Ditching the car for a cycling commute can be incredibly rewarding. Not only do you save money on fuel and parking, but you get bonus health and well-being benefits too. The elephant in the room though, is the weather. If the heavens open before work, you could be in for a damp day in the office. That is, unless you have the right cycling kit for the job.
The best waterproof cycling jackets often work excellently for commuting, but usually only if you're also riding in full cycling kit. The same goes for the best winter cycling jackets; they're designed for riding, and riding only. The best commuter cycling jackets have to work off the bike too, and transition seamlessly from ride to train, subway, and on the office floor, all while protecting you from the elements.
My commute to the office is an hour each way, on a mix of roads and bike paths, and this is about as long as I'd ever go without resorting to full kit, so it's been the perfect test to see how all the jackets here fare in every kind of weather.
If you are about to make the leap into becoming a commuter, don't forget to protect the two most important things; your head, with one of the best commuter bike helmets, and your bike, with one of the best bike locks.
Best commuter cycling jacket overall
✅ You want durability: It's a hard-wearing jacket.
✅ You want off-bike style: The POC Motion Rain Jacket is sleek, making it fairly low-key on and off the bike.
❌ You have long arms: The POC Motion Rain Jacket isn't super long in the arms as it's cut more for MTB riding than road.
The POC Motion Rain Jacket is my pick for the best commuter cycling jacket. My pick of 'best overall' takes the top spot because it does many things pretty well, rather than doing one thing exceptionally.
The main thing that endears me to it is its dependability; commuting is harder on jackets than normal riding. Backpacks rub, they get stuffed into bags, hung on handlebars in office bike stores, run over by swivel chairs, and generally misused. The face fabric of the Motion is thicker than you'll find on road waterproof jackets, and it really holds up to daily use.
The hood doesn't have any adjustments, but much like the hood on the Motion Wind Jacket (more on that later), it's snug fitting and works well under a hood by dint of it being free from toggles and elastic.
If you're hunting Strava segments, then you'll probably get a little warm, but for more normal commute efforts it's spot on for breathability, and the pit perforations do help a little too. The fit is casual, without being too baggy, and POC always does a decent job of making the arms long enough. You can easily layer under it on a cold day, and it'll never look out of place if you head to the pub after work for a drink.
I am not a mountain biker, but it certainly has the feel of a jacket that would work well on the trails too. There are no side pockets, which isn't a massive issue for commuting, and means if you are wearing a cycling backpack with a waist belt or a hip pack, then the webbing isn't going to be pressing a zip into your hips.
My only real bugbear is that the main zip isn't waterproof. The internal storm flap, folded neatly to stop it catching in the zip, does keep water out, but it would be a pretty easy swap to make on the design room floor.
To find out why I like it so much in more detail, then head to my POC Motion commuter jacket review.
Best budget commuter cycling jacket
✅ You want to stay dry: Rapha's Commuter Jacket is totally waterproof
✅ You want some colour: Alongside the pictured pink, there are some good colour options from the Commuter Jacket.
❌ You run warm: The jacket can feel clammy on bare skin.
Sadly, the colour palette for the Rapha Commuter jacket has reduced somewhat since my test samples landed. I have a handsome red and a highly visible pink, and many other colours were available, but now it's only two.
Regardless of the reduced colour options, this is to my mind the best budget commuter cycling jacket. For the price, you get a decently protective shell, which is the main thing. It's not something I'd want to ride for hours in the rain in, but if you're only commuting for half an hour it's perfectly adequate. The cut is trim, but not anything approaching 'race' so you can throw it over your office wear, and the tail is long enough to keep your rear end dry, provided you're on a relatively upright machine and not a slammed road bike with classic drops on.
The cuffs do a great job of keeping the elements out without needing a cinch, though the elastic can get a bit soggy in heavy rain. The winning feature for me though is the cinchable hood. Most jackets don't have this, and it's transformative when using it just as a wind jacket; no more wind sock dragging your neck back. It's not the best hood stowage, but it's a darn sight better than nothing.
