The Finest Biking Jackets of 2023

A good road cycling jacket is a critical piece of kit for riding in cool or wet weather. Staying warm and dry while riding in the cool to cold temperatures and variable weather conditions of the fall, winter, and spring is essential for your comfort and enjoyment on the bike.

Keeping the upper body comfortable and functioning well in foul weather is a complex problem with many possible solutions. Looking at the diversity of cycling jackets available today, it’s clear that a number of variables must be weighed in order to find the best option for your riding. Rain and road spray, wind, and cold, as well as your own riding style and layering preferences all factor into how well any jacket will suit your needs.

To help, we gathered a diverse selection of 16 of the best cycling jackets on the market to test and compare. Review author, Bennett Shane, personally tested each model in the highly variable weather and temperatures of the Pacific Northwest while analyzing their fit, comfort, features, and performance in the real world.

Whether you need a light layer to block the wind, a waterproof jacket for rainy days, or something insulated to fight the cold, we’ve got recommendations to keep you rolling on the road. Our favorite cycling jackets are listed below, followed by the best of the rest which are also great options that are worthy of consideration. To see all the models we tested at a glance, check out our comparison chart. Our detailed buying advice covers important product considerations if you need help deciding what you need, and our FAQ section provides answers to common questions.

The Best Cycling Jackets of 2023

Best of the Rest

Cycling Jackets Comparison Chart

Why You Should Trust Us

At GearJunkie, we don’t stop riding because the seasons change or the weather turns. Instead, we gear up and get out there. Whether we’re riding road, gravel, or mountain bikes, we know that having the right tools for the job is essential for our comfort and enjoyment while riding through the fall, winter, and spring. For road riding in particular, we’ve learned that the right cycling jacket can make the difference between a miserable ride or finishing with a smile on your face. And, a good jacket can keep us off the indoor trainer for longer, which is a huge plus.

For our cycling jackets buyer’s guide, we recruited Bennett Shane to test and compare all of the models in this review. Bennet has been road cycling for over two decades, and although his racing days are behind him, he still spends an inordinate amount of time on the bike for fitness, fun, and, of course, product testing. In addition to being an obsessive cyclist, Bennett has worked for numerous prominent brands in the cycling industry. This experience has given him unique insight into the design, materials, construction, and even the marketing of all types of road cycling gear. He has an impressive depth of cycling knowledge, and he stays abreast of the latest and greatest products and technology across all aspects of the sport. His knowledge of gear combined with his cycling and industry experience make him particularly adept at analyzing and identifying performance differences in the products he tests. In the past year, Bennett has been testing and reviewing a wide range of road cycling products for in-depth buyer’s guides on Bikerumor.com including road bike shoes, road bike helmets, cycling bib tights, cycling bib shorts, pedals, saddles, and more.

After researching virtually every cycling jacket on the market, we rounded up a diverse selection of 16 models for side-by-side testing and comparison. After weighing each model for consistency and comparison to the manufacturer’s specs, we carefully examined their design, materials, construction, and features before hitting the road. The only way to truly test cycling jackets is by riding in them, so ride we did. Living near Portland, OR, Bennett is accustomed to riding in the full spectrum of weather conditions, and he spent months riding in these jackets on crisp fall mornings, misty and cold mountain rides, and full-on downpours. While riding he assessed the fit and comfort of each model along with how well they performed in varying temperature and weather conditions in the real world.

Buying Advice: How to Choose a Cycling Jacket

With cycling jackets made for riding in different weather conditions, and temperatures with a range of different fits and features, finding the right one to suit your needs can be a challenge. Fortunately, with so many models to choose from, you should be able to find a model that has you covered for the vast majority of your off-season rides. One of the most important considerations is the weather and temperature conditions you expect to encounter as that will dictate whether you need a wind layer, waterproof jacket, insulation, or a combination of all three. Of course, you’ll also want to get the right fit, and factors like pockets and packability may also play a role.

Types of Cycling Jackets

Considering the weather conditions and temperatures that you expect to encounter while riding will help you narrow down your choices when looking for a cycling jacket. Depending on where you live and ride, fall, winter, spring, and even crisp morning or evening rides in the summer, present a wide range of temperatures and weather, and there isn’t necessarily a one-jacket-fits-all solution. This is why there are literally hundreds of cycling jackets on the market ranging from light, packable wind shells to fully waterproof and insulated jackets, and everything in between.

