When the temperatures drop or the rain begins to fall, mountain bike jacket can preserve you comfy out on the path. Whether or not for wind, chilly, rain, or the entire above, there are many nice choices available on the market to maintain you using fortunately via the autumn, winter, and spring.

For many mountain bikers, the altering seasons carry cooler temperatures and unsettled climate, together with a few of the greatest using circumstances of the 12 months. Having the suitable gear for the circumstances you’ll encounter might be the distinction between ending your experience moist and chilly or with an enormous smile in your face. Fortunately, there are mountain bike jackets purpose-built for using in climate starting from gentle to wild. From tremendous waterproof rain shells, packable wind layers, breathable water resistant jackets, and even a pair windblock jerseys, we’ve examined 13 nice fashions and have recommendations to maintain you using via cool temperatures, wind, and rain.

After in depth testing in a variety of circumstances, we selected our favorites and people who excel for particular causes/circumstances, adopted by the most effective of the remaining that are all strong choices to contemplate as effectively. To see the specs of all of the fashions we examined aspect by aspect, check out our comparability chart. In case you need assistance deciding what to purchase, our shopping for recommendation particulars the vital issues to contemplate when choosing the proper mountain bike jacket, and our FAQ part gives solutions to frequent questions.

The Greatest Mountain Bike Jackets of 2023

Better of the Relaxation

Mountain Bike Jackets Comparability Chart

Why Ought to You Belief Bikerumor?

The group at Bikerumor consists of cycling-obsessed people who’re scattered round North America and Europe the place most of us encounter all 4 seasons. And, we don’t cease using as a result of the temperatures drop and the climate adjustments. As an alternative, we gear up and get on the market. Using bikes is an enormous a part of the job, in spite of everything, however holding the wheels spinning via fall winter and spring requires the correct gear to maintain it pleasurable, and we have now all realized the significance of getting mountain bike jacket to maintain the chilly, wind, and water from ruining our enjoyable. We’re additionally fortunate to get to check numerous the most effective new gear, so we’ve obtained an inside observe on the most effective mountain bike jackets available on the market.

For our mountain bike jackets purchaser’s information, Bikerumor contributor, Paul Clauss examined the vast majority of the fashions on this assessment. Paul lives in northern Vermont the place using within the fall and spring means coping with cool to frigid temperatures, frequent rain storms, and rain-soaked path circumstances, and having a top quality mountain bike jacket or two is essential to staying heat and/or dry. A mechanical engineer by commerce, Paul can be fairly adept at analyzing designs and constructions and placing merchandise via their paces to find out their efficiency variations. Paul has spent numerous time testing gear this 12 months, together with the greatest mountain bike flat pedal sneakers and the flat pedals to go together with them. Along with Paul’s testing, we additionally drew from Bikerumor’s editorial workers and included a number of merchandise that had been examined by varied members of our group. Relaxation assured, each product included right here has been totally examined for not less than a number of weeks, and in some circumstances many months or extra.

How We Examined Mountain Bike Jackets

We attempt to offer our readers with reliable evaluations to assist inform your buy choices, so each product on this purchaser’s information has been examined in the true world to see the way it performs. To check these mountain bike jackets, we weighed them for consistency and comparability to the producer’s specs and packed them into their smallest packed dimension to see how moveable they had been. We carefully examined the supplies, constructions, seams, and zippers to evaluate the standard of workmanship and a spotlight to element. The match of every mannequin was examined each at residence and, most significantly, out on the path to get a way of how effectively they cowl the physique, transfer with you whilst you experience, and performance on the bike. Options like hoods, pockets, and changes had been analyzed to evaluate their performance and usefulness. And, every mannequin was used for prolonged durations within the temperature and climate circumstances for which it was meant, together with chilly, windy fall days, crisp, frosty mornings, rainstorms, rain showers, and even a couple of hose checks.

