The best waterproof cycling jackets 2023 - 14 options for road, gravel, and commuting

Wet weather cycling is perhaps the hardest to dress for, and the hardest to motivate yourself to ride in, but it needn’t be. Sure, the draw of sitting inside on one of the best smart trainers might be extremely strong when there’s rain lashing at your windows, but with the best waterproof cycling jackets not only can cycling in the rain become bearable, it can even be enjoyable.

The best waterproof cycling jackets form a subset of the best winter cycling jackets, and our overarching guide to those encompasses layering recommendations for all conditions, be that cold and dry, warm and damp, or downright wet, so be sure to check that out to cover your bases. Here, though, we’re going to go through the best options for riding when you know it’s going to rain, or it’s already raining hard when you set out, whether that’s for a road ride, a gravelly adventure, or just your daily commute. Whatever type of riding you’re doing, you deserve to stay dry.

Naturally, the best waterproof cycling jackets can only keep your torso dry, and act as the final outer layer in a system that also includes the best cycling base layers and the best cycling jerseys. While waterproof trousers are certainly an option, most riders tend to favour something like the best winter bib tights, given that your legs generate a lot of heat while riding. Cap off your extremities with the best cycling overshoes and the best winter cycling gloves and you’re ready to face the absolute worst weather.

You will probably have some questions following our recommendations. Is Gore-Tex better than Pertex? Do I need a hood? Can I use a road cycling jacket for gravel? Worry not, we’ve got a comprehensive guide at the bottom to cover everything you may want to know. We've tried to include the waterproof and breathability ratings where available, but some manufacturers, unfortunately, play these particular cards close to their chest. 

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In detail: Best waterproof cycling jackets available today

Best waterproof cycling jackets for road

The Rapha Core Rain Jacket II fills a similar hole in the market to the dhb Aeron, but with some key differences. The fabric used in this case is a little thicker, similar in feeling to the Rapha Commuter Jacket but not quite so clammy next to the skin. It doesn't feel quite as airy as the dhb offering, but on the flip side, it did feel more protective in sustained or heavier weather. Think of it as a budget waterproof cycling jacket for colder conditions; better in the wet and cold, but not so good when the temperature rises, and not as ideal as a secondary-use wind breaker. 

The jacket itself is visually very pleasing. While the Shakedry option is in my view the very top-end of road performance in this sector, I find it hard to resist adding some colour to my outfit and the yellow is cheering on miserable days. In order to counteract the lower breathability of the fabric (sadly Rapha doesn’t offer up figures), there are armpit perforations much like the POC Motion, which certainly help. 

The Rapha Core Rain Jacket II does ape a lot of its design from the Shakedry model, but the cut is roomier to allow for layers, and it’s longer at the front, so better if you don’t have a hyper-aggressive position on the bike. As per the rest of Rapha jackets, I find you need to go up a size from your usual jersey. The hem is a drawstring, like the dhb Tempo, which is no bad thing, and while the offset zip certainly adds an aesthetic point of interest I don’t think it has any real performance benefit; if it did it would also feature on the Shakedry models. 

We've a full review of the Rapha Core Rain Jacket II if you want to know all the details. 

Our recent guide to the best winter cycling jackets recommends the Castelli Idro 3 as the best of the Shakedry jackets. It is, unfortunately, an endangered species though and soon to be discontinued. Regardless, I believe the Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Gore-Tex Jacket ticks more or less all the same boxes while packing down to around half the size. 

The Gore-Tex Shakedry fabric is genuinely impervious to water, and thanks to a lack of an outer-facing fabric, it cannot wet out either, making it the absolute best option for both staying dry and not getting sweaty in the rain. It may be a bit confusing that this isn't technically as waterproof as options like the dhb Aeron, but you're never going to be in a position where you need to support 25m of water on your back; pay attention to the breathability. Frustratingly Gore doesn't provide a figure, but I've seen 80,000g/m3 quoted in some sources. 

It does feel flimsy, and it shouldn’t ever be used with a backpack, but for wet weather riding on the road, it’s hard to beat if you can afford it. We’d also advise against it for gravel use for the most part. 

There are no pockets, but the two-way zip does give access to your jersey. It’s a more racy cut than the Core option, but you’ll still want to size up from your regular jersey to allow for some layers underneath. There’s no rear gripper, though it is elasticated, but it makes it slightly less secure in that area than other options. The cuffs are decently proportioned for dainty wrists, but you’d struggle to fit gloves inside. There is a soft backing fabric on the neck, for comfort, but it’s not so fleecy that it’d get soggy. 

In short, for fast road riding in prolonged rain, this is what I’d buy, which is exactly what I did. The one you see here is my own jacket that I paid for with my own money. My only real bugbear is the stuff sack built into one of the front panels. It’s so small as to be basically useless, but the jacket itself is light enough to easily be stuffed into a jersey pocket should the skies clear unexpectedly. 

It's worth noting that Shakedry has now been discontinued, and so this and any other Shakedry product is a critically endangered product. While you can still pick them up, they are soon to be a thing of the past, despite being pretty incredible across the board. 

If you want to read a deep dive into what we think of the Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Gore-Tex Shakedry jacket then we've a full review for you, too.

In terms of out-and-out performance, it doesn’t offer what some high-end jackets in this list can, but for the price it is excellent.

The fabric of the Tempo is the most stretchy and flexible of any jacket in this group test, which makes it extremely comfortable to wear, and the inner material is pretty agreeable next to the skin. It’s a gossamer-light feeling, but given that it has an outer fabric it doesn’t have the fragile feel of the Rapha Shakedry offerings. Given the low weight and packability, it would also double up well as a windbreaker in warmer, dryer conditions. 

The two-way zip is smooth, and the drawstring hem can seal your lower back away from road spray effectively if you’re not running the best road bike mudguards. It did size up quite large though, so opt for your usual jersey size. Even in my usual jersey size, there’s still room for some layers underneath, and it was almost too long in the arms.

If you’re not going to commit to riding in the rain all the time, merely venturing out on occasion, or you need a lightweight option to take with you in case the heavens open, then then the dhb Tempo Aeron 3 is a really solid choice. 

While more expensive than the dhb Aeron, the Endura Pro SL waterproof Shell Jacket fills a similar use. It’s lightweight but feels more sturdy than the dhb and Rapha options. The HiVis yellow colourway is something plenty of cyclists look for in the winter in an effort to stay visible, and this jacket combines this with decent waterproof and breathable credentials. While not a dedicated commuter jacket like the Rapha Commuter or POC Motion, the Pro SL could easily make a great option for both the weekday commute and the weekend club run, especially if you commute on a road bike where the road cut of it will be better for you. 

The fabric is similar to the GV500 gravel waterproof, but a little more breathable, making it more suited to high-tempo riding. There’s a bit of stretch to the fabric, but not a huge amount and the zip is easy to use and double-ended so as to access the jersey pockets. There is a pocket stitched into the left side panel, but to be honest, I didn’t find this overly useful; it’s not secure for anything valuable and in an odd place. One for the odd bar or gel only. 

As with the dhb Aeron, I found myself utilising the Pro SL jacket as a windbreaker too on dry days, especially after dark. Sure, being visible isn’t always the most aesthetic option, but on larger roads, I was definitely glad of it. Go for your usual jersey size here, and you’ll still have room underneath for layers. It’s cut similarly to the Maap Ascend, so if you need to add some insulation you can. One thing that is a potential drawback in the rain is the extremely fleecy collar. While it’s cosy and warm in the dry it can get soggy in the rain, leaving wet material against an area of your skin with a lot of blood flow, which isn’t ideal for staying warm.

The Maap Ascend jacket is typical of a classic road cycling waterproof jacket from the days (not too long ago) before things like Shakedry burst onto the scene. It’s cut from a standard three-layer waterproof material in a sporty, but not overly aggressive cut. The cuffs are elasticated, like the Rapha Core, so can get soggy, and are more likely to go under than over gloves. Despite this, they’re also a little loose without gloves, so I found the wind can get up your wrists.

The material is thicker than most on this list with a bit of stretch, and definitely thicker than all of the road options, and as such it feels a little cosier and a little less breathable. I took it out in an absolute downpour and while it did keep me dry from the outside it was quite a sweaty experience, made slightly worse by the giant rubberised inside label between the shoulder blades that left a matching sweat patch on my back. 

Aesthetically I think it’s hard to beat, with three of the four options offering a departure from the norm in terms of colour options, and thanks to a slightly more roomy cut with space for layering underneath I see this as an ideal option for those very cold rides where you want to keep the air out and know that if it does rain you’ll still be fine. Conversely, doing threshold efforts in it will probably leave you damp from your own perspiration, so it's one for the classic long-and-slow winter riding gang. It comes up a little small, so as per Rapha options you’ll need to size up from your jersey. 

The Ascend is currently on offer at Sigma Sports in the sale with up to 45% off. 

This jacket is overkill for the vast majority of us. As a general rule, if you aren't legally required to swap your car tyres to winter studs each year, then you can probably skip over this bit. If, however, you do live somewhere with monumentally terrible weather then this really is the jacket for you. The outer fabric is Shakedry, making it as impervious to water as the lightweight version above, but the inside is a bright pink Polartech Alpha fleece, adding huge amounts of warmth. Add in a hood to stop water ingress down your neck, and cuffs that are zippered to allow bulky gloves to be housed within them and you’ve got a recipe for a jacket that’s more akin to a survival garment than a cycling waterproof. 

The fit is as per the lightweight version, so size up from your usual jersey. While it doesn't feature pockets itself, it has two vertical zippers on the back panel in order to access whatever resides in your jersey pockets beneath.

Given the price it’s a hard one to recommend unless you absolutely need it, but if you do truly need it, if sleet and snow plague you regularly and nothing else has so far kept you both warm and dry then there really isn't anything else on the market like it. 

No other jacket in this guide is cut as aggressively as the Assos Equipe RS Rain Jacket Targa, hereafter referred to as ‘the Schlosshund’. It is extremely short at the front and long at the back, but more than that the back panel is palpably curved to match the shape of a rider in a race position. While standing it feels like they’ve made it wrong, but while on a bike in an aero position, it makes total sense, and leaves very little material to flap about. 

The waterproof fabric, while a three-layer affair, seems to perform more or less as well as the Shakedry options without feeling quite so flimsy. There’s no way to cinch the lower hem, but it is elasticated up tight and covered in a tacky gripper for its entire circumference, so it’s not ever in a position to be loose and flapping about. 

I did find the raw edges of both the cuffs and neck a little less comfy than I’d have liked, and it did give these areas a slightly unfinished feel, but they were still effective enough. Definitely a jacket for going under gloves, though. 

The zip is clearly premium and works very well indeed. I was between sizes and opted to go up from my usual jersey, which was the right course of action. While it is cut better for being on the bike than the Rapha Shakedry, there is a little more room for layering beneath for an equivalent size, so if you are one for riding in thicker layers, or adding an extra insulating mid layer, then this would be the one to go for over the Rapha option. 

Want to find out more about how the Assos Equipe RS Rain Jacket fared? We've got a review for that.

Best waterproof cycling jackets for gravel

The Albion Zoa Rainshell is the jacket in this list that most closely resembles a general-use, high-performance outdoors waterproof jacket. It’s cut for cycling, but not nearly as much as other options. The dropped tail is subtle, but the hood is equal-best for wearing with a helmet, on a par with the Rapha Trail jacket. In the case of the Albion though, it has a mouldable peak, more akin to what you’d find on a jacket designed for climbing mountains. 

The Pertex Shield Air three-layer waterproof fabric is plenty breathable enough for high-output riding, but not quite so much as the Gore-Tex Infinium of the Rapha Trail. The cut is also a little roomier, allowing some more winter layers underneath if you want to venture out in very cold conditions - I’ve taken it out down to about -15 degrees Celsius, but at this point, it’s more of a test for the mid layers than the shell. 

I see the Zoa rain jacket as ideal for proper backcountry expedition gravel riding, or MTB if that’s your poison. It’s definitely durable enough (I’ve run one for a year and besides a few oil stains it’s held up very well), but the cut lends itself more to a relaxed position, along with the front pockets for storage. My main criticism of the Zoa comes from the cuffs, which have a novel design that doesn’t work as well as a standard Velcro option. The double zip on the pockets is good but don’t pay attention to the marketing that says the pockets are also vents: This is only the case if they’re empty, as if you leave them open when they’re full you’ll lose all your stuff on the trail. I opted for a size up from my usual jersey in this case, because for deep winter use I like to use this and thicker layers beneath, but you can probably get away with your actual jersey size if you want a closer cut.

After considering all the options available the Albion Zoa also came out on top in our recent Cyclingnews Awards. 

The Albion Zoa Rain Shell certainly did well in testing. Go read the full review if you're curious.

The only nominally gravel-specific jacket in this group test (unless you also read MAAP’s ‘Alt_Road’ as also meaning ‘Gravel’), the GV500 is to my mind the best budget option for gravel riding and can mix it with the more expensive options too. The fabric is similar to that of the Pro SL road jacket from the brand but moderately less breathable. While this may sound like a bad thing if you’re really giving it beans (which it is), for those times when you’re standing around looking at the view, or trying to plug a tubeless tyre in bad weather it keeps you a little more protected from the elements. 

The hood is big enough to accommodate a helmet without being restrictive, and the rubberised shoulders for keeping a backpack in place are a well-thought-out touch. The cuffs, like the road jacket, are well designed with a longer flap on the back of the hand to offer additional coverage. The main reason I recommend this over the dhb Trail if both are available at RRP, is that it feels more durable and has slightly better specs. Gravel riding is harder on equipment, and while I haven’t had the chance to see which lasts longer in real-time, my money is on the Endura. Aesthetically I’d rather the zip storm flap was on the inside, but that’s a pretty minor detail. 

Our full review of the Endura GV500 Jacket after countless hours in the rain should cover off any questions you have. 

Much like the dhb Aeron, the dhb Trail jacket represents a quality budget offering for those who brave the rain on occasion rather than regularly venturing out to play on gravel in a deluge. The fabric is most similar to the Rapha Core Rain Jacket, meaning next to the skin it feels quite clammy, but as with most waterproofs (unless you’re using them as a windbreaker too) this is unlikely to happen. 

The RRP is effectively the same as the Endura GV500, but both are regularly discounted and while for the same money, I’d recommend the Endura model, if the dhb Trail is reduced and the Endura isn’t when you’re looking to buy, then the performance is similar enough for the dhb to become the better choice. 

While it’s an MTB jacket, it’s cut well for gravel riding as long as your position isn’t too aggressive. The arms are long enough for the reach of a gravel bike, but the body is a little roomy, meaning anything in the chest pocket may hit your knees if you’re in the drops. The dhb Trail comes up large, so get your usual jersey size to avoid being swamped. 

My major gripe with the dhb Trail was the hood: It’s too small to reasonably go over a helmet without the face box being squashed right against your nose and mouth. It’s fine for short downpours, but for extended ones, you’ll want it under your helmet.