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BUYER'S GUIDE

Best hi vis cycling jackets 2022 — be safe and seen in low light conditions

Ride defensively and make sure you're visible, with one of the best hi-vis cycling jackets

Cyclists in high visibility jackets (usually abbreviated to 'hi-vis') are a common sight, especially after dusk, as riders try and make themselves more visible to other road users. We've spent thousands of hours riding in the dark and cold to find out which high-visibility jackets work best. These are the best hi-vis cycling jackets you can buy.

As well as standing out, hi-vis jackets for cycling usually offer a degree of water-resistance and windproofing to make riding in the dark and cold more bearable.

While there are studies that suggest hi-vis clothing doesn’t always ensure you’re visible to other road users, most people have clearly decided a hi-vis jacket can’t do any harm. For that reason high-visibility jackets are hugely popular and there’s loads of choice, with prices starting from £30.

>> Read more: The best waterproof cycling jackets

The best hi-vis jackets combine lots of reflective material with their bright yellow fabrics. Hi-vis jackets can be waterproof hardshells, lightweight windproofs or made from softshell fabrics for warmth

Most hi-vis jackets for cycling are aimed at commuting riders, but there are close-fitting versions for training in too.

The 10 best high-vis cycling jackets in 2022

Best overall: Proviz Nightrider 2.0 — Buy Now for £84.99 from Proviz

Proviz Nightrider front.jpg

If being seen on the road is your ultimate safety concern then the new version of Proviz's Nightrider high-visibility jacket really couldn't do much more to help. It's made from two types of material: super-loud yellow hi-vis and Proviz's REFLECT360 fabric at the shoulders and tail. Which means, whether you're cycling in daylight or darkness, as long as a source of light bounces off the jacket from somewhere, you'll be seen.

The effect of Proviz's high-vis yellow material is clear for all to see in daylight (the women's version uses an equally lurid pink), but it's the performance of the REFLECT360 material at night that is so impressive.

To my eyes, that seems to have taken a step forward since Proviz's original REFLECT360 products and it really does need only the faintest light, not even hitting the fabric surface directly, to glow like a loved-up phantom. It's very impressive.

There's a women's version too.

Read our review of the Proviz Nightrider 2.0

Best for fast riders: Pactimo Men’s Torrent Stretch Waterproof Cape — Buy Now for £158.00 from Pactimo

2022 Pactimo Torrent Waterproof

Tester Iwein writes: “The Pactimo Men's Torrent Stretch Waterproof Cape is described as being 'completely waterproof, lightweight, form-fitting and extremely breathable.' While such claims are hardly unusual, here they're justified – I totally agree. The Torrent scores in all those areas very well indeed, and though the price is high the performance is higher still.

“Pactimo claims a 20,000mm waterproof rating and a 37,000mm moisture transfer rate; that second number in particular is pretty impressive. It seems to work too; I was less sweaty — and therefore less cold — on a ride stop after several hours of rain. All seams are sealed, and you get a decent, waterproof main YKK zip.

“In short, this is easily the best waterproof jacket I have tried.” We tested a black version, but you can also get it in ‘Manic Yellow’ as shown above.

Read our review of the Pactimo Men’s Torrent Stretch Waterproof Cape

Best for really crummy weather: Showers Pass Elite 2.1 — Buy Now for £220 from Showers Pass

Showers Pass Elite 2.1

The Showers Pass Elite 2.1 is in the round the lightest, most waterproof and windproof triple-layer jacket the company makes. It has legions of adoring fans, and it's clear why. It's as close to perfect a jacket as we've ever worn, for going far, fast and hard in the most awful of weather.

It's also adorned with plenty of reflective material. As well as the stripes on the arms and the log you can see in the above picture, there's a big stripe across the back. You could argue that the egg-yolk yellow here isn't quite the classic fluoro we've come to expect of hi-vis, but when the rest of the jacket is this good, we'll give it a pass for that.

Read our review of the Showers Pass Elite 2.1 jacket

Best on a budget: Triban RC120 EN1150 Rain Jacket — Buy Now for £29.99 from Decathlon

2021 Triban RC120 EN1150 Rain Jacket

Bright yellow jackets don’t get much more affordable than this one from giant sports superstore Decathlon. It’s made from a fully waterproof material with seamed seals, to prevent water sneaking in at the edges of the various panels the jacket is constructed from, and there are reflective patches on the front and back of the body and on the arms, wrists, neck and shoulders.

Best for commuting: Altura Nightvision Storm Women’s Waterproof Jacket — Buy Now for £49.99 from Cyclestore

Best for commuting: Altura Nightvision Storm Men's Waterproof Jacket — Buy Now for £49.99 from Cyclestore

2020 altura storm jackets men's and women's

Altura's Nightvision Storm Waterproof Jacket is a great addition to a regular commuter's wardrobe. It offers good protection against the wind and rain without causing excessive overheating, and the reflective detailing and storage options are well thought out, practical and functional.

