Best cycling jackets 2024 — keep yourself warm, comfortable and dry on the bike with a quality top layer

The Scottish based brand Endura really knows how to make clothing to suit whatever the Scottish weather has to throw at it, come rain or shine. The Endura Pro SL 3-Seasons Jacket is testament to this. With the ability to transform into a jacket for any time of the year, this is a really fantastic overall jacket to invest in, with removable Primaloft lining as well as some massive vents for warming temperatures. 

Not only does this great all-round jacket offer some solid features for the warmer climates, but it also features waterproofing  which is from a PFC-free water repellent finish. This finish works very well: water beads and rolls off easily, which paired with the accurate fit allows this process to be more effective as there are no deep folds or creases where rain can pool or soak in. There are also four pockets on the back of the jacket which is really useful, not the biggest but they are fitted with mesh on the inside so thankfully won’t fill with water when it's raining. 

This jacket is ideal for temperatures down to -2° with just a base layer under thanks to the removable Primaloft inner gilet that clips on and off, all the way up to 16° with the vents open. Therefore, it really is a do it all, three-Season jacket that will really take you through all the seasons, protected, warm and well vented when needed.

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The Showers Pass EcoLyte Elite Jacket is a lot of cash, but you get an incredibly waterproof jacket that comes with great ventilation, a cut that suits all kinds of riding styles, and it's packable too.

Reviewer Stu Kerton used the EcoLyte mainly for gravel rides; its style suits that sort of riding, what with the removable hood (that’s large enough to fit over the top of a helmet) and everything, plus the fit isn't quite as close as you get with some road jackets. You could easily use it on the road too, though.

The sleeves are long enough to keep your wrists covered and the hem drops down at the rear to provide plenty more coverage back there.

The outer face and lining are made from 100% recycled material, so the EcoLyte Elite has some eco credentials. The same goes for the zips on the vents and rear pocket. There are no nasty chemicals in the dyes, either.

The three-layer fabric is coated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish which sees rain and road spray bead up and roll off even in long, heavy downpours, and the fully taped seams mean that water ingress isn't a problem there either.

A certain amount of moisture can escape through the fabric and you get lengthy side vents and a vent flap across the back.

This means that the range of temperatures in which you can comfortably use the EcoLyte is wide – below freezing up to the mid-teens centigrade, depending on what you wear underneath.

If you have the cash and you want one of the best waterproof, breathable, packable jackets on the market then you will not be disappointed.

Thanks to a combination of cosy warmth, wind and rain protection, and casual good looks, the Grid softshell hoodie is a top you’ll be reaching for time and again. It's well made, effective, and very, very useful. 

Reviewer Lara Dunn said, “It's the softshell I never knew I needed but now can't do without.”

The Altura hoodie is like a cross between a sweatshirt and a softshell jacket. Made from 100% polyester with a thermal grid fleece lining, it has a half zip at the neck, an adjustable hood with peak, zipped side pockets, a shaped tail, and long stretchy cuffs. It also has reflective print patterns along the rear hemline, at the cuffs and on the chest.

The cut allows you to wear layers underneath without being overly loose, while the sleeve length is good but not over-long.

You can use this hoodie for a variety of types of riding, although the fairly short zip means it lacks the ventilation necessary to cope with more intense efforts, and the style feels best suited to gravel rides, commutes and casual pootling around town. 

It's pleasantly windproof and warm enough to use with a fairly thin top underneath until the temperatures really start to drop. 

This is a really versatile design that looks as good off the bike as on, its warmth and weather resistance making it useful for all sorts of activities.

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The Gore Race Shakedry is well and truly one of the best - if not the best - rain and wet weather cycling jacket on the market. Gore's Shakedry fabric technology does a very good job of stopping any water from coming in, combing the waterproofing with stretch panels to create a closer fit. Also, as the name suggests, you can simply shake the jacket dry, before packing it back away in your back pocket, both hugely useful features. 

For pure performance, Shakedry is really is hard to beat. The surface of the jacket is the membrane, which allows for a lighter and easily packable waterproof, making it ideal to pop in your back pocket. This membrane additionally is naturally hydrophobic, meaning no special treatments are needed to keep the waterproofing, maintaining its brilliant waterproofing performance.

All in all this is a really brilliant jacket, and the tech is so good it features on numerous other waterproof jackets from other brands like Castelli. You do need to thoroughly check sizing or pop into a shop to try them on as the material isn't very stretchy, and at the time of writing there are rumblings of the fabric being discontinued... but if you can overcome both of these hurdles and afford it, we highly doubt you'll be disappointed!  

