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With these waterproof jackets, bags, fenders, and more, a sudden downpour shouldn’t cancel your ride. Clinical Digital Lcd Thermometer
While no cyclist I know especially enjoys riding in the rain, there’s no reason that you can’t do it without getting yourself or your stuff wet. There’s a wide range of waterproof rain cycling apparel available, as well as packs to protect computers and other valuables – and gadgets and gear to ensure you can see and be seen even in the heaviest downpours.
I personally exercise a heightened level of caution when cycling in the rain to take into account roads being potentially slippery and foggy windows and inadequate windshield wipers making it more difficult for motorists to see me. For me, all the best rain gear adds something in the way of waterproofness or safety to my ride, or, whenever possible, both of those things.
Riding in the rain calls for a heightened level of awareness, as well as the appropriate gear to keep you dry, comfortable, and, most importantly, safe. Visibility is always key, and the more reflective details on your person and bike, the better for motorists and other cyclists to see you.
Lights, too, alert others to your presence and a good headlight will illuminate your path forward. Be conscious of extremely bright and strobing lights as they can blind other cyclists coming toward you or your buddy who is trying to follow your wheel.
When choosing clothing, balance your breathability and waterproofness needs to determine whether a traditional hardshell jacket or softshell will work best (more on that below).
Waterproof jackets and pants come in two general varieties: hardshell and softshell. Most commonly constructed with a three-layer build, hard shell garments typically feature a waterproof, breathable membrane between a sturdy, exterior fabric and an inner lining.
The exterior fabric of these jackets tends to be less stretchy and more “plastic-y” feeling than softshell jackets, which are usually made from a knitted fabric. They feature taped seams and special Aqua-resistant zippers for a complete waterproof experience
Because they have an element of stretchiness, softshell garments can be designed to have a tight, close fit, which many road cyclists find desirable (no flapping around in the wind when pedaling at high speeds). They’re more water-resistant than waterproof but also usually more breathable than hard shell jackets and pants. Typically, a hardshell jacket is your best option if you’re going to be out in the rain for hours at a time, while a softshell is adequate for short, sporadic showers.
In recent years, Gore has disrupted this clear division between hard and soft shell garments by developing Shakedry fabrics, where the waterproof membrane is actually on the outside. Gore Tex Shakedry is technically a hard shell (woven) construction with the breathability and low weight of soft shell.
While out in the rain, don’t forget to protect electronics and other valuables. I’m someone who always errs on the side of caution when it comes to electronics, so if I’m transporting a computer and/or carrying my phone, I usually use not only a waterproof bag or pack but also the low tech, modest plastic bag (yes, probably overkill but I’d rather be safe than sorry). If you, too, never completely trust the claims of a waterproof pack, I recommend plastic string bags and, of course, zip-locs.
Between myself and my infinitely knowledgeable colleagues at Bicycling Magazine, all of the rain gear included has been tested in real world conditions. I balanced this expertise with online reviews as well as recommendations from a wide range of cyclists that I ride and interact with on a regular basis. The gear I selected provides the highest levels of usefulness and reliability in the widest range of rainy conditions (from drizzle to downpour).
Made from sustainably sourced and recycled polyester with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating, the Pearl Izumi Attack AmFib jacket sheds water and blocks wind while offering excellent breathability. The zippered front chest pocket accommodates most cell phones as well as your money and/or ID, and the three back lower pockets provide ample room for snacks and an extra layer (or two).
The close form fit has enough stretch that you can comfortably don the layers you’ve been toting in your pockets when needed. Reflective details add visibility and fleece insulation in the chest and arm areas keeps you warm in low temperatures. The women’s version is available in a bright sunflower, vibrant violet, or muted, vintage denim (men’s comes in sunflower, gray, and black) to compliment a range of styles and moods. And, there’s a 2-way zipper for when you need some ventilation.
All things taken into consideration, this is an excellent, versatile jacket to have in your spring, fall, and winter cycling rotation.