Shopping for Recommendation: Tips on how to Select a Mountain Bike Jacket

There are quite a few elements to contemplate when choosing the proper jacket for mountain biking. One of the vital vital is the meant use or the circumstances you’ll be encountering in your fall, winter, and spring rides. This may make it easier to slim down your search to a particular sort of jacket that shall be greatest suited to your wants whether or not that’s wind, water-resistance, or each. After that, different elements like match, supplies, packability, breathability, pockets, options, and value are different issues relying in your particular wants and funds.

Meant Use

The kind of temperature and climate circumstances you plan to be using in shall be a very powerful think about deciding what sort of jacket you want. The jackets we examined vary from light-weight wind shells to burly waterproof rain jackets and fashions that intend to strike a stability between these extremes.

Wind

In case you typically attempt to keep away from using within the rain and easily want one thing to guard you from the chilling chunk of the wind, a wind jacket, or presumably a wind jersey could also be the most effective wager. Wind-resistant jackets are an awesome choice to have for chilly mornings or chilly spring or fall days when it’s typically dry. They’re sometimes light-weight and produced from thinner breathable supplies, and they’re typically fairly packable. Whereas they typically function a sturdy water-repellant (DWR) coating and could be a good possibility in very gentle precipitation and are efficient for dealing with splashes from puddles or mud, they’re normally not meant to be totally waterproof.

Rain

In case you purposefully experience when it’s raining or typically end up getting caught out in rainstorms, then a water-resistant (or extremely water resistant) jacket might be the suitable name. Waterproof jackets sometimes incorporate waterproof membranes into their constructions, which, together with taped seams, intend to fully block all water from making its approach inside. These supplies are nearly at all times handled with a DWR coating to the surface to advertise the water beading operating off versus soaking into the outermost layer of the material. Whereas trendy supplies enable really waterproof jackets to be pretty breathable, they’re typically a bit hotter and fewer breathable than thinner windbreaker choices. An excellent waterproof shell ought to preserve you dry in probably the most excessive moist climate circumstances you’re more likely to encounter on a experience and is a necessity in some areas just like the damp Northeast and Pacific Northwest of the US, or the UK.

Wind and Gentle Rain

For a lot of riders, a easy wind layer will not be fairly sufficient and a full-on rain jacket could also be overkill, so fortunately there are alternatives that fall into the center of the spectrum. These extremely versatile jackets present nice wind safety and a excessive degree of water resistance and are able to keeping off gentle rains, intermittent showers, and tire spray from rain-soaked trails. With a DWR coating and water resistant supplies, these jackets are usually not totally waterproof, however they are going to nonetheless sometimes preserve you dry in most circumstances wanting heavy rain, which most of us attempt to keep away from anyway. In addition they are inclined to dry in a short time, making them an awesome possibility for using on these unsettled days when the climate simply can’t appear to make up its thoughts.

Chilly

In case you experience when it’s actually chilly, you then positively wish to block the wind and also you in all probability additionally need some insulation. Each wind and waterproof jackets will add a layer of safety from the wind that takes the sting off the coolness, and sensible layering beneath is among the greatest methods to gear up for a winter experience, much like going snowboarding. Normally, the thicker supplies used on waterproof jackets will present a contact extra heat than gentle wind layers. When it’s actually, actually chilly, many individuals will go for insulated jackets or mid-layers to assist keep physique warmth. Whereas we didn’t check any insulated jackets, there are many nice choices available on the market.

Supplies

Mountain bike jackets are produced from a wide range of supplies relying on the meant use. These vary from superlight wind-blocking materials to heavy-duty totally waterproof supplies. Wind jackets have the best job and are typically produced from light-weight, stretch nylon or polyester that solely goals to dam the wind and/or splashes from puddles. These supplies are sometimes handled with a DWR to assist shed gentle quantities of water. Examples of wind jackets we examined are the Rapha Path Light-weight and the Fox Ranger Wind Pullover.

