Best waterproof cycling jackets 2024 — keep riding whatever the weather and stay warm and dry on the bike

It's not easy for a product to achieve a review score of 10/10, but tester Mike deemed Showers Pass' Elite 2.1 jacket was worthy due to it being 'the ultimate jacket for riding in appalling conditions.'

It's made from Elite 3-layer rip stop fabrics, with the jacket having been body-mapped to maximise waterproof/windproof protection with high levels of breathability. A multitude of venting options also keep you cool when you put in big efforts, or when outside temperatures start to rise. 

The Elite also comes with plenty of reflective detailing to help you get seen at night (there are bright colour options available other than the black seen in the photo), and there is also a hood available as an optional extra which we believe adds to the versatility of the jacket.

When it comes to fit, the Showers Pass has a roadie style to it being cut slim to reduce excess fabric flapping around, although we found it to still offer plenty of room beneath for a couple of layers.

It's not cheap, but thanks to great durability and a two-year warranty, the Elite is a long-term investment.  

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It's not expensive, and it's even got our prestigious road.cc Recommends badge; the Galibier Tourmalet 4 Jacket is really a great waterproof jacket.

It's got exceptional waterproofing (20,000mm) and breathability (20,000g/m2/24) ratings and the upgraded model maintains the same affordability we praised on the Galibier Tourmalet 3 Jacket. The HydraStop 2.9+ membrane ensures comfort and the construction is high-quality. With reflective details and a thoughtful design, this jacket stands out as the ultimate budget-friendly, high-performance option.

What works on the chain gang or your weekend blast on the road bike might not befit the daily commute to work, especially if your pace is a little less frantic and the drop from your saddle to handlebar is a bit less dramatic. This is where the City Jacket from Chapeau steps in. With a relaxed cut that looks just as good off the bike as it does on it, it is mostly at home in an urban environment.

Being very packable means that it also a good contender for the bikepackers or tourers amongst us. Our reviewer found that the Chapeau delivered impressive waterproofing thanks to the material and the addition of fully taped seams throughout, and the breathability was fine for the steady state riding typical of an urban commute. Push the pace a bit and things can get a little overwhelming, but that's forgivable as this isn't a jacket designed for riding flat out in.

The sizing allows you to wear it over standard civvy clothing should you so wish, and with a bright colour and a few reflectives thrown in you shouldn't just blend into the background.     

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Gore's Shakedry fabric has become synonym for a premium rainproof, lightweight cycling jacket - and hence it was understandable that when Gore announced it will discontinue the manufacturing of the fabric, many rushed to stock up on these hackets. This means that there are very limited Shakedry jackets available - even though other brands have also incorporated it into their own line-up of jackets (the Race Shakedry jacket is Gore's own offering).

Unlike most waterproofs that use an outer layer bonded to a membrane for durability, the Gore does away with that. What you see here is just the membrane fabric which means it is lightweight (174g) and very packable. A racer's dream jacket.

The waterproofing is immense and with no need for any kind of water-repellant coating like that found on a typical outer layer the Shakedry's performance doesn't degrade over time. Should it get wet during a shower, a quick shake before or after taking it off means that it is dry to stow away in your rear pocket.

There are a couple of downsides, with the biggest being that the membrane comes in the colour you see in the pics, and that can't be changed. If you want something bright you'll need to look elsewhere.

Also, it's not quite as durable as a multi-layer jacket, but we found that it is tougher than it looks and for road riding there are few issues. Now all you have to do is decide which one of your internal organs you can live without and bung it on eBay, so that you can treat yourself to a Shakedry! 

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Rapha's Classic Winter Gore-Tex jacket is available in both men's and women's versions (you can find the men's review here) with very subtle differences, but they both use a three-layer Gore-Tex fabric from Gore's Infinium range, which we found to keep out absolutely everything that the elements could throw at it.

A dropped tail keeps you covered in an aero position while the front is cut higher to avoid causing any damage to your bib shorts or bib tights. Unlike a lot of waterproof jackets you do get a decent selection of pockets, and there are a couple of colour options including the very bright orange you can see in the picture. 

Whichever you go for though, there are reflective details added for riding in the dark. 

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If you're racing in your club colours and need to show your number beneath, then a see-through jacket is a must. We found one of the best ones is this Nackrosleden Transparent Pro from Sigr.

Some of these pure polyester jackets can be be a bit boil in the bag, but we found the Sigr to have decent breathability when riding hard and very good waterproofing. The fit, as you'd expect, is cut close and there is plenty of length in both the body and the arms. Another bonus is a double zip which allows you to undo the jacket from the bottom to give quick access to your rear pockets on the fly.  

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Velocio's Ultralight Rain Jacket has outstanding waterproofing and breathability built into a lightweight 182g package. This means it easily stashes away in your back pocket. It fits quite snugly so that there is no flapping, and the design includes a two-way zip which makes cooling and rear pocket access an easy task. However, priced at around £250, this jacket is quite a premium option.

Insulated waterproof jackets are really rare, and Rapha has really created a great product in the Men’s Pro Team Insulated Gore-Tex Rain Jacket. We found this jacket offers excellent waterproofing, breathability, and versatility. It has a high price tag at £310, but it does provide a little more protection from the elements, especially on the colder days. The slim, racy fit and effective insulation ensures comfort, while the jacket remains snug and non-flappy on the bike. As we concluded: "It's an outstanding jacket in almost every way, and actively a pleasure to wear in poor weather."