BEST COMMUTER CYCLING JACKETS
Riding to work on one of the best commuter bikes instead of driving can be hugely rewarding. Not only do you save money on fuel, parking, and potentially a lot more if you ditch the car entirely, but you get bonus health benefits too. In the winter though it can be a pretty miserable affair, but it doesn’t have to be.
Luckily for you, I spend a lot of time riding to and from the office, as well as around town, to friends… I don’t have a car, so every journey is a chance to find out what works and what doesn’t.
Commuter jackets have to work well off the bike too. Sure, if you’re zooming into work and bagging KOM/QOMs en route then you may well be better off with one of the best winter cycling jackets, or one of the best waterproof cycling jackets (in which there are a few commuter-oriented pieces already). Here though I’ve focussed on jackets that’ll allow you to ride in comfort and not have to think too hard about bringing an entirely separate wardrobe; the less you can carry the more enjoyable your commute will be in my eyes.
One last thing – Commuting means you’ll be mixing it with rush hour traffic, so safety first; be sure to check out our guides to the best bike lights and the best commuter helmets, and make sure you’ve got one of the best bike locks so you don’t end up on a bus home.
Quick List
Sturdy, protective, dependable, and with a visual package that works as well around town as it does on the bike. Pit vents help keep the temperature down, and the colours are great too, even if my one is all black.
For the price this jacket packs a lot in. The colour selection is a little reduced, but you still get a stowable hood, reflective tail, well sealed cuffs, a waterproof zip and a vented back. It’s not the most breathable though, so don’t hammer it too hard.
3. Rapha Insulated Overshirt
A product I was sceptical of and have come to use almost daily. A windproof exterior, and a front insulated inside with amazing Polartech Alpha, in a package that looks this good is really hard to beat.
4. Provis Reflect360 Plus
If you want to be seen then there isn’t really anything that comes close to the Provis Reflect360 Plus. It’s not the most comfy, or the most breathable (despite hundreds of perforations), but you’ll shine like a beacon.
5. Rapha Explore Lightweight Down Jacket
A pared-back version of the brand’s thicker down jacket. It’s meant to be designed for bikepacking, but I love it on frosty commutes, and it stuffs down very small indeed if you don’t need it on the way home.
6. POC Motion Wind Jacket
If you just need something to take a bit of the chill off then the POC Motion Wind Jacket is perfect. Thin, stretchy, surprisingly breathable, and unlike many wind jackets it doesn’t feel like wearing a bin bag.
The best commuter cycling jackets available today
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A commute by bike encompasses many different demands. For some, it’s a smash fest and a normal road jacket suffices. For others it’s a slower affair, or electrically assisted, so the same level of breathability isn’t needed. Some will be riding only a short distance and will want to be able to step off the bike straight to their desk, so it has to look ‘normal’. Some will only commute in dry weather, so don’t need a waterproof at all. I’ve tried to cover all the bases, and I’ve tested more or less every one of these scenarios over the last few months.
Best Overall
The POC Motion Rain Jacket is my pick for the best commuter cycling jacket. As usual for my pick of ‘best overall’ it takes the top spot because it does many things pretty well, rather than doing one thing exceptionally.
The main thing that endears me to it is its dependability; commuting is harder on jackets than normal riding. Backpacks rub, they get stuffed into bags, hung on handlebars in office bike stores, run over by swivel chairs, and generally misused. The face fabric of the Motion is thicker than you’ll find on road waterproof jackets, and it really holds up to daily use.
The hood doesn’t have any adjustments, but much like the hood on the Motion Wind Jacket (more on that later) it’s snug fitting and works well under a hood by dint of it being free from toggles and elastic.
If you’re hunting Strava segments then you’ll probably get a little warm, but for more normal commute efforts it’s spot on for breathability, and the pit perforations do help a little too. The fit is casual, without being too baggy, and POC always does a decent job of making the arms long enough. You can easily layer under it on a cold day, and it’ll never look out of place if you head to to the pub after work for a drink.
I am not a mountain biker, but it certainly has the feel of a jacket that would work well on the trails too. There are no side pockets, which isn’t a massive issue for commuting, and means if you are wearing a backpack with a waist belt or a hip pack, then the webbing isn’t going to be pressing a zip into your hips.
My only real bugbear is that the main zip isn’t waterproof. The internal storm flap, folded neatly to stop it catching in the zip, does keep water out, but it would be a pretty easy swap to make on the design room floor.
Best Budget
Sadly the colour palette for the Rapha Commuter jacket has reduced somewhat since my tester landed. I have a handsome red, and many other colours were available, but now it’s only three. Two monochrome, and one highly visible pink option.