Tester Emma writes: “The Nightvision Storm is a home-to-workplace practical bit of kit that performs well and looks good both on and off the bike. I've used it for commuting, shopping trips, general errands and meeting up with friends. I've struggled to fault it from this perspective, both on and off the bike.

“The reflective detailing is exceptionally striking under headlights and has been placed well: shoulders, arms and sides... basically, the parts that won't be covered by a rucksack but will be most exposed when you are in a riding position. While it's effective at night, the detailing is not overstated. The jacket certainly doesn't scream cyclist and I've had as much use out of it off the bike as I have on.”

Read our review of the Altura Nightvision Storm Women’s Waterproof Jacket
Find an Altura dealer

Gore Torrent Men’s Jacket — Buy Now for £229.99 from Gore Wear

2021 Gore Torrent Mens jacket.jpg

The Gore Torrent Men's Jacket is designed for riding in adverse weather and delivers in every respect, if you're looking for a figure hugging, wind cheating and highly packable model with some nice feature. However, though there's plenty of give, scrutinise the sizing chart properly, as the fit is snug.

Tester Shaun writes: “I've worn this in several hours of steady, wintry rain with no hint of it creeping through the fleece-lined collar or anywhere else, and it all blocks icy blasts too. Water visibly beads up and rolls away. The zippers are easily operated in gloves, too, and the size-access rear pocket is particularly handy. The subtle retro-reflective detailing around the sleeves adds some additional presence, and I was pleased to discover a generous zippered rear pocket.”

“As you can see, the ‘fireball red’ colour offered isn’t a conventional high-vis hue, but it’s plenty visible. I've been really impressed by the Gore Torrent's performance and, though pricey, it's an investment that should pay for itself in happy, comfortable miles.”

Read our review of the Gore Torrent Men’s Jacket
Find a Gore dealer

Rapha Classic Winter Gore-Tex Jacket — Buy Now for £270.00 from Rapha

2021 rapha classic winter jackets

The Rapha Classic Winter Gore-Tex Jacket is an exceptional cycling jacket for a range of winter rides. The fit is relaxed for easy layering over thermal long sleeve jerseys, and the lightweight design provides a surprisingly good amount of warmth.

Tester Liam writes: “My first ride in this jacket was a muddy mountain bike adventure in some incredibly heavy rain. That, combined with the rather sloppy trail, made for challenging conditions for the jacket. It came through this test without being fazed at all. Whatever Rapha is saying about the Classic Winter Jacket just being water-resistant, the rain and wheel spray that it fended off leads me to think it rather out-performed those claims. Which was nice, because I didn't get wet.

“Rapha has included a number of reflective elements and panels on the jacket that, along with this lovely bright colour, made me feel about as visible as possible on gloomy days. This is a high-priced product that backs it up with brilliant performance. The fit and cut are both great, the outer fabric is very water-resistant, while the inner fabric provides a surprising amount of warmth.”

Our female testers are big fans of the Rapha Women’s Classic Winter Gore-Tex Jacket, which will also set you back £270.

Read our review of the Rapha Women’s Classic Winter Gore-Tex Jacket

Read our review of the Rapha Men’s Classic Winter Gore-Tex Jacket
Find a Rapha dealer

Showers Pass Transit CC — Buy Now for £160 from Showers Pass

Showers Pass Transit CC Jacket Yelling Yellow

The Showers Pass Transit CC is available as a hi-vis jacket as well as in more subdued colours. It's "a super-practical commuting hardshell, packed with clever details" according to tester Simon Smythe.

He adds: "To enhance low-light visibility there's loads of reflective trim front and rear, and the foul-weather pièce de résistance is a dropdown tail that is completely covered in reflective fabric and features integrated removable button-sized flashing red lights."

Read our review of the Showers Pass Transit CC

Van Rysel Women’s Winter Softshell Jacket — Buy Now for £49.99 from Decathlon

Van Rysel Womens Sportive cold weather jacket - riding.jpg

The Van Rysel Women's Sportive Cold Weather Jacket is a very good value winter hi-vis jacket with some water repellency, windproofing, and lots of pockets. Van Rysel claims some windproofing and water-repellency, and the inside is a waffle style fleece for warmth. Riding for 2-4hrs in temperatures of 10°C and below, and pairing the jacket with a merino T-shirt baselayer, I was very comfortable.

Very light rain just about beads off, but anything heavier and the fabric does absorb water; in heavy persistent rain you do eventually get wet to the skin.

The men's version is the £59.99 Van Rysel Racer Cold Weather Jacket.