Waterproof jackets are sometimes produced from extra superior materials that embody waterproof membranes just like the Gore-Tex PACLITE used within the Gorewear Endure, or the ExoShell 40DR used within the Endura MT500 Waterproof Jacket II, as examples. Waterproof materials range in weight, thickness, breathability, and even water resistance, and whereas all of them get the job executed, they don’t seem to be created equal. Jackets produced from waterproof supplies sometimes have a few numbers related to them, like 10K/10K, that present scores for waterproofness and breathability, respectively. These numbers are derived by lab checks to find out the place they land on the ranking scale. The upper the numbers, the extra waterproof and breathable a cloth is, and vice versa. Moreover, these supplies are nearly at all times handled with a DWR to shed water on the floor.

In between the lighter wind supplies and the fully waterproof choices are these which can be wind-blocking and extremely water resistant. These are basically a hybrid of the 2. Whereas not fully waterproof, these jackets are sometimes a bit lighter, extra simply packable, and extra breathable than rain jackets whereas nonetheless offering sufficient water resistance for many conditions. Gore-Tex Infinium is a generally used membrane discovered within the Rapha Path Gore-Tex Infinium Jacket and elements of the Gorewear Lupra Jacket that blocks wind and repels water effectively in most conditions wanting correct downpours. Likewise, the Patagonia Filth Roamer Jacket works equally with an awesome DWR that sheds water very successfully, however solely up to a degree.

Sturdy Water-Repellant (DWR)

DWR remedies/coating/finishes have been round for a few years and they’re a therapy utilized to the surface of most jackets that causes water to bead up and run off of the fabric versus soaking in. These remedies work very successfully when clothes are new, nevertheless, they do break down over time, use, and publicity to the solar, water, mud, grime, and many others. When this occurs, you’ll discover the outermost layer of the fabric might start to “moist out” or soak up a few of the water on the floor. With a really waterproof membrane beneath, you’ll nonetheless keep dry, however this may have an hostile impact on the fabric’s breathability. Usually, merely washing your jacket will help to revitalize the DWR, however finally, it’s going to in all probability should be reapplied. Nikwax makes a variety of wash-in DWR replenishment merchandise to be used at residence that work fairly effectively and there are technical gear cleaners that might be able to do it for you. Earlier than doing any at-home DWR remedies, nevertheless, we suggest checking with the producer for particular suggestions.

When DWR remedies first got here out, they had been largely produced from “ceaselessly chemical compounds” that had poisonous by-products that persist within the setting and are “presumably carcinogenic” in accordance with the Worldwide Company for Analysis on Most cancers. These chemical compounds, sometimes called PFAs and/or PFCs had been even banned in lots of nations. Manufacturers have been looking for options, and nowadays most firms are claiming to make use of PFC-free or non-toxic DWR remedies on their clothes.

Match

Like all outerwear, a jacket ought to match effectively and permit a full vary of movement on and off the bike. Many of the jackets we examined have mountain bike particular suits optimized for using – a slim midsection, articulated arms, gusseted underarms, an prolonged rear waist hem to maintain your hindquarters dry, and a big hood to be used with helmets. The suits are tailor-made however relaxed – unfastened sufficient to be comfy on and off the bike and layer underneat, however streamlined sufficient to not flap round excessively, fall over your arms, or catch in your seat whereas using. 

For mountain biking, we’ve discovered that it’s vital to get the suitable dimension, as a jacket that’s too small can limit motion or be uncomfortable and one that’s too giant would possibly flap excessively within the wind, snag in your saddle, or have sleeves that stretch down too far over your arms. Normally, going with the identical dimension you normally purchase for jerseys or informal put on will in all probability work effectively, however not at all times. When doubtful, test your measurements and reference a model’s dimension chart. Some manufacturers present photos of fashions together with their dimensions and the dimensions they’re sporting for reference. And, if doable, making an attempt one thing on before you purchase is at all times one of the simplest ways to make sure you get one thing that matches.