Made from a waterproof nylon fabric with taped seams and AquaGuard zipper, the Rapha Core Rain Jacket 11, provides excellent protection from both rain and wind while also being breathable and lightweight enough to easily carry in your pocket as an emergency layer. Aside from effectively keeping moisture out, the features I love the most are the elasticized inner cuffs and the offset zipper, which helps prevent cold air blasts from getting between your layers – plus the zipper position keeps the stop and pull from digging into your neck at your larynx.
Rapha’s line of ‘Core’ cycling garments have a slightly more relaxed fit than those in their ‘Pro Team’ family, making this jacket perfect for weekend rides, bikepacking expeditions, and/or daily commuting.
I took the earlier iteration of this jacket on cycling trips across Central Asia, Southern Europe, and the mountains of Nepal, as well as frequent trips over the Hudson and East Rivers at home. Somehow, it ‘disappeared’ from my seat pack at a border crossing between Mongolia and Russia. I imagine it’s still being worn by some lucky border control agent today. The current version, which I now own, features more reflective details, ventilation holes in the armpits, and a lower elasticized cord at the hem for a more secure fit. All’s well that ends well, I guess.
While I will never have the tenacity and gumption to work as a bike messenger, I’m lucky to know, spend time with, and semi-regularly ride with many cyclists in NYC who are part of that community. I don’t mean food delivery folks on electric bikes (though I certainly mean them no disrespect) but rather OG, fearless bike messengers on, more often than not, single speeds riding in traffic. One of the most popular hooded rain jackets among this crowd (as well as my all-time favorite rain jacket for commuting) is the Showers Pass Refuge Jacket, a hardshell with fully taped seams and waterproof zippers.
The hood, both adjustable and removable, fits comfortably over a helmet, while the drop-down tail protects your backside from tire spray (and wet park benches). The zippered vents open up to let more air in if you’re racing through the streets or climbing a mountain. The comfortable, amply wide and contoured collar allows you to tuck your chin into it when the head spray or wind turns especially nasty. All that, plus reflective details, handwarmer pockets, and easy grip zipper pulls (so you don’t need to take off your gloves) make this jacket one of the best hooded rain jackets available.
The Refugee is not an especially packable jacket; it's more the one you put on when it's already actively raining and the forecast reports that it won’t let up any time soon.
For a more packable hooded water cycling jacket check out the Men’s and Women’s 7mesh Copilot:
As any cyclist knows, wet, cold hands can cause all sorts of problems, including blisters, numbness, and, most dangerously, a compromised grip and/or slipping of the hands off your handlebars and brakes. Gloves that aren’t waterproof tend to get soggy and waterlogged, which complicates things even further. A good pair of waterproof gloves will keep your hands dry, warm, and firmly on your bars where they should be when you’re out in the rain.
My favorite are the Sealskinz Bodham gloves, which feature a three-layer construction for optimal waterproofness and breathability. The outer layer, made from a polyester, polyurethane, nylon, and elastane blend helps keep your hands warm, while the middle waterproof membrane keeps them dry. The inner lining uses what the company calls, “zero movement technology” which is just a fancy way of saying it won’t slip around or bunch up. They’re not quite warm enough to wear when temperatures get close to freezing (and below) but work well for Summer, Spring and Fall rainy rides.
They also have foam padding at pressure points for comfort, touch screen compatibility on the index finger and thumb, and most importantly, a suede thumb wiper. If you wear glasses of any kind while cycling in rain (or snow and sleet), the ability to wipe the lenses with the thumb of your glove is, quite literally, a life saver.
Available with or without prescription lenses, Oakley’s Plazma glasses with photochromic lenses fit close to your face, which helps prevent rain water and spray from getting into your eyes. The lenses change from clear to dark gray depending on how much the sun is shining so you can wear them throughout changing weather conditions.
Made with Oakley’s Prizm technology, they enhance both color and contrast, providing an exceptionally clear view of your surroundings. The nose pads and ear-arms provide a no slip yet comfortable grip to keep them in place, and both the lightweight dual lenses and frame itself are impact resistant for enhanced durability. They’re available in both regular and low bridge fits.