Read our review of the Van Rysel Women’s Sportive Cold Weather Jacket

Bioracer Kaaiman Jacket — Buy Now for £135.58 from Deporvillage

Bioracer Kaimann Jacket

Bioracer's Kaaiman jacket is a great option when you want to ride quickly and it's properly filthy out. The Kaaiman is Bioracer's take on a classic winter hard shell jacket. It's a full membrane fabric with a waffle-texture internal facing that feels good next to the skin if it's warm enough to wear this jacket without a long-sleeve layer underneath.

Tester dave writes: “The Kaaiman’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. I've worn this jacket on some properly biblical days and it's shrugged off everything. It's not a particularly thick jacket but the waffle textured inside fabric traps a bit of air and helps to keep the windchill off you.

“Finishing on the Kaaiman is good, with enough reflective to make a difference after dark. Overall, it's an impressively waterproof jacket for road riding that's well cut, and it's been front of the wardrobe for days when it's grim out.”

Read our review of the Bioracer Kaaiman Jacket

Honourable mentions

Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Jacket Men’s — Buy Now for £175.00 from Merlin Cycles

2021 Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Jacket

The Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Jacket is an exceptionally good windproof for cold weather with a few tricks up its sleeve – literally, in one case – that add to the performance.

Tester Mat writes: “It’s made from Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper 150 which, as the name suggests, prevents cold air from blowing in. It's also highly breathable so you don't get that boil in a bag effect when you hit the climbs.And while Gore doesn't call it waterproof, Infinium Windstopper 150 is way more water-resistant than you might expect, a durable water repellent (DWR) coating helping out the internal membrane in this respect. The Alpha RoS does a great job of keeping road spray and short showers out. You can't dispense with a waterproof shell if heavy rain is forecast, but I've stayed perfectly dry in changeable conditions.”

“Overall, the Alpha RoS is a great design. The premium-quality fabrics and double-layer construction mean you can stay comfortable across a range of winter temperatures – even freezing and below – without getting too sweaty when you hit the climbs. It'll keep you dry through showers too, meaning that you don't need to mess around with a waterproof shell unless you encounter heavy rain. The all-round performance really is something special.”

Read our review of the Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Jacket Men’s
Find a Castelli dealer

Gore C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Thermo jacket — Buy Now for £135.00 from Sigma Sports

2021 Gore C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Thermo jacket

Tester Stu writes: “The C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Thermo Jacket is a soft shell that boasts full windproofing along with water resistance and a high-performance fit. After five weeks of testing, I'm pretty sure this jacket will cover about 90% of my winter riding – it's that good! With a long-sleeve baselayer underneath I've ridden at 2°C and was lovely and warm, so I reckon I could go a touch under freezing in this. I do run quite warm and rarely need to run a jacket over the top of a soft shell, though, even as the temperature drops past -5°C.

“Gore has included reflective panels either side of the pockets. They're pretty much invisible by day, but effective once the lights come on. There's a similar arrangement on the cuffs, which can help to show up your indications, although in reality they'll probably be tucked inside your gloves.

“I really like the Gore C5 Infinium Thermo Jacket. It's one of those Swiss army knife products that covers an awful lot of bases. The close fit keeps your body well covered and comfortable too, so to be honest you can just forget about the thing and enjoy your ride.”

Read our review of the Gore C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Thermo jacket
Find a Gore dealer

dhb Aeron All Winter Softshell Jacket — Buy Now for £89.99 from Wiggle

2021 dhb Aeron All Winter Softshell Jacket

The aim of dhb's All Winter Softshell is to offer one jacket that can take you all the way through a winter season that can see temperatures range from below zero to double figures in the UK, and with additional layering for the worst conditions it has succeeded in meeting its goal.

Tester Paul writes: “Made using a fleecy, grid-back softshell material, the All Winter manages to retain warmth with less bulk than you might expect, which of course aids all-important breathability. Where extra protection is needed across the chest and sleeves – the bits of your body that face the wind directly – that is provided by the use of warmer panels, while lighter weight, more breathable panels are placed under the arms to prevent overheating. This construction works well, hitting a sweet spot of warmth, breathability and comfort that dealt with the 2-12-degree temperature range that dhb was aiming for. I found the underarm panels particularly useful in preventing overheating: there's not much need for weather protection here and it is an area of the body that generates a lot of heat. I'll never understand jackets and jerseys that don't employ a lighter fabric here.

“The pockets feature reflective trim across the top and in the two outer, lower corners, plus there are reflective chevrons on the lower arms to aid side-on visibility. As this jacket is designed to be worn in what are likely to be low-light conditions, it's good to see dhb making the effort on visibility. This is a fine winter jacket at a good price that balances everything a cyclist needs outside of the summer months – warmth, breathability, flexibility, visibility and, yes, style – to make a versatile package. From the looks of the construction and the way it has responded to washing, it will take you through several off-season cycles before it ever needs replacing, too.”