Regardless of the reduced colour options, this is to my mind the best budget commuter cycling jacket. For the price, you get a decently protective shell, which is the main thing. It’s not something I’d want to ride for hours in the rain in, but if you’re only commuting for half an hour it’s perfectly adequate. The cut is trim, but not anything approaching ‘race’ so you can throw it over your officewear, and the tail is long enough to keep your rear end dry, provided you’re on a relatively upright machine and not a slammed road bike with classic drops on.
The cuffs do a great job of keeping the elements out without needing a cinch, though the elastic can get a bit soggy in heavy rain. The winning feature for me though is the cinchable hood. Most jackets don’t have this, and it’s transformative when using it just as a wind jacket; no more wind sock dragging your neck back. It’s not the best hood stowage, but it’s a darn sight better than nothing.
If you’re only commuting relatively infrequently, even more so in inclement weather, then you can probably get away with a cheaper jacket for those ‘just in case’ days, but for more frequent rides paying a little more is going to net you something more enjoyable to use. My main bugbears here are the zip (very sticky, though well waterproofed), and the lining, which is very clammy against bare skin.
Head to our Rapha Commuter Jacket review for all the finer details.
Most Stylish
While this isn’t a ‘jacket’ in the truest sense, the Rapha Insulated Overshirt almost immediately became a wardrobe staple. From the outside you wouldn’t know it’s a garment designed for cycling; it is simply a neat, well-tailored overshirt. The navy-only colour scheme, including all the finishing hardware, keeps things neat, but I would like to see some other colour options down the line.
Inside though, the lining of the leading edges (the arms and the chest panels specifically) are insulated with Polartech Alpha, the latest and greatest in fleecy tech. It does an excellent job of keeping the wind off and the heat in while flying through the city, which it’s open-pile enough to breathe when the time comes. Easy poppers mean you can dump heat if necessary, and the back is uninsulated, to help avoid the almost impossible to avoid sweaty back when riding with a backpack.
The cuff poppers are neat, allowing you to seal more wind out, though the arms are a little short for me – Nearly every top I test has this issue though as I have long arms for my size.
If you are after something you can throw on over a shirt to keep the chill at bay and walk straight into a meeting in, this is the one for you*
*I have no idea what your office dress code is, so if you get written up then it’s on you!
Most Visible
If you’ve already begun your commuter journey, or come to think of it if you drive in a place with plenty of cyclists, you’ve almost certainly already seen one of these. It’s by far and away the most visible cycling jacket on the market, and in a segment of cycling where safety is a greater priority, this alone warrants its inclusion in this list.
As a jacket, it’s not hugely pleasant to wear. The material rustles, the fit is baggy, and it’s not all that breathable, but the times when I used it at night I did feel safer, which went a long way to offset the increased sweatiness. When any light source hits you, be that a bike light, the headlights of a car, or even bright street lighting, the all-over silver coating lights you up like a Christmas tree to all viewers. The reflectivity is created by loads of tiny beads – pictures don’t do it justice I’m afraid.
The ‘Plus’ model is the one to go for rather than the standard. It’s twice as waterproof (10,000mm vs 5,000mm), and more breathable too thanks to perforations in the outer fabric.
One thing that is also worth applauding is the huge size range on offer. Cycling is oftentimes not inclusive to all bodies, especially at larger size ranges. To offer a 5XL is commendable, and will undoubtedly help open active transport up to more people.
Warmest
If you read the words ‘explore’, ‘lightweight’, and ‘down’, you’d be forgiven for assuming you’ve stumbled on a bikepacking-focused buyer’s guide. This is, technically speaking, a jacket aimed at those who take the #RoadLessTravelled and #PackLightTravelFar, but I have found it works brilliantly on my #Commute.
Often my commute is a tale of two very different rides – A frosty morning chill, and a more temperate afternoon spin home. For the cold starts, I find the Rapha Explore Lightweight Down Jacket to be the perfect thing to chuck on, especially if your commute is short enough that you never really get time to properly warm up.
The fill is pretty minimal in thickness by mini puffy jacket standards, but if it was any thicker it would be too hot for anything but sub-zero riding. The hood is free from insulation entirely and fits great under a helmet if you need a bit of extra wind protection. Likewise, the cuffs and shoulders are down-free. The former means the down doesn’t get waterlogged if the cuffs peek out from beneath a waterproof, and the latter means that your backpack straps don’t crush the feathers to the point of uselessness.
All of this means it packs down very small into its included stuff sack, meaning if you only use it on your morning commute it can very easily get chucked in your backpack for the homeward leg.
Finally, as with many of the jackets here, it looks great off the bike too, so if your dress code allows it’s not going to mark you out as a cyclist as you discuss #Synergy and #MergersAndAcquisitions over the water cooler.
