket. Lightweight (around 120g depending on the size) it fits into its own pocket, which is then small enough to stow away in your jersey or saddle bag.
It uses a multi-layer fabric, which is designed to be both waterproof and windproof as well as breathable. By incorporating stretch panels on the sides, shoulders and sleeves it aims to achieve a fit that’s comfortable without being restrictive, while still reducing the amount of material that could flap around in the wind - Sportful says it’s updated the jacket recently to included more ‘rubberised’ sections to further reduce noisy flapping. Other details include a full length zipper and some reflective detailing. It’s available in both a men’s and women’s version, too.
Best value
(Image credit: Future)
2. Rapha Core Rain Jacket II
Best value
Our expert review:
Specifications
Weight: 126g
Sizes: XS-XXL
Reasons to buy
+
Keenly priced
+
Light and packable
+
Well designed cuffs
Reasons to avoid
-
Not as breathable as some
-
No pockets
Rapha’s Core Rain Jacket II offers plenty of features and delivers an impressive performance - and all at a price point that makes it truly great value. At 126 grams it's light and packable and we found that easily fitted into a jersey pocket when rolled up.
Being that it uses a 2.5 layer nylon fabric combined water-resistant zip it's more than able to stand up to sustained showers - we were impressed with the quality of the seams and their ability to keep water at bay. The close but not race cut makes it versatile for training, racing and more casual rides too - and the elastic drawstring at the bottom of the jacket allows you to dial in the fit even more.
Best race fit
(Image credit: Future)
3. Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Pertex Rain Jacket
Best race fit
Our expert review:
Specifications
Weight: 106g
Sizes: XS-XL
Reasons to buy
+
Impressive waterproofing
+
Light and packable
+
Breathable
+
Comfortable cuff design
Reasons to avoid
-
Race fit might not suit all
The Mechanism jacket from Pas Normal Studios is a minimal but high-performing jacket in the 'race cape' mode. This means a close fit, with a high front and long arms for use in the riding position, no pockets and simple elastic cuffs. In essence all you need to protect you against showers when racing or training and no more.
And protect it us it did. We experienced little ingress even during extended periods of rain. Impressively it allowed us to breath too - not something that all rain jackets do successfully. Vitally at just 105g it packs up to 'nothing' and can be stowed away with ease until required.
Featherweight option
(Image credit: Pearl Izumi)
4. Pearl Izumi Attack Barrier jacket
Best featherweight option
Specifications
Weight: 43g
Sizes: S-XXL (mens) XS-XXL (womens)
Reasons to buy
+
Weighs just over 40g
+
Two-way zipper
+
Reflective details
+
Men's and women's version
Reasons to avoid
-
Water-resistant rather than waterproof
If you’re after a featherweight jacket that can deliver some protection in an emergency, the Attack Barrier could be for you. It’s not designed to be fully waterproof, rather repelling the rain using a DWR treated fabric. This makes it ideally suited for those rides when showers might be on the cards, but you don’t want to wear or carry a heavier jacket. It can also double as a useful layer against the wind.
Weighing a claimed 41g or 1.5 ounces, the ripstop fabric is easily foldable, meaning it can be stuffed in a jersey pocket with ease. While it’s designed to be form fitting, it’s not a race fit, making it versatile enough for range of riding, including gravel and commuting. The two-way zipper is a neat detail, as are the reflective details. It’s available in both a men’s and women’s version with a couple of colour choices for each.
Best for commuting
(Image credit: Castelli)
5. Castelli Emergency 2 rain jacket
Best for commuting
Specifications
Weight: 149g
Sizes: S-3XL (mens) XS-XL (womens)
Reasons to buy
+
Waterproof
+
Cuff design works over gloves
+
Reflective details and high-vis color option
+
Mens and womens options
Reasons to avoid
-
On the heavier side for a packable jacket
Like the Pearl Izumi Attack Barrier, this is a jacket created for those ‘just in case’ rides, where the weather forecast looks changeable. However, the Emergency 2 from Castelli is fully waterproof, using a 2.5 layer fabric that combines with a waterproof zipper and details that include a long tail and wrist closures designed to work with gloves. All told, it makes it more versatile than many other packable jackets.