Read our review of the dhb Aeron All Winter Softshell Jacket

Gore Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket — Buy Now for £199.99 from Gore Wear

2021 Gore Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket

Bargain klaxon:  £107.97 from Go Outdoors in M and L

The Gore Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket is great. It's light and scrunches easily into a jersey pocket, fits over winter layers and breathes well enough that you never boil inside. There's nothing to seriously criticise – though if you're slim, you can happily size down.

Tester Steve writes: “Though easily packable, the Paclite is breathable enough to wear for entire 60-90-minute rides without becoming uncomfortable. I did find it ends up a bit wet inside when you do, but I never felt too hot or wanted to take it off while riding, even in mild winter weather. All colours have reflective logos as well as that strip on the rear pocket, and further reflective strips on the side of your wrists.”

“With the single meaningful caveat that a slim(ish) road rider can easily size down and still enjoy a great fit, it's a perfectly judged, very comfortable and very effective waterproof that's light enough to be there, in your pocket, whenever you need it.”

Read our review of the Gore Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket
Find a Gore dealer

Gore Tempest Jacket Women's — Buy Now for £149.00 from Sigma Sports

Gore Tempest Jacket Women’s

Rocking Infinium windstopper fabric and a DWR treatment against showers, the Gore Tempest Jacket Women’s is designed for day-to-day winter riding in all but the wettest conditions.

Tester Janine writes: “The first thing to note is just how cosy it is. Its focus on keeping out wind becomes instantly apparent when zipping up – on a bitter day it feels a bit like shutting a fridge door – and while its not designed for serious rain, if you do get caught in a shower the DWR coating does a great job of beading water away.

“In my opinion the neon yellow is by far the best choice for murky commutes and solo winter training rides (despite reflective arm bands on all options). The super-effective wind protection and attractive design of this jacket is easy to love. The fleeced inner is so plush that it serves up that bit of extra motivation for those cold, dark commutes – exactly what you want from a winter cycling jacket.”

Read our review of the Gore Tempest Jacket Women's
Find a Gore dealer

Donda Torrential Jacket Orange — Buy Now for £80.00 from Donda

2021 Donda Torrential Jacket Orange.jpg

The Donda Torrential Jacket is a very likeable, useful outer shell for cold and wet rides. Though only 'water resistant' rather than waterproof – and lacking any DWR treatment – it keeps you comfortable in persistent rain, and breathes well enough to keep you happy on dry rides too.

Tester Steve writes: “Finding jackets that aren't just either blend-with-the-hedges black or please-don't-kill-me fluoro yellow can be a bit of a mission, so I love this one: for me the orange and black is both stylish and noticeable. The large silver logos and stripes look cool while being highly reflective, too.

“Donda's 'water resistant' (not waterproof) claim is fair and it feels comfortable and protective even when rain gets in. Also, the inner pocket fabric has an almost mesh-like weave which is exposed to your body heat and moisture, but somehow seems to keep things pretty dry. I can only assume the fast-wicking, breathable and quick-drying nature of the main fabric is behind this – the humidity isn't hanging around and building up. The Torrential is not without flaws – and arguably for truly torrential rain you'd want an actual waterproof. Its performance and versatility are impressive, and the price is good.”

Read our review of the Donda Torrential Jacket Orange

BTwin Warm Reversible Urban Cycling Jacket — Buy Now for £49.99 from Decathlon

2021 BTWIN Warm Reversible Urban Cycling Jacket - hi-viz side.jpg

The B'Twin Warm Reversible Urban Cycling Jacket is a really versatile option for keeping warm in cooler temperatures, either on or off the bike thanks to its reversible shell. It's ridiculously visible in bike mode, good looking in pub mode, and offers some weather protection. It feels great to wear, though the fitment at the waist is a bit odd.

Tester Hollis writes: “In eye-grabbing mode, you get loads of reflective material where you need it most – that is, one along the front of the zip, around the back of the waist, and, crucially, along the back of each arm, which is exactly what you want when you're indicating and you want a motorist from behind to clearly see what you're doing at night. These high-vis strips aren't playing either – they're safety vest-like super-wide, which is brilliant for getting you noticed, either during the day or at night.

“I'd really recommend the B'Twin jacket as it does everything so well, and the price tag of £49.99 makes it an excellent purchase if you do a lot of urban riding and want to be seen night and day.”

Read our review of the BTwin Warm Reversible Urban Cycling Jacket
Find a BTwin dealer

Latest hi-vis deals

We've scoured the online retailers to find some good deals on high-visibility cycling jackets. Here's what we found:

Things to know about high-vis jackets

Some things to consider if you’re looking for a hi-vis jacket. Aside from the colour, not all high-visibility jackets are made the same. Some are constructed from waterproof fabrics, others are made from windproof and water resistant fabrics, with the different fabrics impacting such aspects as weight, breathability, fit and how compact the jacket is when rolled up. The fabric also impacts the price, with branded fabrics typically commanding a premium.