We have now seen previously few years that many manufacturers’ sizing has been trending slightly bigger than it used to. For instance, one in every of our testers is a 6-foot-tall male who has been a dimension Giant high for so long as he can bear in mind. Not too long ago, he has been simply and comfortably becoming into dimension Medium jerseys and jackets, even supposing his physique dimension hasn’t modified. That stated, it’s price double-checking dimension charts before you purchase, or shopping for one thing that may simply be returned or exchanged if it doesn’t match fairly proper.

Options

Like the kind of jacket, the options you want or need might range relying on the meant use. Most wind and rain jackets function hoods, a number of pockets, air flow, and a wide range of changes to dial them into your wants or the circumstances.

Hood

All the jackets we examined have one factor in frequent, a hood. Not all hoods are created equal, in fact, and a few are executed much better than others. Issues we search for in a hood on a mountain bike jacket are the flexibility for it to suit over a helmet comfortably and securely, adjustability, and for it to maneuver together with your head with out constricting or entering into the peripheral imaginative and prescient. In fact, it’s additionally good once they tuck away neatly and/or sit comfortably behind the pinnacle when not in use.

Pockets

Relying on what you want to hold with you if you experience, pockets might or will not be an enormous consideration. The jackets we examined range significantly within the quantity, placement, and storage capability of their pockets. In case you’re a minimalist otherwise you carry most of your necessities in shorts/pants pockets, cargo bib pockets, in-frame storage, or a pack of some form, then a jacket with a single pocket is likely to be simply effective to your wants. If you wish to carry a cellphone, pockets, keys, snacks, and instruments in your jacket, you then’ll in all probability wish to search for one thing with a number of pockets and ample cupboard space. The Endura MT500 Waterproof Jacket II has probably the most pockets and storage capability of all of the fashions we examined, plus they’re effectively executed and designed to remain out of the way in which of pack straps.

Wrist Cuffs

Wrist cuff designs range by model and meant use of the jacket. Most mountain bike jackets have prolonged cuffs that cling slightly farther than regular so that they don’t experience up if you’re leaning ahead and to cowl the again of the wrist/backside of gloves. Some have elastic to maintain them semi-tightened across the wrist whereas others are adjustable via velcro straps. What works greatest for you’ll rely upon the circumstances you’re using in and the way you need them to interface together with your gloves (if you happen to put on them). If, for instance, you’re using in extraordinarily moist or chilly circumstances, you might have considered trying to have the ability to tighten the wrist cuff round your gloves to seal out the water or frigid air.

Drawcord Hem

The vast majority of mountain bike jackets have a drawcord hem that can be utilized to cinch the underside of the jacket tight across the physique. Whereas many riders might by no means really feel the necessity to use such an adjustment, it’s a good function to have on significantly chilly or moist days to stop chilly air or water/mud from getting into up via the underside of the jacket.

Air flow

Many jackets depend on the breathability of the supplies to permit warmth and moisture to flee. Usually, particularly within the case of rain-specific jackets, that isn’t sufficient, so some have armpit and/or pocket vents constructed into their designs. Vents could be a nice function to evacuate body-generated warmth if/when the fabric can’t do it for you. In fact, unzipping the entrance zipper can be a wonderful approach to get some air flowing contained in the jacket. Each the Endura Singletrack II and the MT500 Waterproof II function air flow. Including vents to a jacket does have the hostile impact of including weight and lowering packability.