This versatility is extended by the cut - Castelli says it's designed to fit over its Gabba jersey and it’s also offered in both a men’s and women’s version. Added to the 360 degree reflectivity it makes it a good option for commuting, where you might need to wear it over a layer or two. As for its packability, it’s created to fit into an integrated stuff pocket. Castelli acknowledges that to keep the price point down, the Emergency 2 doesn’t excel in the breathability stakes - but as the name suggests, this isn’t a jacket to wear for the entirety of a ride anyway.
Best on a budget
(Image credit: Van Rysel)
6. Van Rysel Ultralight jacket
Best on a budget
Specifications
Weight: 140g
Sizes:
Reasons to buy
+
Keenly priced
+
Vented for breathability
Reasons to avoid
-
Only offered in black
Making a weather-resistant cycling jacket that can easily be stowed in a pocket doesn’t have to mean a triple-digit price tag. The Ultralight from Van Rysel is a fraction of the cost of many of the other offerings featured here but might be all you need.
At a claimed 140g it’s competitive on the scales, and stuffs inside its own pocket, making for a neat and tidy package that should fit into most jersey pockets. The jacket uses a 2.5 layer PU-coated fabric with a waterproof rating that’s likely to make it water-resistant rather than waterproof in sustained downpours but should comfortably fend off light or brief showers. Design details include a close fit, a full-length zipper, shoulder and armpit vents and reflective accents.
Having already established a range of jerseys and shorts, the Albion Rain Jacket sees the London brand break into new, water-resistant territory. It features fully taped seams and the jacket body has a three-layer waterproof and wind-resistant fabric. To touch, the jacket is lightweight and doesn’t feel bulky or heavy in your hands. In fact, one of its best features is its packability, and it easily fits into a rear pocket.
The fit is quite constrictive and we found it tight across the shoulders, although arm length is good.
Scottish brand Endura knows a thing or two about creating weather beating kit and the Pro SL Shell jacket is no exception, with a three-layer fabric that's thinner than the competition.
It's on the bulkier side of the packable jacket spectrum but will still fit into a pocket. What it does have is an exceptional fit and a three-layer fabric that is as tough as it is weatherproof and a storm flap to stop water finding its way in through the zip.
Above all else the material used in the construction of the jacket is what makes the biggest difference in performance. Ideally, you want a fully waterproof material that also has a high degree of breathability.
Some techy modern fabrics such as Gore Shakedry manage to combine both aspects into a single layer of material, making them not only high performance but also extremely lightweight.
The only issue with such fabrics is they usually come with a high ticket price and can be a little fragile. At the entry-level you can still expect solid performance but don't expect fully waterproof materials to be anywhere near as breathable or pack down as small.
How should a packable rain jacket fit?
Most packable rain jackets follow the same vein as the traditional race cape, i.e. will be tight to the body and offer an articulated cut to fit well in a riding position.
If you prefer a looser fit or plan on wearing more layers underneath then you might want to go up a size from your usual choice. A good packable jacket should have a long sleeve length and a dropped tail to protect your derriere and lower back as dry as possible.
The alternative if you're not expecting to need to remove your jacket too often and are usually carrying luggage on your rides is one of the best commuter cycling jackets.
What other features should I look for?
Of course, there is always going to be a compromise when choosing a rain jacket that packs down to the size of a baseball, and that packability normally comes at the cost of extra features.
Don't expect multiple pockets, additional drawstring closures or even zipped vents in most cases. The construction will also be a little less robust and fabrics and zips might not be as durable, so you will need to use a bit of extra care when using.
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James Bracey's career has seen him move from geography teacher, to MBR writer, to Cycling Weekly's senior tech writer and video presenter. He possesses an in-depth knowledge of bicycle mechanics, as well as bike fit and coaching qualifications. Bracey enjoys all manner of cycling, from road to gravel and mountain biking.
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