- Buyer's guide: the best reflective cycling clothing & accessories

Classic bright yellow hi-vis jackets are really only effective during daylight hours, so to ensure you stand out at night you want to look for a jacket with lots of reflective details and panels to help you stand out in the dark. Manufacturers are making much more effort to increase the reflectivity of high-visibility jackets, and we've even seen whole jackets made from reflective material, like the Proviz Reflect 360 Jacket.

- Essential wet weather cycle clothing and gear

Fit and shape are important, so it’s always worth trying one on before you buy, but you need to decide what. Some hi-vis cycling jackets are made from very lightweight material which means they can easily be folded away when not needed, making them ideal for touring and commuting where space is at a premium. Some hi-vis jackets have a much more generous shape with lots of space for layers underneath, and some can easily be worn over regular clothes. Some are proper performance fit if you’re choosing a high-visibility jacket for training rides.

Standards

Surprisingly few cycling jackets meet the various standards for high-visibility garments, which mandate acceptable colours and shades of material, and the amount of reflective material to bounce light back from car headlights.

The lowest standard is EN 17353:2020, which covers medium-risk situations. That standard was only published in September 2020 however, so the standard it replaced, BS EN 1150:1999 is the one you'll find in cycling garments.

These are standards for non-professional situations. High-risk situations — workplaces like motorway roadworks — are covered by EN ISO 20471 which mandates large sections of reflective tape to give workers a chance of being seen by drivers.

Given that riding a bike on the road can involve lengthy exposure to the risks posed by motor vehicle drivers without any of the control measures you'd find in roadworks, you might think ISO 20471 garments should be available for cycling too, but as far as we can tell nobody yet makes a cycling jacket to that standard.

About road.cc Buyer's Guides

The aim of road.cc buyer's guides is to give you the most, authoritative, objective and up-to-date buying advice. We continuously update and republish our guides, checking prices, availability and looking for the best deals.

Our guides include links to websites where you can buy the featured products. Like most sites we make a small amount of money if you buy something after clicking on one of those links. We want you to be happy with what you buy, so we only include a product if we think it's one of the best of its kind.

As far as possible that means recommending equipment that we have actually reviewed, but we also include products that are popular, highly-regarded benchmarks in their categories.

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You can also find further guides on our sister sites off.road.cc and ebiketips.

road.cc buyer's guides are maintained by the road.cc tech team. Email us with comments, corrections or queries.

John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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40 comments

Avatar
Rendel Harris | 3 years ago
1 like

Huge fan of the Proviz Nightrider, bought one for Mrs.H., rode behind her the first dark early morning she wore it with my lights shining on her and came home and immediately ordered one for myself. We can argue the toss as to whether flourescent yellow actually does make a difference in daylight (I personally think it does and my subjective impression is that drivers treat people they regard as making an effort to be seen with more respect - not saying it should be that way, just that it is) but there is absolutely no question that their reflective material makes an incredible difference at night.

Avatar
Seagull2 | 3 years ago
2 likes

I use an Endura High Vis yellow gilet - it goes over my dark winter kit, and is also useable in the summer ,  i would highly recommend it   , stay safe   1 

Avatar
NZ Vegan Rider | 3 years ago
0 likes

"While there are studies that suggest hi-vis clothing doesn’t always ensure you’re visible to other road users"

What studies?!

There are reasons why road, construction workers etc wear hi vis green - it's easily seen!

Avatar
Hirsute replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 3 years ago
3 likes

In summer, green grass, green leaves, green hedges.
Why would you wear green?
During lockdown, I got a bright pink top, due to the rural circuit I cycled on.

Avatar
NZ Vegan Rider replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
0 likes

They're calling them yellow - but I agree with you - they're green - but much brighter than the folliage you described.

Your pink one will certainly stand out.  3

Avatar
xerxes | 4 years ago
4 likes

I think we have it all wrong, khaki is the most conspicuous colour. That's what colour my Challenger tank is and people always seem to notice me in that, never once had a SMIDSY incident.

Avatar
jfparis | 4 years ago
0 likes

I know it is a recycled story but you need to update the headline for this quite stagering price escalation

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DNAse | 4 years ago
0 likes

I had a Raddopia jacket but quickly got rid of it. It might be ok for a hard north American winter but for the UK and riding at anything over active recovery it's just too warm. I also have a Sportful Reflex and whilst hi-viz it's a sweat box and I have the Gore C3 which is brilliant: waterproof, breathable and still packs small, definitely worth it at the <£120 sale prices.

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 5 years ago
3 likes

Fluorescent pink gloves, overshoes (and sometime a back pack cover if I'm carrying one) with good lights are my concession to visibility. Then you can wear whatver jacket you like... Bright pink spinning overshoes are great for visibility - and though I've had drivers slow down to take the piss, at least they slowed down.