Best Wind Jacket
In much the same way as the Rapha down jacket in this list, the POC Motion Wind Jacket has really shone on days with cooler starts and warmer homeward journeys, just the overall temperature range is warmer. It does a fantastic job of taking the chill off, without leaving you nearly as prone to overheating as if you threw on a waterproof shell.
It looks great, it’s brilliantly stretchy which makes it extremely comfortable, and the fit is great too, especially if you’re long in the arms like me; POC is great for us lanky types. The cuffs are also angled so more material covers the back of your hand. This makes more sense on a flat bar bike but also adds a slightly more techy aesthetic.
A double zip helps you access jersey pockets if it’s going over ‘proper’ cycling kit, though I found it better for temperature adjustments. I find a little bit of undone top and bottom is far more preferable to a lot of undone from the top, which ends up creating a windsock effect.
Speaking of which, the hood is great under a helmet, but as it’s a jacket you’ll primarily use in the dry the hood could really do with a way to stow it away. In all honesty, I could do without it altogether, though I do like the way it looks from an aesthetic standpoint.
In terms of versatility, you could well use this on gravel rides as well as wandering around town, but for me, it works best both visually and in terms of performance, with some cycling trousers for urban riding.
Also Tested
I’m sure many of you reading this are coming to cycling to work with a solid grounding in road riding. If you’re looking for a jacket that will cover you for both the Mon-Fri commute to the office and keep you dry on the Sunday club run, then look no further.
You’ll want to go for the highly visible option because it’d be daft to make yourself less visible if you’re commuting regularly. This visibility, along with the durable feeling outer fabric, is why I gave this jacket the nod over many others. It’s also frequently discounted, which certainly helps if you’re prone to trashing your gear on commutes.
The waterproof rating is more than ample for rides of commute length, and it’s certainly more breathable than many of its competitors. The fit is slim but isn’t what you’d call race fit, so you can layer up underneath with normal clothes if the need arises.
My main issues were in the shoulders, which felt rather tight under the armpits (which will be less of an issue if you’re not riding a very aero position), and the cuffs, which are elasticated but rather loose without gloves. This allows air up into the sleeves which can make you a bit more chilly.
Head to our Endura Pro SL Waterproof Shell Jacket Review for all the juicy details.
So you work freelance in a hip co-working space, awash with hanging plants, speciality coffee, and organic networking interactions. You don’t have a dress code and enjoy the music of Bruce Springsteen. Step right up; performance denim is here.
I’ve tried riding in a denim jacket before, a standard Levis one, and on anything but an upright bike it’s a pain as the thick cotton doesn’t stretch in the shoulders. This model from Duer, the Stay Dry Denim Jacket, has ample built-in stretch and so is significantly more pleasant to ride with, especially if you’ve got an aggressive position. It’s still cut like a denim jacket, so expect your lower back to be exposed if you aren’t wearing either a long t-shirt or trousers cut for riding, but it does open up double denim riding opportunities, as I have done in the past in combination with Duer denim shorts.
To go alongside the stretch the jacket also features a DWR coating, and in my experience, it can just about hold off a shower. I suspect it was designed with rugged lifestyle or rugged lifestyle aspirationalists in mind, but it’s an excellent feature for us cyclists too.
Other than the stretch and the DWR it’s a relatively standard denim jacket, albeit a comfy one. This colourway, ‘Galactic’, is more or less out of stock now, and has been replaced by a darker, unfaded mid-blue, but the salient features remain.
The Chrome Two Way Insulated Shacket is perfect if you want more than one option. One side is black, with quilted stitching, and the other side is olive with twin chest pockets. I tended to wear black side out, but neither feels like an ‘inside’ as can be the way with reversible garments.
The insulation is light, so it’s not nearly as warm as the Rapha down jacket that’s in this guide. It feels much more like a wind jacket, just with a little more heft, than a truly insulated option, which to be honest makes it far more usable when riding.
The cuffs aren’t adjustable, and so are fairly wide-set, but as an overshirt style jacket, it doesn’t feel like a piece you really want to hunker down into. It was great as a throw-it-on piece in much the same way as the Rapha Insulated Overshirt was.
My main issue with this one was the fit – it’s just not cut right for riding a road bike. The material has no stretch, which is fine in and of itself, but there isn’t any extra room in the shoulders that you normally find by way of pleats or some such. Because it’s reversible they can’t be stitched in, and so this is a jacket reserved for more upright bikes.
In much the same way as the Duer Denim and the Rapha Overshirt the Antura Grid Parka works well because it’s just as good off the bike as it is on it. Given its length, you’re going to want to use this with an upright bike or you’ll have a lot of material flapping around your front, but on the right bike (a Brompton being a perfect example), the extremely dropped tail ensures no water runs down your back and onto your trousers.
