12 best men’s cycling jackets for autumn/winter that protect against the elements

If you get lost wearing this fantastic jacket, there’s a chance you could use it to find your way home. The reflective coating – showing segments of maps from 11 cities including Newcastle and London – shines bright silver in headlights. But it’s much better as a cycling jacket than as a navigational aid. Fully waterproof, breathable, and with two huge zip-up vents, it will keep both heavy rain and sweat at bay.

There are some great details such as a zip-off hood and reinforced shoulder panels to stop your backpack from rubbing the fabric. All the seams are taped and there’s a decent-sized storm flap behind the main zip. It’s got two zipped side pockets, plus another at the chest where you can stow your phone or wallet. Pair it with some decent waterproof trousers and you’ll be able to ride on through everything the great British weather can throw at you. It’s expensive but is a great investment for serious cycle commuters.

Here’s something different – a softshell with short sleeves. Fully waterproof, it has a polyurethane storm flap, cuffs, and zip backing to stop rain from getting in. It uses Polartec’s clever “power shield” fabric that’s nice and breathable yet repels both the wind and the rain. There are some fine details including a waterproof zipped rear pocket, drain holes on the two side pockets, and broad orange stripes down the back and on the shoulder for extra visibility.

It works best when paired with a sleeveless base layer and decent pair of waterproof arm warmers on those autumn and spring rides that are a bit warm for a full jacket but too damp for just a long-sleeved jersey. It’s a racy, Italian cut so you may need to go up a size. We have used the long-sleeved version of this one for a couple of winters and it’s been a great cycling companion.

This one has been our go-to jacket for loads of short trips to the shops and fun family rides. It’s also seen a surprising amount of use off the bike, especially when rain has threatened, as it just looks like a normal jacket. Despite its subtle design, it does have bike-friendly features including a two-way zipper so you can ease it open at the waist when in the saddle.

There’s also a hidden air vent across the shoulders plus a big zipped cargo pocket at the back where you can carry lighter objects such as gloves. It has a hood for use off the bike, and it’s rated 10k waterproof. We found it worked really well over normal clothes – never too sweaty, never letting in water – making it great for commuting… as you’d expect given the name.

If you are looking for a winter training jacket, this one is superb. It’s windproof, water-resistant, and includes high-vis and reflective details. It’s well stitched together too, with a form-fitting design that will help you to cut through the wind with no annoying flapping material.

A range of Italian-made fabrics has been used on this jacket to accommodate different needs in each area. There’s a heavier, quilted one to keep chills off your chest, while the breathable but water-resistant fabric is used at the back to help the rain runoff. You can tell the designers have spent a lot of time riding in winter as there’s a nice long tail to keep road spray off your backside. There are four rear pockets to carry your snacks and ride essentials, including one with a zip for valuables.

This jacket is light enough to carry in a pocket on summer training rides but tough enough to keep the bad weather at bay. If you are using it in the wilds of winter you will have to layer up accordingly underneath it – it’s a pure wind and rain shell, so there is no insulating layer to help keep you warm. That three-layer fabric with its taped seams does a great job of keeping the rain out, and you can reproof it easily when it eventually starts to lose its water-repelling abilities.

The fit is quite neat, in line with it being a racy product, and we found it a little restrictive across the chest when walking around but fine once in the saddle. A wide and grippy waistband helps to hold it in place, and there’s a two-way zip for comfort and extra ventilation. It’s available in both blue and the bright orange color we tried.

If you have never seen the brand’s “reflect 360” fabric in car headlights at night, prepare to be amazed. At the merest hint of photons, it transforms from dull grey to an astonishing silvery white. Proviz makes jackets that are fully reflective, but this one only has it across the upper arms and shoulders and again at the lower back. There are a shoulder vent and thin mesh liner to help stop you from getting too sweaty as you pedal, and the polyester fabric is rated 10k waterproof. Extra features include a fleecy collar for comfort, zipped side pockets, and Velcro adjusters on the cuffs. It’s a generous cut, so you’ll have no problems wearing work clothes under it if using it for commuting.

This softshell is a fantastic wind stopper rather than being waterproof. That said, it’s kept us warm and dry when we have used it on showery training rides. The stretchy fabric allows for a nice tight fit with nothing flapping around annoyingly as you pick up speed. There’s a cozy fleece lining that feels great against your skin, so you can wear it with just a short-sleeved base layer underneath it on warmer days.

A high collar, elasticated wrists, and grippy waistband keep chills out, and there are four pockets at the back, including a zipped one for valuables. The outer rear pockets are quite narrow, but the middle one is big enough to take your phone inside a case. You can buy it in black or blue, but if you really want to stand out on autumn and winter rides go for the fluo yellow.

If you’re going to be racking up the training miles over the winter, this jacket will be your best friend. As you would expect at this price, it’s a fully waterproof number with taped seams that you can combine with a base layer and/or a jersey to see you through the wilds of winter. On the milder rides, the breathable membrane in the fabric did a fantastic job of stopping us from getting too sweaty.

There are no pockets but you do get covered slits you can put your hands through to reach items in your jersey. A double zip helps you alter the fit or get extra ventilation on the go, and the bright yellow color and thick reflective stripe down the back will help you get noticed in the murk. It’s a bit more substantial than many racy rain jackets on the market, but you can still roll it up and stow it in a jersey pocket when the weather brightens.

If you still like to ride hard when temperatures drop, you might find some traditional winter jackets a bit bulky. This insulated offering from Rapha is surprisingly light and thin thanks to its use of Polartec’s low-bulk “alpha” material. There’s a layer of it beneath the windproof forward-facing sections to keep the chill off your chest and arms, while the back is more breathable. A double zip helps you to fine-tune ventilation as you ride, while a nice feature is the elasticated mini-pump loop in one of the four pockets. It’s a neat, racy fit so you might need to go up one size from your usual. If you want a color that stands out, take a look at the fantastic dark green we tested.

This one combines the insulation of a jersey with the water-resistance of a jacket. The durable water repellent (DWR) coating helps water to bead and runoff, making it perfect on cooler rides with brief showers, especially when layered with a winter base layer. It’s also lightweight enough to wear it like a jersey under a waterproof layer on really wet days. There are two main pockets at the back, a narrow sleeve where you can carry a mini pump, plus a zipped compartment. We loved the lip over the pockets which stop water from getting in. There’s a dropped tail to keep your seat dry and the sleeve cuffs fit tightly enough to ward off any chills. We rated the grenadine shade we tried – check it out if you are looking for something a bit different.

With super-bright reflective dots on the sleeves and down the sides and back, this one’s really good for those dark commutes. The cut is generous enough that you’ll easily be able to wear your normal clothes underneath, and you can adjust the sleeves and tail to suit you. Altura has loaded it up with a range of pockets – two at the sides, a big one at the back, and another on the chest. If you’re planning on riding in foul weather you’ll be glad to hear it’s fully waterproof with taped seams and a protected zip. You needn’t worry about overheating either as there are zipped vents under the arms.

You could wear this one on your daily commute and then pull it on again for weekend training or touring rides – pick the right color and it won’t scream cyclist when you’re popping down to the shops either. It’s a bit too bulky to carry in a jersey pocket as an emergency rain cape but will serve you well when the rain’s set in for the day. There are hidden vents at the armpits and across the back for ventilation, plus a fold-down rain flap at the rear that’s held in place by magnets when you don’t need it. The 100 percent polyester fabric is rated an excellent 15k for both waterproofing and breathability, and certainly didn’t let any rain in on our leisurely trips around town. The cut is just about perfect for a commuter jacket, with enough room for your work clothes without it flapping in the breeze.