If you're only commuting relatively infrequently, even more so in inclement weather, then you can probably get away with a cheaper jacket for those 'just in case' days, but for more frequent rides paying a little more is going to net you something more enjoyable to use. My main bugbears here are the zip (very sticky, though well waterproofed), and the lining, which is very clammy against bare skin.
Head to my Rapha Commuter Jacket review for all the finer details.
Best commuter cycling jacket for visibility
✅ You want to be seen: If you ride in the city and are surroudned by headlights, the Proviz will make sure you get seen on the road
✅ You struggle for fit: Proviz offers a particularly wide range of sizing to fit everybody.
❌ You want a tighter cut: The Proviz Reflect360 Plus is not a tight fitting jacket. Great for layers, but not for those who like a tighter fitting garment.
If you've already begun your commuter journey, or come to think of it if you drive in a place with plenty of cyclists, you've almost certainly already seen one of these. It's by far and away the most visible cycling jacket on the market, and in a segment of cycling where safety is a greater priority, this alone warrants its inclusion in this list.
As a jacket, it's not hugely pleasant to wear. The material rustles, the fit is baggy, and it's not all that breathable, but the times when I used it at night I did feel safer, which went a long way to offset the increased sweatiness. When any light source hits you, be that a bike light, the headlights of a car, or even bright street lighting, the all-over silver coating lights you up like a Christmas tree to all viewers. The reflectivity is created by loads of tiny beads - pictures don't do it justice I'm afraid.
The 'Plus' model is the one to go for rather than the standard. It's twice as waterproof (10,000mm vs 5,000mm), and more breathable too thanks to perforations in the outer fabric.
One thing that is also worth applauding is the huge size range on offer. Cycling is oftentimes not inclusive to all bodies, especially at larger size ranges. To offer a 5XL is commendable, and will undoubtedly help open active transport up to more people.
Best commuter cycling jacket for roadies
✅ You want a close fit: Endura's Pro SL Waterproof features a road cycling cut.
✅ You ride in all weathers: The jacket is waterproof and breathable too.
❌ You have broad shoulders: The fit will be tight for those who have broad shoulders.
I'm sure many of you reading this are coming to cycling to work with a solid grounding in road riding. If you're looking for a jacket that will cover you for both the Mon-Fri commute to the office and keep you dry on the Sunday club run, then look no further.
You'll want to go for the highly visible option because it'd be daft to make yourself less visible if you're commuting regularly. This visibility, along with the durable feeling outer fabric, is why I gave this jacket the nod over many others. It's also frequently discounted, which certainly helps if you're prone to trashing your gear on commutes.
The waterproof rating is more than ample for rides of commute length, and it's certainly more breathable than many of its competitors. The fit is slim but isn't what you'd call race fit, so you can layer up underneath with normal clothes if the need arises.
My main issues were in the shoulders, which felt rather tight under the armpits (which will be less of an issue if you're not riding in a very aero position), and the cuffs, which are elasticated but rather loose without gloves. This allows air up into the sleeves, which can make you a bit chillier.
Head to our Endura Pro SL Waterproof Shell Jacket Review for more details.
Warmest commuter cycling jacket
Best windproof commuter cycling jacket
✅ You have long arms: The jacket features healthy sleeves for racier riding positions.
❌ You like an over the helmet hood: The hood here is tight fitting, and fits under your helmet, so you'll have to plan ahead as to whether you'll need it.
The POC Motion Wind Jacket has really shone on days with cooler starts and warmer homeward journeys, just the overall temperature range is warmer. It does a fantastic job of taking the chill off, without leaving you nearly as prone to overheating as if you threw on a waterproof shell.
It looks great, it's brilliantly stretchy which makes it extremely comfortable, and the fit is great too, especially if you're long in the arms like me; POC is great for us lanky types. The cuffs are also angled so more material covers the back of your hand. This makes more sense on a flat bar bike but also adds a slightly more techy aesthetic.