Avatar
StraelGuy | 5 years ago
1 like

Also, I think the material your underlayers are made for has an effect. When it's really cold, I wear a merino long sleeve underlayer. I don't know quite how it works but any water that reaches my skin seems to instantly turn into a layer of warm steam. You might be wet but you don't feel wet and stay nice and warm.

Avatar
birzzles | 5 years ago
3 likes

Years of experience of waterproofs has led me to buy £12 quid decathlon ones.  They are waterproof for a while, which is fine.  Nothing I have bought has lasted much longer irrespective of price.  I do respect the goretex faithful, but I’m not a believer.

Avatar
lambylamby | 6 years ago
1 like

I've got the cheap decathlon £25 jacket shown above. It does the job, but is hideous.

I agree with above re:softshell, I have a dhb softshell that went into sale (and was subsequently discontinued http://road.cc/content/review/25957-dhb-windslam-soft-shell-jacket ) for £35 and was an absolute steal for the quality. It's very similar to a Gore Bike wear for a fraction of the price, albeit heavier, and I would imagine less breatheable I've used it for the last 3 years every day, and the only complaints are:

1 - The back pocket (with a huge zip) ripped slightly, so I've sown it up and waxed it,

2 - At the arm sleeve endings the velcro is really poor quality because the plastic grippers have worn down.

I would say a softshell is better as mentioned above due to much better breatheability, i've only ever thought about a rain jacket maybe 6 times a year, and I live in an area with more downpour than the UK on average. If Wiggle re-hash a new version of that jacket I would consider buying another one, they are that good (although I have many more years usage out of that jacket).

Avatar
BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
3 likes

I have a fantastic new material that's lightweight, waterproof, highly beatheable and attracts attention far more effectively than conventional Hi-Viz fabrics...

 

I'm calling it "skin".

 

 

 

Avatar
BigRich | 6 years ago
0 likes

I'm looking for a lightweight that is at least relatively hi viz for my porker body - needs be a good 50"+ chest.  Any ideas?

Yes  I know I need to lose a lot of weight indecision

Avatar
lerrup | 7 years ago
2 likes

just a note about commuters and backpacks, why? Why not panniers? Always have your bike take the weight I'd say (especially if it wears out your nice jacket).

Also, could we have reviews where people have actually used things?

Avatar
Peowpeowpeowlasers | 7 years ago
0 likes

Cycling is slightly different, but when walking if you want to remain dry, wear a rubberised poncho.  No water will ever get through that material.

Avatar
shay cycles | 7 years ago
6 likes

From the original article: "While there are studies that suggest fluorescent clothing doesn’t always ensure you’re visible to other road users, most people have clearly decided to wear a bright yellow jacket can’t do any harm for increasing visibility to other road users, and for that reason they’re hugely popular and there’s loads of choice, with prices starting from £20, as this roundup shows." 

Sorry but I can't agree with the reason here - most people may choose to buy these because the industry has created a beleif that they are safer and then flooded the shops with these bright yellow (quasi-hi-vis) jackets. See my comments below and do a little research and you can discover that the bright yellow can actually do some harm in terms of not increasing visibility after all.

As with other "safety" kit people buy these jackets because they've been taken in by the, well pushed, myths about the dangers of cycling and the fairly-tales that these can actually be significantly reduced by this magical kit.

Sudies have shown that in daylight the contrast between dark and light areas on clothing are more effective for getting noticed than any hi-vis yet we are likely to get berated for wearing black and white which actually works best. Motorcycling has indeed had more studies on this than cycling.

Likewise studies have shown that reflectives (the strips etc. that bounce back light towards its source) do indeed improve visibility to those driving the vehicles with bright headlights BUT they don't work for pedestrians or others without lights. The hi-vis yellow colour itself is known to be particularly ineffective in the dark.

People are sadly very used to beleiving marketing, hype and "safety advice" and that's really why they buy this stuff.

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Chuck | 7 years ago
4 likes

Crikey. Did you actually read my post? 

There's cerainly a bit of a pattern to many of yours.

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tritecommentbot replied to Chuck | 7 years ago
2 likes
Chuck wrote:

Crikey. Did you actually read my post? 

There's cerainly a bit of a pattern to many of yours.

 

Read it, quoted it, and responded in detail.

 

I suggest you try it rather than making sideswipes because someone disagrees with what you're saying about a fabric material. 

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Chuck | 7 years ago
2 likes

The ability of a jacket to actually keep you dry is a different story! Sometimes expectations are unrealistic.

As above, water always gets in, through the big holes where your arms and head go, and it's worse for cycling because there's usually no hood. And once it's there your nice wicking layers do a nice job of wicking it up your arms  from the end of your sleeves or wherever. And that's before you get to your sweat! You sweat enough in a cotton T-shirt, how is a sytnthetic windproof fabric ever going to be anywhere near as good as that?

