Waterproofs

The one thing that is predictable about the British climate is that it is unpredictable. You could be dressed for the beach and two minutes later it is hailing which is why cyclists always have to prepare for the unexpected and why something like the dhb Amberley over-trousers can be such a useful part of your weather fighting armoury.

These overshoes give superb protection from wind, rain and, in testing, hail considering their low bulk.

The Tarmac H20s are made from antibacterial bamboo charcoal fleece with a stretchy polyurethane coating that's described as 'water resistant'. I would suggest this doesn't do the Pro' justice as I didnt find any hint of water getting inside the overshoes even during very wet testing. I also found that while my feet can overheat in my neoprene overshoes, the Pros didn't suffer from that problem due to their lighter weight construction.

Available in a choice of red or black, dhb’s Wickham eVent jacket is likely to prove a hit whatever your style of riding. Made from eVent, a three-layer breathable nylon waterproof fabric, it is designed to keep the rider completely dry and it delivers excelent performance in all weathers.

As you would expect the Altura Night Vision is a jacket that will get you noticed in the dark: if anyone can't see you in this then they haven't been paying attention.

What the name doesn't tell you is that the Night Vision is also a very weatherproof jacket too.  I wore the Night Vision every day for two weeks and riding with good guards never got wet in the rain at all. The Night Vision's reflective stripes illuminate brilliantly and from a great distance – on one clear night, I’m sure they were reflecting moonlight! 

The hump is a waterproof Hi-Viz cover designed to fit over rucksacks and panniers with 40 litre capacities. Sizing seems pretty universal and fitting couldn’t be simpler (although proved a struggle on some panniers and older hydration packs). Roll the hump over the bag, secure the elastic webbing in a cross formation and pop the press-studs together.

Innovative features and sleek design help Cannondale's Morphis Shell jacket stand out from the rest. Its versatility ensures a great investment.

This jacket has rather cool magnetic poppers which enable super ‘quick release’ from jacket to gilet, and back again. The sleeves detach as a whole; making it so quick and easy, you won’t even have to stop moving. You can act out any ‘Full Monty’ aspirations you may harbour, at the same time as keeping thermo-regulated! What more could you ask for?

The Neutron is a comfortable and lightweight waterproof that's a good outer layer for year-round riding. The 2.5 layer breathable fabric is very lightweight but shrugs off the rain well, and it's pretty breathable too – normally I'd keep my outer layer in my bag for the commute home (2 miles, all uphill) but the Neutron doesn't cook you on the climbs.

What an incredibly warm jacket! This is a jacket for those cold day when the weather is really set in!

The Vortex feels light weight despite offering exceptional warmth. The freedom of movement it allows through the Thermastretch back and elasticated trim make this a good option for longer rides.

Four good sized pockets plus a a zipped pocket for stuff like credit cards and mobile phones, means there's plenty of storage for the bits and pieces you need to take on a ride.