Wind

Wind is one of the main culprits that can cause you to get cold or uncomfortable while riding in cool conditions, no matter the season. Whether it’s a blustery day or from self-generated wind riding downhill, the chill of the wind will almost always make it feel colder than it is. They call it wind chill for a reason, after all. Virtually all cycling jackets, regardless of type, block the wind as one of their primary functions. For wind specifically, however, the lowly, but oh-so-functional, wind jacket is a critical piece of gear for most riders to keep you comfortable in dry conditions whether it’s a chilly ride in the fall, winter, or spring, or a mountain descent in the middle of summer.

Wind layers are typically relatively basic, consisting of a thin wind-blocking shell that creates a barrier between you and the moving air. Given the thin materials, they are often very lightweight and easily packable, making them easy to stash in a jersey pocket so you can be prepared for changing conditions and adjust your layering as needed throughout your ride. Wind jackets can also be surprisingly versatile and can keep you warm in temperatures ranging from mild to freezing depending on how you layer beneath them. Sometimes the materials used in wind jackets are treated with a DWR to repel very light amounts of moisture, and they are also typically very fast-drying should you sweat in them or ride through a light shower. We tested several wind jackets including the Castelli Squadra Stretch Jacket, the Pearl Izumi Attack Barrier jacket, and the Velocio Ultralight Jacket.

Water-Resistant

Most of us avoid riding in proper rainstorms, and it is much more likely that we’ll be caught in a passing storm, light showers, or mist when the weather is tolerable but unstable. For conditions like these, a water-resistant jacket is often a more comfortable choice than a fully waterproof model because fully waterproof materials often have limited stretch and breathability compared to water-resistant options. There are a number of materials and membranes on the market that are highly water resistant, though perhaps not fully waterproof, that do a wonderful job of blocking wind and repelling water from light to moderate showers and road spray.

Gore-Tex Infinium used in the Castelli Perfetto RoS 2 and Polartec Neoshell in the Ornot Magic Shell are two such membranes that are often used in cycling jackets that aim to provide a high level of water resistance to keep you dry in all but the most miserable of conditions. Generally speaking, the water repellency of water-resistant materials is aided by a durable water repellant (DWR) treatment to make water bead and shed at the surface.

Waterproof

For riding in rainstorms, a fully waterproof jacket is key to keeping you dry and, therefore, warm. When you’re riding in steady rain, water-resistant materials can and will eventually be overwhelmed and water will make its way inside the jacket, so if you’re sure you’ll be encountering miserable conditions, then something completely waterproof is the way to go. In addition to a waterproof membrane, these types of jackets have taped seams and waterproof zippers to try and keep water from getting in anywhere as well as a DWR to bead and repel water at the surface. There are a variety of waterproof membranes and materials on the market like Gore-Tex Shakedry used on the Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Shakedry 1985, Gore-Tex Paclite Plus for the Rapha Pro Team Insulated Gore-Tex Jacket, and the DryTex TPU membrane incorporated in the MAAP Training Winter Jacket. Despite being different, they aim to block water while still allowing a reasonable level of breathability to help regulate moisture.

Waterproof materials often come with ratings expressed in numbers like 10K/10K which refer to their water repellency and breathability, respectively. For water repellency, the rating refers to water column pressure, or how much water in pressure can be exerted on the fabric before it soaks through. So, for a 10K rating, this means that it can handle a column pressure of 10,000mm before it soaks through. The higher the number, the more waterproof the material, and vice versa. A 10K waterproof rating is typically the minimum we recommend. Breathability ratings measure a material’s ability to allow moisture vapor transmission and refer to the amount of moisture in grams that can pass through a square meter of material in a 24-hour period. Again, the higher the number, the better the breathability. For high-intensity activities, like cycling, the more breathable the material the better as moisture trapped within a jacket can be uncomfortable and cause you to get cold.

Insulated

For riding in cold conditions, a jacket with some insulation will help to keep you warm. Insulation works by trapping air between your body and the outer shell and helps to maintain a more consistent temperature in the right conditions. Insulated jackets come in many flavors, with some being waterproof or water-resistant, and others not. Unlike sedentary activities where you want lots of insulation, cycling jackets typically have thinner insulating layers/materials than a jacket you would wear while ice fishing because you are generating significant body heat while you ride.

Insulating materials in cycling jackets include fleece, synthetic, down, etc. Polartec Alpha is a newer insulating material that is used in garments for people being active where there may be large variations in temperature, as there is in cycling. Some of the insulated models we tested include the POC Pro Thermal, Rapha Pro Team Insulated Gore-Tex Rain Jacket, and the 7Mesh Freeflow. While insulated jackets are a great choice for riding in cold conditions, a good layering system under a wind or rain shell can be just as effective as insulation built into a jacket.