I do think though that a decent waterproof fabric is effectively 100% waterproof- water is basically never going to get forced through while a human is wearing it. 

Most of these points often become moot in use though. I reckon the vast majority of complaints about leaking waterproof jackets are actually about how they basicially stop breathing once they start wetting out or how water gets blown inside them. Once you're wet enough that distinction becomes a bit meaningless!

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tritecommentbot replied to Chuck | 7 years ago
3 likes
Chuck wrote:

The ability of a jacket to actually keep you dry is a different story! Sometimes expectations are unrealistic.

As above, water always gets in, through the big holes where your arms and head go, and it's worse for cycling because there's usually no hood. And once it's there your nice wicking layers do a nice job of wicking it up your arms  from the end of your sleeves or wherever. And that's before you get to your sweat! You sweat enough in a cotton T-shirt, how is a sytnthetic windproof fabric ever going to be anywhere near as good as that?

I do think though that a decent waterproof fabric is effectively 100% waterproof- water is basically never going to get forced through while a human is wearing it. 

Most of these points often become moot in use though. I reckon the vast majority of complaints about leaking waterproof jackets are actually about how they basicially stop breathing once they start wetting out or how water gets blown inside them. Once you're wet enough that distinction becomes a bit meaningless!

 

No. I have been out running in hard shells from Goretex and they have wetted through. I had to return home mid way through a munro bagging session at Ben Liu one day because the missus' Goretex hard shell wetted through so badly so was getting cold and miserable. Not at the seams, but the fabric, main sections. 

This isn't some irregularity - it's basic science - membranes can only handle so much rain pressure. You can't lump a 2kmm 1 layer shell jacket into the same bracket as a 15k mm 3 layer one. 

Hiking forums are full of complaints and problems people have with shells - no-one experienced actually expects a hard shell to be breathable. 

This quote from you:

I do think though that a decent waterproof fabric is effectively 100% waterproof- water is basically never going to get forced through while a human is wearing it. 

 

That's a junk thing to say. It doesn't mean anything at all. So if I go and buy a decent, super posh Arc'teryx 300 quid Active Shell, it'll be effectively 100% waterproof will it? What about a 600 quid 2 layer one? That'll be 100% waterproof will it? Answer is no to both. 

Tell you what, go buy one and head to the Highlands in winter and tell me how long you stay dry for. That sort of ignorance is what the rescue teams complain about - people running around in expensive, light, shit gear thinking they're equipped because of waterproof and warmth claims. 

 

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
5 likes

Sorry guys, don't really agree with the direction the convo took here on fabrics. No modern day hardshell is completely waterproof, even the least breathable is still not completely waterpoof - it'll have a rating - say 20,000mm (which would be an extreme ridiculous waterproof rating). This means that the membranes on the fabric have been tested with a tube of water up to that amount and it didn't start wetting through. After that amount, then yes, the jacket can't handle the water pressure and you'd start getting wet. 

 

A lot of hard shells on the market are only a layer or two thick. Some only say 2,000mm which maybe is the lowest industry rating you can have while still calling your jacket 'waterproof'. Jackets below that are 'resistant' (need to check that exact number btw). 

So say you had a 20,000mm ridiculous waterpoof jacket - that still doesn't mean it's going to be waterproof to that water pressure if it's bucketing down, because the better fitting your hardshell is - especially if you're an alpinist whose life can depend on unrestricted movement -  then the more pieces it needs to be cut from. Tailoring 101. Now the skill comes down to how well you can tape the seams. Some companies do a good job of it, invest in it, others make a bit of a hash of it and you'll get soaked through in your fancy jacket because of bad seams, or the seam was designed where heavy pressure from your pack, harness or whatever is forcing water through in that area. 

GSM is the other rating - this is how breathable your jacket is - go to manufacturer's sites - you don't see this advertised quite often, but they will advertise the mm proof rating - why? Because their hardshell that they're telling you is super breathable is actually shit. And if they put the GSM rating on there you'll google it and find out just how boil-in-the-bag pathetic it is.

 

Hardshells have a reputation of being waterproof. Goretex is the standard, but neither term or brand mean you're getting a decent jacket. Goretex and other brands have many different fabrics. Some great some pants. Eg. Goretex Active shell v1 - marketed to trail runners, or fast moving sports folk in wet conditions. Best thing ever, superbreathable, superwaterproof, superlight, superexpensive. Super shit. Mountain Equipment's original Firefox as one example. Good company by the way, but that generation of ActiveShell a few years ago was pathetic. Wear a backpack and it's done for. They actually include stuff sacks with those lightweight shells - but if you use it - they'll think you're an idiot who just wrecked his 200 quid shell.

