The Best Cycling Jackets: Staff Picks

This relatively new piece from venerated outerwear brand Showers Pass is a worthy contender for many performance categories ranging from best packable jacket to best all-around rainwear. Because it weighs less than 10 ounces and packs up into its own pocket, you'll never hesitate to bring it along for weather protection.

There's more to the Cloudburst, though, than its outstanding packability. Product Specialist Chris Cook of the co-op's Seattle-area sales and customer service team says, "The biggest selling point for the Cloudburst is how breathable it is compared to other high-performance rain jackets." The secret breathability sauce is the brand's proprietary eliteAIR™ fabric, which Cook says offers another key trait: "This fabric's 4-way stretch is rare among performance rainwear materials, so the Cloudburst is one of the most comfortable jackets you can get."

Cycling Specialist Dave Delo in the Tacoma, Washington, REI store has owned several Showers Pass jackets and has his eye on the Cloudburst for his next purchase. "I want something that's light, windproof and rainproof, and I can easily throw in my back pocket. The Cloudburst fits that niche perfectly, and it's exactly the right weight and cost for me."

Cloudburst has other noteworthy performance touches, including an aerodynamic fit, fully taped seams, a rain flap covering the front zip, a drawcord hem and reflective accents. The large back pocket doubles as a storage pouch to hold snacks or other essentials, and two mesh-lined hand pockets double as vents if the need arises.

Convertible jackets like this one offer an alternative strategy for cool and potentially misty conditions. Fully put together, the Quest Barrier Convertible Jacket offers water- and wind-resistant coverage in sizes that run to XXXL. When the weather hits that tweener stage where core wind protection is precisely what you need—and nothing more—you can zip off the Quest Convertible's sleeves and stash them in the zippered back pocket. Now you have a wind vest rather than a full-blown wind jacket.

One Southern California customer recounts a ride that took full advantage of that adaptability: "The jacket provided protection against strong ocean headwinds and temps in the low 50's. When rolling in 70-degree temps, I simply unzipped the sleeves and enjoyed the cooling breeze against my arms."

One feature that makes this jacket stand out in both the men's and women's styles is PEARL iZUMi's BioViz^® technology. The brand has always been at the forefront of visibility research. In 1990, the brand developed its iconic screaming-yellow color (available in both the men's and women's styles of this jacket), which is up to 300% brighter than the brightest whites. BioViz delivers day and night visibility with a range of tactics, like the way this jacket pairs super-fluorescent colors with reflective trims that pop when headlights hit them.

The women's Quest Barrier Convertible Jacket differs from the men's in one small but important detail. The sleeves attach with snaps rather than zippers, which are easier to attach with cold fingers, according to Larisa Castille, a sales specialist at the REI Co-op store in Encinitas, Calif., who wore the previous version through years of bike commuting.

For both, customer reviewers offer a consistent fit tip: The sizing runs a bit small, so if you're between sizes, go bigger.

Headwinds happen, but then so do rain showers, which is why some rides call for full-blown waterproof/breathable protection. It's rare to find that level of weather technology at this price, which makes the REI Co-op Junction Cycling Rain Jacket an impressive buy. The fact that the jacket features both recycled and bluesign^®-approved materials is also noteworthy because choosing items with sustainable attributes sometimes requires us to be willing to pay a little more to aid the cause.

Coverage on the Junction jacket includes waterproof zippers throughout (with rain flaps), a longer cut in the rear and on the back of the cuffs, and a hood that adjusts to fit over a helmet. The hood, which stows in the collar when not needed, distinguishes this year's jacket from its predecessor (women's and men's), which customers consistently praised for being both lightweight and waterproof.

Reviews of this hooded Junction are also positive. A Chicago rider who uses it with a base layer underneath has this to say: "Overall, it is perfect for my needs. My bike is my main mode of transport, and I will be wearing this every day."

The first thing you notice about the Dirt Roamer Storm is how stretchy it is, which lets you comfortably contort whenever a tricky section of trail requires it. During shoulder seasons when weather can be a mixed bag, this waterproof breathable jacket is one that you can put on at the trailhead and leave on for the entire ride.

The jacket's nylon outer fabric has a PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) to fend off light showers. That shell also guards against windchill on steep descents. A knit liner adds a touch of warmth on cool days, while also wicking away sweat when you have to grind up a vertical section of trail. The Dirt Roamer Storm's measured degree of weather protection doesn't come at the expense of breathability either, which means you won't overheat.

When you do need to take it off, this mountain biking jackets stows neatly into its own lower-back pocket to minimize the space in your pack. Other nice touches: an easily adjusted hood that fits over a helmet, and a rear drop pocket that's V-shaped to center the weight as you ride.

Patagonia, long venerated for its sustainability initiatives, is true to its brand here, too. The Dirt Roamer Storm's shell fabric is made from recycled nylon and the final jacket was sewn in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory.

The lofty initial promise of soft-shell fabric was that a single jacket could handle all conditions. But performance tradeoffs are inevitable, so designs have evolved over the years. A worthy refinement of the genre, the REI Co-op Hybrid Cycling Jacket handles a range of riding conditions, thanks to REI Co-op designers carefully mapping out the placement of technical fabrics. Front-facing panels are a water-resistant nylon/spandex that sloughs off both rain and headwinds. Rear-facing panels are a polyester/spandex that breathes freely, wicks away sweat and dries quickly. Four-way stretch throughout makes movement free and easy.

Cycling specialist Molly Miller in the Norwalk, Connecticut, REI store, says the Junction Hybrid is a local favorite among staff and customers. "Around here you get a lot of misty mornings. It's got just enough water resistance to keep you dry in those conditions—or in a light rain—without being a full-on muggy raincoat," she says. "It's also really sleek looking, so a lot of our customers wear it as a crossover piece for both riding and as an all-around jacket for inclement weather. Several customers have also worn theirs to go hiking."

The Junction Hybrid also has some subtle touches that Miller lauds, like "added length in back to cover your butt when you ride, reflective stripes for visibility and a stormflap over the front zipper to keep rain out. I also love how stretchy it is and the way that it fits."