Fit

The fit of cycling jackets is one of the main things that sets them apart from other jackets. Cycling is not only a dynamic sport, but one that also requires you to be in a forward leaning position with your arms reaching to the handlebar. Good cycling jackets are designed to accommodate this body position with cuts and paneling that allow for great freedom of movement and prevent bunching or restriction. Cycling jackets also tend to be slim and form-fitting for aerodynamics, and ideally stay close to the body for a tidy fit with little excess material flapping in the wind. Depending on how you like to layer, however, you may want to consider how much room you need inside the jacket to comfortably fit multiple layers underneath.

In general, your typical jersey size will probably be the correct size for a cycling jacket. If in doubt, take some measurements and reference size charts, or better yet, go and try some different jackets on to be sure you get the right fit.

Packability

Packability is important for riders living in areas that see sudden changes in temperature or weather or for rides of varying intensity where you might be heating up and cooling down significantly. If you’re riding in the mountains, it might be much cooler at the top of a long climb than it was at the valley floor, so it’s nice to be able to pull on a jacket that’s stashed in your jersey pocket for the descent. Similarly, if you start your ride when it’s cool in the morning, you may need to ditch the jacket a short time later when the temperature has warmed up. Or, if the weather is unsettled, a lightweight packable shell can save you when you get caught out in an afternoon shower with many miles left to ride. Whatever the reason, packability is very important for many riders for the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.

The jackets we tested vary somewhat in terms of packability, but many of them pack down small enough to stuff into a pocket. In general, the light wind layers are the most packable. Some waterproof jackets like the Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Shakedry 1985 are also incredibly packable, which is particularly impressive given how waterproof it is. Generally speaking, when you add insulation to a jacket it adds bulk, but most of the modern insulating materials used in cycling jackets are lightweight and highly compressible. An insulated jacket that stands out for its packability is the 7Mesh Freeflow Jacket which not only stuffs into its own pocket, but it has straps to secure it to the bike when you’re not wearing it.

Layering

Layering preferences also influence jacket choice. Some riders like to layer a jersey between their jacket and base layer, while others like to forgo the jersey, instead choosing between a few different base layers to pair with their jacket for a two-piece system based on the intensity of the ride and the weather conditions. Typically, the fewer layers a cyclist prefers to wear, the more robust their jacket will tend to be. These cyclists may have a mid-weight long-sleeve jersey that they can pair with a thicker base layer for cool and dry riding, reserving their jacket for bitterly cold and possibly wet conditions. Riders who like to layer will often be better served with a lightweight, packable jacket that they can remove and stow in a jersey pocket if conditions improve during their ride.

Pockets

With different styles of jackets for different conditions and layering systems, pockets are a feature that some jackets have and others do not. A lightweight and super packable wind shell, for example, will often be worn over a jersey that already has pockets, so it stands to reason that many of them do not have additional pockets that would be redundant. Other jackets are intended to be worn over baselayers which typically do not have pockets, so often these jackets will have some configuration of rear pockets to carry essentials and keep them at arm’s reach. Of course, this varies from model to model and brand to brand, so consider your needs for carrying items in your jacket when choosing the right jacket for you.

Visibility

When we’re riding in a jacket, it is often early or late in the day or during seasons or weather where visibility can be compromised. Since we want to be seen by motorists for our safety, we always appreciate reflective elements on jackets to give them a little pop and enhance our visibility on the road. These are typically in the form of reflective strips or logos bonded to the jacket fabric or panels or tabs that are sewn in. In addition to reflectives, many jackets also come in a range of colors, some of which are much brighter than others for increased visibility. Of course, a good set of bike lights is also a great way to add visibility and/or help you see where you’re going in challenging lighting conditions.

Value

Just like anything else in cycling, jackets can be expensive. The models we tested vary quite dramatically in price from $70 for a more basic wind layer up to $420 for a more advanced waterproof insulated jacket. In general, technical materials, advanced constructions, and quality craftsmanship command higher prices. Of course, there are certain brands that simply cost a bit more too. Realistically, if you’re willing and able to spend top dollar on the most expensive jacket, we doubt you’ll be disappointed. For those on a budget, however, there are solid options at lower prices that will absolutely get the job done for less. One thing we can say for sure, getting the right cycling jacket for your needs is a worthwhile investment that will pay dividends in comfort out on the road.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cycling Jackets