As a long time prescription glasses wearer, I can attest that these sports glasses fit more securely than many others I’ve owned throughout my life; as far as glasses go, there’s little that is more irritating than a pair that continually slips down your nose, especially when riding in the rain. These never do that. And they look pretty stylish too.
All the clothing in the Gore Wear Paclite family packs down small and remains permanently waterproof. The C5 trail pants are no exception. They’re also windproof to protect you from chilly wind, and exceptionally breathable so your sweat doesn’t build up under them.
Featuring a waistband drawstring, a pre-formed/shaped knee area, reinforced seat area, and adjustable ankle cuffs, these pants are designed to pull on over your shorts or tights (bib or otherwise) when the skies open up. And, unlike some rain pants made from heavier materials, they don’t feel weird or stick to the bare skin of your lower legs when you put them on over shorts.
Weighing in at less than 7 ounces, you barely notice them whether they’re on your body or stuffed into a jersey pocket. These are the rain pants I pack for long weekend rides, daily commutes when there’s a chance of rain in the forecast, and multi day bikepacking trips.
I’ve owned many pairs of cycling over shoes, most of which have worn out on the bottoms after only one season - except for these from GoreWear. Equipped with an abrasion resistant material, the bottom edge on the open sole (to accommodate clips) holds up well to pavement, train station platforms, and rocky terrain.
Made with Gore Tex C3 fabric, they’re waterproof, windproof, and breathable. A Velcro closure at the heel and elastic at the top ankle secures them in place, and reflective details offer visibility in low light, rainy conditions. They’re not made with a stretchy material like some other shoe covers so the fit may be a bit looser in comparison – which is something I actually like. Stretchy shoe covers always seem to ride up and over my toe box while these always stay where they’re meant to be.
They come in both neon yellow and black in sizes 6-8, 9-10.5, 11-13, and 13.5-15 (one of the few brands that offer an option for those with feet bigger than a standard 13).
Featuring an ultra-thin, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), stretchy inner membrane, Showers Pass Crosspoint socks keep your feet dry when riding in rain or through puddles. The molecular structure of PTFE allows the membrane itself to stretch while the actual pores do not. This is what gives this sock both its waterproofness and breathability.
Bonded to a wear resistant, knit nylon blend exterior layer and a breathable, merino wool lining, they’re formed into a 3-D foot shape with no seam ridges for an exceptionally comfortable fit. Additional padding at the heel and toes provides extra cushion.
While these socks remain sufficiently waterproof while riding, if you end up in water that comes up higher than the top of the socks (deep river crossings, excessive street flooding), your feet will get wet.
For wide beam illumination of surroundings in inclement weather and otherwise, I like CatEye’s 800 AMP, rechargeable headlamp. The mount features an easy on and off slide locking mechanism for charging and removing if you have to lock up your bike outside (there’s a small release button on the bottom front). When putting the light onto the mount, make sure you hear it click into place otherwise, it’ll come flying off mid ride.
Speaking of which, I can attest that, if your light does take an unscheduled flight, it’s exceptionally durable. I’ve had this happen a few times with no damage save for some exterior, cosmetic scrapes after fishing it out from under a parked car or from the road shoulder. The mount itself affixes to your handlebars with a flexible, durable strap with a screw-in tightening knob.
There are five modes to choose from: high, moderate, low, daytime hyper-constant (best for rainy days), and flashing. My only complaint is that in high steady mode, the battery only lasts for about 2 hours.
Not only is the Garmin Varia a tail light, when paired with your cycling computer (compatible with Garmins, Wahoos and others) it’s also a radar sensor, providing real time alerts (customizable visual and audio) for rear approaching vehicles on your device. Visible up to a mile away in both daylight and night time conditions, the light features four modes: solid, peloton (so you don’t blind your fellow riders when pace-lining), night flash, and day flash. In the lowest mode (day flash) the battery lasts about 16 hours.
It attaches to your seatpost via the same type of mount used by most Gramins and Wahoos: the kind where you insert your device (in this instance the radar light) then turn to lock it in place. The vertical design means it fits comfortably against your seatpost and doesn’t get in the way of legs while pedaling.