A double zip helps you access jersey pockets if it's going over 'proper' cycling kit, though I found it better for temperature adjustments. I find a little bit of undone top and bottom is far more preferable to a lot of undone from the top, which ends up creating a windsock effect.
Speaking of which, the hood is great under a helmet, but as it's a jacket you'll primarily use in the dry, the hood could really do with a way to stow it away. In all honesty, I could do without it altogether, though I do like the way it looks from an aesthetic standpoint.
In terms of versatility, you could well use this on gravel rides as well as wandering around town, but for me, it works best both visually and in terms of performance, with some cycling trousers for urban riding.
Best commuter cycling jacket for coverage
✅ You want coverage: Of all the jackets in this list, the Grid Parka will keep more rain of more of your body
✅ You ride an upright bike: It's not cut for drop bars, but for a classic commuter machine it's brilliant
❌ You ride drop bars: The long cut of the jacket means that, on a bike with a racy position, you end up with lots of excess material flapping around your legs.
The Antura Grid Parka works well because it's just as good off the bike as it is on it. Given its length, you're going to want to use this with an upright bike or you'll have a lot of material flapping around your front, but on the right bike (a Brompton being a perfect example), the extremely dropped tail ensures no water runs down your back and onto your trousers.
Yes, it only comes in olive green, and the hood has to go under the helmet to be in any way useful, but it's a parka, so it has to be in olive green. Them's the rules I'm afraid.
To stop you from overheating, it's got a big back vent, though this is negated if you're wearing a cycling backpack. To help there are also two pit zips, though I actually found I rarely needed them. The hood is fine, but it has to go under the helmet which I don't like, so it tended to only get used when strolling around the city singing Champagne Supernova to myself.
The waterproofing is perfectly adequate, all the seams are taped and you're not going to get wet unless you let the DWR wear out. That wasn't the thing that impressed me most though. That, oddly, was the cuff fasteners. They use a pliable plastic hook-and-loop fastener rather than a fabric one, and they allow you to really seal your wrists away better than most other options out there.
How to choose the best commuter cycling jackets
Commuting means different things to different riders. For some it's a rain-or-shine way of life, for others, it's a way to make the most of a sunny day, and as such commuter jackets have to span a lot of use cases. Before you commit to a jacket, be sure it's going to fit your needs. For example, if your commute doubles as a morning KOM hunt, you're going to need something breathable - if you are electrically assisted on your way to and from work, however, you might not need the extra airflow.
If you're a fairweather commuter then there's no point worrying about the waterproof options, and if you need something that'll stand you in good stead year round then something that won't hold the rain at bay is pointless. So be honest about your commute, your weather, and make sure you consider your riding before you shop.
What is a commuter cycling jacket?
In reality, any jacket you use to commute by bike is a commuter jacket. They do tend to differ from your standard waterproof or winter jackets though. More durable materials, more pockets, more visible colours and a greater reliance on reflective details are the key differences, and many are styled in such a way that you can wear them out and about on foot as well as on the bike.
Do I need a reflective jacket for commuting?
If safety is a big concern for you, and given the behaviour of some drivers I'm not surprised if it is, then reflectivity should be high on your list. The Provis is second to none in this regard, but no jacket, no matter how reflective, is a substitute for a set of the best bike lights.
Are commuter jackets worth it?
If you're regularly commuting then the added cycling-specific functionality really makes sense. That being said, especially if you're not riding a bike with an aggressive position, if you're only commuting by bike on occasion then a non-specific jacket can work just as well, especially if it's not raining.
How we test the best commuter cycling jackets
Well, I don't have a car, so riding to work is the norm for me. It's an hour each way, usually with a backpack on, and a mix of busy roads and cycle paths so as real-world testing goes, it's hard to beat. I have also ridden them all around the city while I'm doing other things over the winter months, so I've got a great feel for the details that work and those that don't.
I'm happy to recommend all the jackets in this guide, depending on the specific use case.
For more on our testing, see Cyclingnews' How We Test page.