Generally speaking - the better your mm rating, the weaker your gsm rating. If mm's aren't advertised, look at the layers. More layers, more dry dry. There are so many proprietary fabrics outside of Goretex, so just think layers if you're in a pinch. Anything 2.5 layer and up is pretty hardcore if well taped.

 

I would never, ever buy a hardshell for use on the bike. In the end I couldn't use them for hiking and climbing in the Highlands. Trail running, not a chance. Hated it, even the best ones on the market. 

 

For cycling, softshell for sure. (I got one a few months ago and have yet to test it as it's so thick I'd need the temp to drop near 0 and be pissing down relentlessly to even consider wearing it - so jury is out how well it'll do). Soft shell wets through faster sure, generally, but it'll be warm, isn't noisy or clammy, stretchier, and is windproof, sexier, tougher, doesn't tear like hardshell can if you snag them, etc. Like hard shells, it'll need reproofed as it ages.

 

If you really want to get into hard v soft shells - look up some alpinist blogs. Experienced guys go softshell now. They know staying dry in horrid conditions is a losers game. Warm, that's what you want. BTW - same stuff applies about shoftshells - they have ratings, layers etc too. Breathability isn't great, but better than hard shells. Ideally, forget all that breathability stuff - and find a softshell with pit zips. Though when running or whatever it's easy to open and close those regularly. Not so easy on the bike I guess.

 

EDIT: since this article is for commuters - none of this is very important if you're commuting at low speed, below tempo with a low heart rate. Just get something that isn't too baggy and has a reinforced shoulder area so your backpack doesn't wear out the fabric and let water in too easily.

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andyp | 7 years ago
1 like

Marketing guff then, for 'waterproof' or 'not waterproof'?

Jebus, life was a lot easier when it was just 'bikes' and 'clothes' rather than 'all mountain' and 'freeride' and 'soft shell'.   3

 

 

oh - thanks, btw. I can now sound a little more knowledgeable.  1

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ktache | 7 years ago
0 likes

I actually found my pertex (softshell) to be sweatier than my gortex active (hardshell).  The goretex had better windproofing, so a little bit warmer, meaning I could wear thinner and less layers, so less build up of sweat.  And with less cold sweat I stayed warmer.  A virtuous cycle for once.  Only my experience and circumstances.

I will be looking to buy a castelli gabba 2 jacket when funds allow, havn't seen a bad review.

 

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ricebike | 7 years ago
0 likes

Anyone tried the Craft Glow Jacket? I can't find any reviews on it.

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matthewn5 replied to ricebike | 7 years ago
0 likes
ricebike wrote:

Anyone tried the Craft Glow Jacket? I can't find any reviews on it.

No but I have one of their older jackets, very good quality and still waterproof after 5 years of commuting. Had to have the zip replaced last year, rest of it is still very good.

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
3 likes

My heart rate's always over 190. This is my winter kit.

 

//4.bp.blogspot.com/-qxgmjtUJSdc/V_USq-fz30I/AAAAAAAAklQ/vMi7lcihhxkXBWdEmoc4rNWh2hwC6wiJgCLcB/s640/2391.JPG)

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Scoob_84 | 7 years ago
6 likes

Not sure why anyone in this day of age will still be buying hard shell jackets. They're only useful when its hammering down with rain and/or very cold, and its quite rare that people cycle for any length of time in those conditions.Even the best jackets are very 'boil in the bag', so its soft shell all day for me. I'd rather be wet from rain eventually working its way slowly through the fabric than from my own pongy sweat!

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poppa replied to Scoob_84 | 7 years ago
0 likes
Scoob_84 wrote:

Not sure why anyone in this day of age will still be buying hard shell jackets. They're only useful when its hammering down with rain and/or very cold, and its quite rare that people cycle for any length of time in those conditions.Even the best jackets are very 'boil in the bag', so its soft shell all day for me. I'd rather be wet from rain eventually working its way slowly through the fabric than from my own pongy sweat!

I use a windproof, very lightweight, breathable shell, and add/subtract layers as needed. If I wore a jacket with any amount of insulation I would get too hot  - which is particularly important when I am commuting in my work clothes.

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andyp replied to Scoob_84 | 7 years ago
0 likes
Scoob_84 wrote:

Not sure why anyone in this day of age will still be buying hard shell jackets. They're only useful when its hammering down with rain and/or very cold, and its quite rare that people cycle for any length of time in those conditions.Even the best jackets are very 'boil in the bag', so its soft shell all day for me. I'd rather be wet from rain eventually working its way slowly through the fabric than from my own pongy sweat!

 

You might be just the person I'm after. Can you explain this 'shell' business? What makes clothing a 'shell'? What distinguishes hard shell from soft shell?

 

Someone asked me the other day and I didn't have a clue what they were talking about. 

Seriously. Thanks!

 

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