What to Look For in a Bicycle Jacket

A bicycle jacket is a piece of cycling clothing that helps to protect the rider from adverse weather conditions. These include rain, cold temperatures and windy conditions. Cycling jackets are often designed to be worn over the riders base layer and can come in a range of different fabrics and sizes.

There are two types of fabrics used in bicycle jackets – membrane and softshell. Membrane fabrics such as GORE-TEX guarantee high protection from rain and are highly breathable. Softshell fabrics offer good protection from wind and are slightly less breathable. If you are looking for a high-performance membrane jacket that will be suitable for regular use on your cycling trips, we recommend the Endura Pro SL waterproof shell jacket. This is a solid option for commutes and group rides and has features such as a hood that is stowable, dual front and rear pockets and a hi-vis colourway to keep you visible on the road.

A popular middle layer fabric is classic fleece fabric. This is a polyester thermal material that provides warmth and also allows sweat to evaporate, keeping the skin dry. It also has a high warmth-to-weight ratio and is a very lightweight option. This is a good choice for cycling because it can be easily folded and stored in the jersey pocket when not being worn. Other popular middle layer fabrics are wind fleece and wool. The latter are both heavier than classic fleece but have a higher warmth-to-weight ratio and are more durable.