Best hi-vis cycling jackets 2025 — be safe in low-light conditions

If making sure you’re seen by other road users is your primary safety concern – and it probably is – Proviz’s Nightrider jacket couldn’t do much more to help. This is a very impressive high-vis/reflective jacket for wet and dark – or even bright and dry – conditions.

It’s made from two types of fabric: super-loud yellow (orange is also available as a colour option, as is pink in the women’s version) and Proviz’s Reflect360 fabric at the shoulders and tail. Whatever the light conditions, chances are that you’ll be seen in this.

The effect of Proviz’s yellow material is clear to see in daylight, while the Reflect360 material is incredibly impressive at night, shining out brightly when it’s hit by even the faintest light.

The waterproofing is flawless and breathability is surprisingly good, keeping you comfortable even on harder rides. The sleeves are long enough to be comfortable and the drop tail keeps you covered out back.

All things considered, this is a very, very good cycling jacket.

Gore Tempest Windstopper Jacket provides excellent protection against the wind and has a high-quality feel to it. The fleeced inner is so plush that it gives you a little extra motivation to tackle cold, dark rides.

The first thing you notice about the Tempest is just how cosy it is. Zip it up on a bitter day and it keeps the wind out beautifully, and while it’s not designed for serious rain, the DWR coating does a great job of ensuring that water beads up and rolls away.

The Tempest is cut slim to follow the contours of your body without being skintight, although reviewer Janine Doggett found the dropped tail to be on the short side and would have preferred more coverage back there. On the other hand, the arm length is generous and the collar is wide, close-fitting and tall.

Janine wore the Tempest through unpredictable December weather, wearing it over a base layer when the temperature was above about 7°C, and adding a jersey on colder days – which the cut of the jacket accommodates well. The result was plenty of comfort throughout, and very good breathability.

Altura offers lots of clothing designed specifically to ensure you’re seen on the road. The Altura Nightvision Storm Waterproof jacket is a great option for commuting, offering huge amounts of visibility and weatherproofing. It breathes well enough for most commutes, although you might want a higher level of breathability for more intense activity.

Reviewer George Hill used this jacket in very heavy rain and found that absolutely none got through. A great start! As well as using a waterproof fabric, this is helped by drawstrings around the neck and waist, and Velcro straps at the wrists. Zipped vents under the arms and a large vent running across the back, under the shoulder blades, help manage humidity.

The Nightvision Storm shines like a beacon when light hits it. High visibility dots across the shoulders, sleeves, down either side of the body and around the neck mean that you’ll certainly be spotted in this.

The Altura Nightvision Storm Waterproof jacket is available in a women’s version too. 

The Santini Adapt Multi – Jacket – available in several colours, including bright orange – is a lightweight option that can be worn in horrible conditions. It’s wonderfully warm and also breathable, and very good at keeping out rain thanks to Polartec’s Power Shield Pro fabric. If you want to go fast and/or far in cold or wet weather, this is certainly one to consider.

The close weave of the Power Shield Pro fabric resists abrasion, and its soft feel means it’s crinkle-free. This makes the Adapt feels just like a thick winter jersey rather than a waterproof. The fabric has a fine grid-patterned backing. It’s breathable insulation that’s thin and flexible.

Beyond that, the Adapt is a classic winter jacket with a snug fit, high collar, generously low hem at the back, and long sleeves to keep your wrists covered.

The Adapt shines in temperatures from freezing to about 10°C. Reviewer Mike Stead said that for many people, it will be the perfect top for any cold ride, especially ones involving constant hard work. And the Adapt is a very impressive option for rides where the showers are passing or light.

The Galibier GrandTour jacket puts in an excellent performance and its quality rivals that of top brands – all at a very attractive price. This winter jacket is comfortable and perfect for grim British weather.

Reviewer Josh Price reported that this jacket keeps the heat in incredibly well. He was blown away by the performance, finding that he could wear it with no base layer underneath when the temperature was around 15°C and right down to below zero with a baselayer and gilet.

The Galibier GrandTour jacket is close to the body to avoid flapping and the tail is slightly dropped to provide protection from road spray and keep your backside warm.

Although Josh had the GrandTour jacket in the Heather colour option, it’s also available in the far brighter Intense Orange shown here. Whichever you go for, you get a large reflective panel on the central rear pocket, and 3M reflective trim on the pockets and across the shoulders – valuable for increasing the visibility of a garment that’s designed to be worn at the darkest time of the year.

The Castelli Perfetto RoS 2 is a brilliant jacket that combines easily with other layers to cover a huge number of winter riding scenarios, and this Electric Lime version is very noticeable out on the road. You get an impressive amount of water resistance, while the light weight and breathability make for plenty of comfort.

The Perfetto RoS 2 provides enough insulation for autumn and spring riding and it’s simple to stick a base layer and a thermal jersey underneath when the temperature plunges in the depths of winter. The water-resistant Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabrics will hold off road spray and even a heavy shower, although you’ll want a dedicated waterproof jacket for persistent rain.