Yes, it only comes in olive green, and the hood has to go under the helmet to be in any way useful, but it’s a parka, so it has to be in olive green. Them’s the rules I’m afraid.
To stop you from overheating it’s got a big back vent, though this is negated if you’re wearing a cycling backpack. To help there are also two pit zips, though I actually found I rarely needed them. The hood is fine, but it has to go under the helmet which I don’t like, so it tended to only get used when strolling around the city singing Champagne Supernova to myself.
The waterproofing is perfectly adequate, all the seams are taped and you’re not going to get wet unless you let the DWR wear out. That wasn’t the thing that impressed me most though. That, oddly, was the cuff fasteners. They use a pliable plastic hook-and-loop fastener rather than a fabric one, and they allow you to really seal your wrists away better than most other options out there.
The Chrome Wind Cobra has easily the best name of any jacket in this guide and answers many of the questions the POC Motion leaves me asking. It has pockets, which are always good – two at the sides, with zip closures, and one at the back that doubles as a stuff sack – and it doesn’t have a hood. I tend to find hoods annoying on a wind jacket, but the lack of one may be a negative in your eyes.
It is black, but a big CHROME logo on the lower back in reflective print helps matters in that department. It’s also slightly cheaper than the POC Motion wind jacket.
For me where it fell down against the POC is in the fit. The arms aren’t long enough for me (I’m relatively gangly), and the material is more rigid and doesn’t allow me to move as freely on the bike. Oddly the wrists have a mesh panel, so if you get cold hands this isn’t going to help in that department.
All in all, though it’s a decent option, and as with Chrome gear in general it feels built to last in a way that many wind jackets don’t – it’s not flimsy, so if you’re hard on your gear then maybe this is a better pick for you.
The Altura Grid Field Jacket is one that I have actually become rather fond of, despite it not necessarily being the best for anything in particular. It serves a similar purpose to the overshirts insofar as it’s not insulated, but it’s far more durable feeling thanks to a heavy cotton construction.
It takes the form of what I think of as a classic safari jacket but in navy blue rather than khaki. The four front pockets are all pretty enormous, and I think you’d be hard-pressed to fill them all on a day-to-day basis unless you’re trying to ditch a backpack entirely. If you are wearing a backpack the chest strap and hip belt will sit over all of the pockets, so bear that in mind.
On the bike though it moves far more freely than it looks. The cuffs, with poppers rather than Velcro, tighten well over gloves, and the more casual fit means the shoulders rarely feel tight. On a road bike, the front feels baggy, even more so with full pockets, but if you’re riding a hybrid or something more upright it makes way more sense.
The final thing I really like is the elbow patches. Not only do they make me feel like an esteemed professor, but they are also reflective. Having gone through the elbows on some jackets in the past when I’ve had an unscheduled lie down it makes me wonder why more jackets don’t have elbow patches…
How to choose
Commuting means different things to different riders. For some it’s a rain-or-shine way of life, for others, it’s a way to make the most of a sunny day, and as such commuter jackets have to span a lot of use cases. Before you commit to a jacket, be sure it’s going to fit your needs.
If you’re a fairweather commuter then there’s no point worrying about the waterproof options, and if you need something that’ll stand you in good stead year round then something that won’t hold the rain at bay is pointless.
What is a commuter jacket?
In reality, any jacket you use to commute by bike is a commuter jacket. They do tend to differ from your standard waterproof or winter jackets though. More durable materials, more pockets, more visible colours and a greater reliance on reflective details are the key differences, and many are styled in such a way that you can wear them out and about on foot as well as on the bike.
Do I need a reflective jacket for commuting?
If safety is a big concern for you, and given the behaviour of some drivers I’m not surprised if it is, then reflectivity should be high on your list. The Provis is second to none in this regard, but no jacket, no matter how reflective, is a substitute for a set of the best bike lights.
Are commuter jackets worth it?
If you’re regularly commuting then the added cycling-specific functionality really makes sense. That being said, especially if you’re not riding a bike with an aggressive position, if you’re only commuting by bike on occasion then a non-specific jacket can work just as well, especially if it’s not raining.
How do we test commuter cycling jackets?
Well, I don’t have a car, so riding to work is the norm for me. It’s an hour each way, usually with a backpack on, and a mix of busy roads and cycle paths so as real-world testing goes it’s hard to beat. I have also ridden them all around the city while I’m doing other things over the winter months, so I’ve got a great feel for the details that work and those that don’t.
All the jackets in this guide I’m happy to recommend, depending on the specific use case.