dhb Classic Rain Shell Jacket review

We put the dhb Classic Rain Shell Jacket to the test. At £60 it may be much more affordable than a premium shell, but is it any good?

Cycling Weekly Verdict

A great jacket for wet wild days on the bike. While some very expensive jackets out perform the dhb classic rain shell, it is an excellent product for the price. Highly recomended.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Excellent value

  • +

    Breathable

  • +

    10,000 mm water proof rating.

  • +

    decent fit

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Not as water proof or breathable as class leading products.

  • -

    Zip could be easier to grab with gloves

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

The dhb Classic Rain Shell jacket is a water proof jacket with versatility in mind. While not as protective as a dedicated hardshell, the intention is that it can be stuffed  in a jersey pocket when not needed. The dhb Classic Rain Shell uses a lightweight 2.5 layer waterproof fabric, the makers claim, offers 10,000mm of waterproofing and breathability of 30,000m2/24hrs. All the seams are taped too.

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

With a 2.5 ply fabric, the water proofing impressed us

With a 2.5 ply fabric, the water proofing impressed us

The fit is decent and I had no issues with comfort. The cut is fairly relaxed too, so it will suit a wide range of riders. There is lots to like about this jacket – the dropped tail is a good size and the stuff pocket is really useful, as it means you don’t have awkwardly fumble under the jacket to find your jersey pockets. The fit is decent and the jacket packs down well, to the size of a jersey pocket.

However, the zip on the stuff pocket not easy to grab hold of. It would be better with a toggle on it or something that is more substantial to get a hold of when wearing gloves.

Good quality at an affordable price

Good quality at an affordable price

>>> Cycling in the rain, how to survive it (video)

At £60 the dhb Classic Rain Shell represents a great jacket for those who are perhaps not going to be riding in the rain as frequently as someone who might justify the high price of the Gore ONE. Our testing suggested the waterproofing was very good, but not on the level of the Gore jacket and it is fair to assume that the DWR coating will diminish over time. dhb also offers an eVent fabric jacket for £100, which is worth a look at if your budget stretches.

For more information, head over to Wiggle.

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Oliver Bridgewood - no, Doctor Oliver Bridgewood - is a PhD Chemist who discovered a love of cycling. He enjoys racing time trials, hill climbs, road races and criteriums. During his time at Cycling Weekly, he worked predominantly within the tech team, also utilising his science background to produce insightful fitness articles, before moving to an entirely video-focused role heading up the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel, where his feature-length documentary 'Project 49' was his crowning glory.