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Although the Gore Lupra Jacket Women’s does come from Gore’s ‘trail’ range, it is perfect to use for many different types of riding, be it gravel riding, commuting, bikepacking, road rides or mountain bike shreds. It wouldn’t even look out of place being used on a walking adventure, which is why we're giving it our versatility gong in this guide. 

With regards to the performance, Lupra protects very well from chilly winds as well as moderate showers. This impressive protection is thanks to the Gore-Tex Infinium material used which offers great protection against both the wind and rain without hugely compromising breathability. More so, the shoulders, chest and hood offer extra waterproofing, along with taped seams in the hood and shoulder for further rain protection. 

This jacket doesn’t have an obvious cycling kit aesthetic, allowing for it to be used in other activities. The hood and high quality materials are also particularly useful features, keeping your head warm and dry even if you opt to wear a helmet underneath.

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The Castelli Perfetto RoS 2 Jacket is a renowned piece of cycling kit that is very popular among road cyclists who are eager to get out on the bike come winter time, and for good reason too. This really is one of the best water resistant jackets thanks to its Gore Infinium 205 material. 

For off-season performance, this jacket really is tough to beat. It blocks the cold air very effectively, thanks to the brushed Gore-Tex Infinium 205 fabric on the front ensuring you keep warm. This jacket is also water resistant rather than waterproof, coping really well with road spray, continuous light rain and short showers. But you will want to reach for a proper waterproof cape to wear over the top if you’ll be riding in heavy rainfall. The addition of useful zip air vents at the front also ensure you stay well ventilated during warmer days.

The Perfetto is properly warm, has taped shoulder seams to keep you dry and three good sized pockets for your belongings. A cycling wardrobe must and worth the investment. 

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If you dabble in road racing in the UK and were looking for a slim-fitting jacket to add to your cycling wardrobe, then look no further than the Santini Guard Nimbus. It's a very high quality and high-performing piece of clothing that offers a stretchy and unrestrictive slim fit.

This jacket has taped seams coupled with the 5,000mmm water column rating to offer brilliant levels of waterproofing, as well as wind protection without compromising on the breathability of the jacket. 

This flap-free cycling jacket is also packable and very stretchy too, making it more convenient than most other options on the market. Not only that, but it features a small rear pocket and is available in bright colours too if you’d like to stand out while out on the road, or just fancy a change from black.

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Galibier's Tourmalet 4 is waterproof and breathable, the fit is great with minimal flappage, and it’s an absolute bargain.

In terms of waterproofing, the Tourmalet 4 is pretty much faultless. During testing, the fabric and taped seams proved impenetrable in both heavy showers and prolonged steady rain; even after being washed countless times, our reviewer reported that the waterproofing remained excellent.

The new HydraStop 2.9+ membrane is not only incredibly waterproof, it's also soft against your skin, so you can wear it comfortably with a short sleeve base layer or a jersey underneath. The fabric helps the Tourmalet 4 stay lightweight and packable, so you can carry it easily in a jersey pocket when there’s a chance of rain.

On the whole, the Tourmalet is best suited to cooler days in spring, autumn, and winter, but you can still wear it when the temperature is in the mid-teens centigrade. Reviewer Stu Kerton says this is probably the only waterproof jacket he'd consider using year-round,

The cut is well-tailored without any flapping, but it's not so close that it restricts your movement or limits what you can wear underneath.

Galibier has delivered a high-performing jacket at a very good price.

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The MAAP Training Winter Jacket isn’t cheap, but it's exceptionally good. It's warm, comfortable and well-made, with excellent protection from the elements and good breathability.

It comes in a semi-relaxed fit and is comfortable to wear in a variety of situations as you can layer up to suit. There’s plenty of stretch in the fabric – not as much as you get in a lightweight jersey, but more give than many softshell jackets – so it’ll work over anything from a light base layer to a long-sleeve jersey.

The jacket's Drytex TPU membrane provides weather protection, combined with taped seams and YKK Aquaguard zips. Reviewer George Hill reported that it kept out all the wind and rain the British climate could throw at it… and there were plenty of heavy downpours during the test period.

A zip guard helps keep the wind out while the fleece lining helps you stay warm and comfortable even in sub-zero conditions. Despite being warm and comfortable in even the most foul conditions, it maintains good breathability and ventilation.

While it's not cheap, you are paying for a high-quality jacket that performs exceptionally well. Putting that price to one side, it's an excellent jacket.

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