Breathability

After we experience we generate physique warmth and perspire, even when it’s chilly and/or wet. That is very true when using with a jacket as most are usually not practically as breathable as using with out one. And, when using within the chilly, being moist with sweat could make you are feeling even colder if you end up within the wind or begin using downhill. Regulating temperature is hard, and one thing that the consumer wants to remain on high of as a result of even probably the most breathable waterproof material nonetheless finally ends up trapping user-generated warmth and moisture. Some materials carry out a lot better on this regard, successfully permitting your warmth and moisture to flee whereas holding chilling wind and water from getting in, whereas others are a bit stuffier and really feel moist on the within. The Patagonia Filth Roamer Jacket is impressively breathable and helps to take care of a constant consolation degree contained in the jacket, making it simpler to go away on on a regular basis with out overheating or getting drenched in sweat.

Packability

For these amongst us who prefer to carry a jacket on a experience within the off probability it would rain or as a result of you’ll be taking it off the climbs and placing it again on for the descents, packability, and weight, is a vital consideration. Our cupboard space, whether or not it’s in a fanny pack, backpack, cargo bib pocket, or in-frame storage, is comparatively finite, so having the ability to pack your jacket right down to a compact dimension that matches in that area is crucial. For these carrying a jacket, weight can be a priority, and sometimes, the lighter the higher.

In terms of packability, the lighter wind jackets sometimes take the cake. For instance, the Rapha Path Light-weight jacket weighs simply 160 grams (dimension S) and packs into the chest pocket to a tiny dimension. Moreover, it comes with a strap that can be utilized to stash it in your body when not in use. Likewise, the Patagonia Filth Roamer Jacket weighs simply 219 grams (dimension S), stuffs into its personal pocket, and is roughly the dimensions of a 20-ounce water bottle.

In distinction, the thicker supplies utilized in most waterproof jackets make them a bit heavier and so they aren’t capable of pack down fairly as small. The exception to this rule is the Gorewear Endure which is made with Gore-Tex PACLITE, weighs simply 280 grams (dimension S), and is about as packable as totally waterproof jackets get. On the flip aspect of that coin is the Endura MT500 Waterproof Jacket II which weighs 550 grams (dimension M) and can be practically unimaginable to suit right into a fanny pack if you happen to needed to take it off.

Wind Jerseys

Together with the ten jackets we examined, we included two wind-blocking jerseys as options for cool-weather using. Whereas they’re clearly not jackets, a wind-blocking long-sleeve jersey might be the right layer to put on on cool days when all you really want is to take the chunk out of the wind to remain comfy. The 2 choices we examined, the Rapha Path Windblock Jersey and the Mons Royale Tarn Merino Shift Wind Jersey, each function merino wool mix materials that comprise the principle physique, coated by a wind-blocking nylon entrance panel to maintain the wind off your torso. We discovered each of those jerseys to be glorious for cool temperatures the place you generate some physique warmth on the climbs however would possibly catch a chill on the decents. They proved to be exceptionally versatile items that get numerous use within the fall and spring.

Worth

There’s a giant variation in value between the jacket fashions we examined, and like the rest within the sport of mountain biking, they are often fairly costly. Spending extra on a jacket sometimes will get you greater high quality supplies, building, or one thing distinctive that excels in a particular approach like waterproofness or packability (possibly each). Different instances it will get you these issues plus a model title. Whereas we definitely love wanting fancy in costly gear, we additionally admire worth, and we all know numerous different individuals do too. So, positive, you possibly can spend $330 to get the bombproof Endura MT500 Waterproof Jacket II, or it can save you over 100 bucks and get the Endura Singletrack II which performs practically on par with its costlier sibling. Sure, the Singletrack II isn’t technically as waterproof because the MT500, nevertheless it’s obtained to be so depressing outdoors to matter that you simply in all probability shouldn’t be on the market anyway. Equally, the Fox Ranger 2.5L Water Jacket prices even much less and will get the job executed whereas wanting fairly snappy in addition. And, if you happen to’re solely on the lookout for a wind jacket, the Fox Ranger Wind Pullover is the least costly possibility we examined, but it performs effectively whereas having an informal model that doesn’t pigeonhole it as strictly a using piece.

Often Requested Questions About Mountain Bike Jackets