Living in an urban environment, I ride my bike everywhere no matter what the weather. About half of my total cycling miles every year involve work or errand related riding with a backpack. And a good amount of those require carrying things which should not ever get wet – like a laptop. The solution to this is, of course, a good waterproof backpack like the Ortlieb Velocity 23 liter.
Constructed from a polyurethane-laminated polyester, it provides a sturdy, durable barrier from rain, both the ‘light sprinkle’ and ‘heavy deluge’ variety. There’s an inner removable sleeve with a zippered pocket for laptops measuring 14.2 inches long and 9.6 inches wide (my 16-inch MacBook fit, though I don’t think anything much larger would). One downside is that this pack doesn’t have any other separate pockets or sleeves for quick access or organization.
As anyone who has ever carried a backpack on a regular basis knows, some of them can prove to be quite uncomfortable when toting heavier loads. Not the case with this one: the foam back and ergonomic shoulder straps provide a comfortable fit no matter how much weight I put into it. There’s also a hip belt and sternum strap, both of which are removable so you don’t have to worry about them flapping around in the wind if you’re not using them.
The roll closure provides an effective top seal, the reinforced bottom and corners add durability, and the reflective details on the shoulder straps help to alert motorists to your presence. There’s even an attachment point on the back where you can clip a light or your helmet.
Portland Design Works Origami fenders are lightweight, flexible, and easy to install on most any bike. The front fender mounts on your downtube (on the wheel side) to protect your legs from road spray, while the back one clips to your seatpost and extends out over the back wheel to keep road spray from not only your backside but also the face of your friend pedaling behind you.
Made from a flexible, durable polypropylene, these fenders last for years. One of the women I cycle with on a regular basis has these on her bike. She never takes them off (though that’s an easy operation if you’re inclined) and has had the same set for as long as I’ve known her (12 years now) which means that not even the excessive road salt administered to NYC roads in the winter has damaged them.
How do I keep my head dry when cycling in the rain?
A jacket equipped with a hood designed to fit either over or under your helmet will keep your head dry while out in the rain. The only thing to be careful of is to make sure you can cinch the sides of the hood in tight enough that it doesn’t obstruct your peripheral vision.
Another option is a slip-on waterproof helmet cover. These usually have an elasticized drawcord at the bottom for a secure fit and come in bright, reflective colors.
One key thing I’ve learned from cycling in heavy downpours is that a sweatband or thin knit cap of some kind is helpful in absorbing any water that does get on your head (especially if you don’t use hoods or covers). Persistent, heavy rain can run down your forehead into your eyes significantly impacting your ability to see clearly.
How do you cycle in the rain?
As I mentioned before, I tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to cycling in the rain (though not everyone is as nervous of a nelly as I often am.) At the very least, remember to slow down more than usual when cornering and pump your brakes to avoid skidding on descents. Another trick is to let some of the air out of your tires so more of the rubber surface area connects with the road, reducing your chances of sliding. Consider also anti-slip grip tape on your handlebars and levers if you find keeping your grip more difficult in wet weather.
Should I clean my bike after it rains?
If you’ve been out all day in the rain, your bike has probably collected a wide assortment of road debris and dirt. If at all possible, you should clean it after an especially messy ride; regreasing and lubing the chain afterwards. This prevents corrosion and ensures that everything works smoothly.
Alternatively, you can do what I do; find yourself a perfectionist bike mechanic/friend who will clean it for you because they can’t help themselves. I readily admit to sometimes stopping by my bike shop with the flimsy reason of “just needing a shifter adjustment” because I know my mechanic will end up taking the cassette and derailleur off in the process just to “soak them for a minute”.
Vanessa Nirode is a freelance writer who covers wellness, culture, outdoor adventure and travel for Hearst, HuffPost, PopSci, BBC Travel, and Threads, among others. She’s also a pattern maker and tailor for film and television but most of the time, she’d rather just be riding her bicycle.
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