11 Top-Performing Cycling Jackets and Vests for Spring
With consistently warm summer days in the not-so-near future, and social distancing far from a distant memory, you might find yourself as antsy to get off the lonely trainer as you are to brave the unpredictable days of spring, which can be cold and rainy one day and sunny and balmy the next. To get through this guessing game of weather—and out of your freakin’ house—you need the right medium-weight jacket or vest, with the right features, for where and how you ride. Check out quick reviews below of five of our top performers plus buying advice, then scroll for longer reviews of these and other high-ranking jackets.
What Kind of Rider Are You?
If most of your riding consists of moderately paced commutes or leisurely rides on bike paths, you’ll need a jacket with more coverage because you won’t be sweating or generating as much heat as you would if you were doing, say, longer rides on the road. But if you know you’ll be working hard and getting your heart rate up, you’ll want to opt for something close-fitting and minimalist, with windproof panels and good ventilation (or maybe even just a vest). Of course, there’s more to how well a jacket functions than fit and fabric alone. Features count, too—things like waterproof zippers, multiple pockets, fleecy collars, sleeve length, reflective details and, of course, colors. If you ride on the road, for example, the more visible you are, the better.
Waterproof vs. Water-Resistant
Waterproof and water-resistant are different points on the same continuum, and what you want varies by how you’ll use it. According to Rob Pickels, a physiologist working on Pearl Izumi’s Advanced Concepts team, you don’t actually want a waterproof jacket for most cycling because, along with keeping the rain out, it will likely keep all of your sweat in. Most manufacturers use a scale to show how much water a garment will keep out. Pickels suggests a jacket with a breathability rating of 5,000 grams per square meter for most of the rainy weather that you’re likely to ride in, while 10,000 will handle just about any deluge you’d reasonably encounter.
Breathability, Explained
How much you love a jacket or vest will likely depend on several factors: how well it fits, how well it keeps you warm, how well it keeps you dry, and how well it breathes. The last one is maybe the trickiest to get right.
Breathability is a measure of how much moisture a membrane can transport. Moisture here means sweat, and if your jacket doesn’t breathe, you’ll be drenched in the stuff during hard efforts, which will seriously chill you when it cools down. The best jackets let a lot of moisture escape without allowing too much wind or moisture in. But you’ll pay more for them.
How We Tested
Our team of experienced testers spent many hours, through blustery, drizzly, and mildly chilly days wearing a ton of jackets during a wide variety of rides, from casual trail days to long road rides, intense hammer-fest sessions, and everything in between. We pushed the limits of their insulation, and put water-resistance claims to the test. We evaluated them based on performance, fit, price, comfort, and how well they held up to put together this list of the ones we deem the best.
—BEST IN THE RAIN—
Gore C5 Gore-Tex Shakedry 1985 Insulated
The insulated Gore Shakedry is so good at keeping you warm and dry that you might actually start looking forward to pop-up showers midride. This jacket provides it all: warmth, water resistance, wind- and waterproofing, breathability, low weight, and comfort. It feels like a spring-season windbreaker but protects like a ski shell. The magic comes from two sources: Gore’s excellent Shakedry membrane, which is lighter and more breathable than standard Gore-Tex, and a thin layer of Polartec Alpha insulation, incredibly warm for how light it is. With just a base layer under it, you can wear the jacket comfortably down to freezing temps, and it’s just loose enough that you can add another layer if needed.
—HANDSOME COMMUTER JACKET—
Dainese AWA Black Jacket
Dainese, with roots in motorcycle protection apparel, has broadened its product offering to serve a wider range of enthusiasts, including those who pedal their bikes. This zip-up has the company’s signature sleek, moto-jacket fit with some bike-specific tech and features. Our tester wore it for strenuous mountain bike rides, as well as commutes and rides with his son, and found it most comfortable in the 40 to 60-degree range. It’s breathable, even though it is water and wind resistant. The reflective strips on the arms are great for signaling to drivers when you’re turning, and the only pocket it has is a large zippered chest pocked, which was big enough for a phone and wallet.
—BEST ALL-AROUND VEST—
Velocio Men’s Wind Vest
One thing arguably more useful than a jacket when the weather is iffy is a packable vest—paired with arm warmers and a short sleeve jersey, the combo basically offers you a whole midride outfit change you can fit in two pockets. When you know you’ll probably be wearing the vest for the whole ride, this one tops the list with its windproof front panel and breathable rear. