Waterproof jackets are one of the main pieces of kit you’ll own if you ride regularly, and it’s worth spending a bit of money on one, as the payoff in terms of comfort will be immense. There’s nothing worse than feeling soaked with rain or sweat halfway into your ride.
However, the price range is huge, and varies from entry level jackets around £30 all the way up to over £300. Within this, there will be a huge variety of jackets designed for various purposes, with differing levels of tech.
As with most cycling kit, choose the option that suits the majority of riding you’ll be doing, and a realistic budget. Jackets may seem expensive, particularly if you just want to use it for your daily commute, but they are one of those garments where you really do get what you pay for. There will always be a trade-off.
If you need a jacket for cycling to work with a rucksack, for example, a tight fitting roady jacket might not be the ideal option. Likewise if you have a long way to ride and tend to pedal hard, a jacket from the lower end of the scale may make you feel like boil-in-the-bag cyclist.
