POC Men’s Motion Rain MTB Jacket

The POC Men’s Motion Rain MTB Jacket boasts a versatility that means it certainly shouldn’t be reserved for off-road trails. It’s perhaps more realistically a commuter cycling jacket that will keep you bone dry and looking good, both on and off the bike.

The main thing you’re looking for from a rain jacket is waterproofing and I don’t think you’re going to go wrong with the Motion. Its 20k rating derives from three-layer waterproof nylon supplemented by a fluorocarbon-free durable water repellent coating.

This sounds good on paper, but I can confirm it also performs well under the tap. In more relevant testing – 40 minutes riding in a torrential deluge – it also worked perfectly.

The coating will presumably deteriorate over time, but there are no signs of that so far. Strikingly, I can literally brush it dry of beaded water with my bare hand.

POC says the hood is designed for use under a helmet, which also means it’s a sensible size if you’re off the bike.

There’s a bit of elastic around the rim of it, rather than a drawstring. That means you can’t really adjust it, but I tend to find those alternative systems clumsy and unsatisfactory anyway.

Breathability is perhaps a little less impressive than the waterproofing, but it’s certainly no issue given it’s such a lightweight jacket. Perforated underarm sections are helpful inclusions and if the sight of them encourages panicked visions of tears, POC says its Ripstop fabric should ensure durability. I haven’t felt moved to deliberately test its limits, but it certainly feels strong.

Fit and features

Like almost all size guides, POC’s has me on the boundary between medium and large. I figured this was the kind of jacket that would often be combined with everyday winter clothing and so played it safe with the large.

This proved to be the correct option. I found it pragmatically roomy without being oversized and there was sufficient length in the arms even when I was riding a road bike.

The angled, lightly elasticated cuffs are also well shaped for riding, while the rear offers a little extra length. I suspect some would prefer it longer, but it isn’t billed as a road jacket.

Perhaps there was also concern about compromising the garment’s off the bike aesthetics, because one of the jacket’s great strengths is how good it looks for everyday wear. I have walked the kids to school in it more than I’ve ridden in it. Regardless of how I’m travelling, it has been my first choice waterproof.

Four colours are available: the ‘Uranium Black’ (which seems much the same as any other black to me) tested here, plus Sylvanite Grey, Calcite Blue and Dioptase Blue.

Reflectivity is minimal though, if that’s a concern – just a couple of strips situated either side on the lower back.

You get two sizeable zip pockets at the front and a smaller one on the chest.

The main zip is two-way and perfectly fine. It moves up and down easily enough without standing out as being in any way exceptional.

Value

At £250, the POC Men’s Motion Rain MTB Jacket is clearly not seeking to duke it out with the bargains of this segment. Nevertheless, the MAAP Alt_Road Lightweight Anorak manages to top it with an RRP of £270.

At the same time, you can get very decent performance from a rain jacket that works both on and off the bike for half the price or less.

The Chapeau City Jacket is an excellent packable option for £149.99, while the Galibier Zephyr Adventure jacket costs just £78.

Neither will be quite as waterproof as the POC, but both should be sufficient for most people’s needs.

For even more options, check out our best waterproof jackets cycling guide.

Conclusion

The POC Men’s Motion Rain MTB Jacket strikes the right balance between on- and off-bike practicality to the extent that it’s not merely viable in those two scenarios, but a strong performer in both. Whether that’s enough to justify a £250 price tag will be a matter of opinion.