The fabrics’ breathability means you won’t boil in the bag when working hard in mild conditions. If you do find yourself starting to overheat on a tough climb, opening the Perfetto RoS 2’s side vents or the double-ended YKK front zipper will soon cool you down.

Overall, the Perfetto RoS 2 performs beautifully in a wide range of conditions. A fabulous piece of kit.

The Gorewear Phantom Jacket is a two-in-one cycling jacket with removable long sleeves that make it suitable for riding in the changeable conditions of spring and autumn. With layering, it works just as well in winter. The Phantom is water-resistant and windproof, and there’s a zipped security pocket alongside its three regular pockets. It’s available in various colours, including this version with a black body and neon yellow arms, upper back and upper chest.

You get a short-sleeved jersey and two removable sleeves, each of which attaches at the shoulder  – over shorter sleeves – using a pair of zips. The short sleeves are made of a thin material, with the longer detachable sleeves made of the same wind- and water-repellent Gore-Tex Windstopper fabric as the jacket’s body.

Reviewer Suvi Loponen said she could feel the double layer of upper sleeves when she pulled the jacket on, but not while riding. The Phantom’s convertible nature adds a little bulk, but that is far outweighed by the jacket’s comfort and practicality. It is an excellent commuting jacket for autumn and spring, when you might be riding to work in low temperatures and returning home in warmer conditions.

This is a great jacket for commuters and those who appreciate the option of taking off sleeves mid-ride. Although expensive, that versatility adds value.

Bioracer’s Kaaiman jacket is a very good option when the weather is grim and you want to ride quickly. It’s waterproof and this Fluo Yellow option will get you seen.

The Kaaiman is in may ways a classic winter hardshell jacket. It uses a full membrane fabric with a waffle-textured inner face that feels good next to the skin if it’s warm enough to wear without a long-sleeve layer underneath. It’s a slim racing cut with long arms and tight cuffs, although we’d have preferred a slimmer collar.

Reviewer Dave Atkinson said, “It’s nicely made, with ultrasonic bonded seams, a storm flap, tight silicone-edged cuffs and a waterproof zip. All those things together make the Kaaiman just about the most waterproof outer layer I’ve used.”

Dave wore this jacket in some incredibly bad conditions and it coped fine. Although not especially thick, the inner face of the fabric traps air and helps keep the windchill off. It isn’t the most breathable jacket ever, but two large vents in the back allow humid air out.

The Kaaiman comes with enough reflective details to get you noticed after dark. If you’re looking for a jacket that will cope with the worst conditions, this is one to consider.

The Gorewear Spinshift Thermo Jacket Men’s is an excellent choice for very cold rides, ideally when the sun is shining or there’s little chance of rain. It feels luxurious, the fit is snug, and this Neon Yellow option is highly visible.

The Spinshift Thermo Jacket is ideal when the temperature drops into the single figures centigrade – with a base layer underneath and perhaps a gilet on top when it gets close to freezing.

The fabric is a single-layer thermo-stretch with a soft shell-like feel and a super-fluffy soft fleece inside. The collar is high and warm, and the cuffs are stretchy.

There’s no waterproof membrane here. Instead, the tightly woven fabric provides protection from the wind while being breathable, and a PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent) coating takes care of light rain.

What elevates the Spinshift Thermo Jacket from a very good winter jacket to a great one is that this Neon Yellow version really stands out on dull days and reflective tabs on the shoulders, elbows and forearms add further visibility.

The Gorewear Everyday Jacket is available in both men’s and women’s cuts, and in various colours, including Neon Yellow. It’s designed specifically for cycling but its relaxed fit is suitable for other outdoor activities too.

A Gore Windstopper fabric at the front and on the arms keeps the wind out and provides some resistance to drizzle and light rain, although it can’t cope with the worst weather conditions.

The rest of the jacket is made from a stretchier material that’s windproof and breathable, although you do have to choose other layers carefully to avoid overheating. Reviewer Emily Tillett found she was able to stay comfortable when riding in temperatures from 5-12°C with a single layer underneath.

We’d prefer a little more reflective detailing but this is well-made and versatile jacket that’s suitable for various types of riding as well as off-the-bike use, and that goes some way to justifying the price.

The Altura Icon Pocket Rocket Waterproof Packable jacket is great for everything from urban commutes to wintry training. It’s reasonably breathable but not amazingly so; enough to keep you comfortable on all but the raciest of rides. This Lime version is highly noticeable out on the road with loads of reflective print adding visibility at night.

The cut is slim but you could fit everyday clothes underneath. The collar is nice and high, and the tail drops enough to keep you covered when you’re reaching forward to the handlebar.

The level of waterproofing is impressive, the seams are neatly taped and the ripstop fabric feels robust. Although it doesn’t pack down as small as some, reviewer Steve Williams found he could jam this jacket into a jersey pocket when not in use.

This is a well-made, well-shaped and stylish jacket that keeps wind and rain out effectively.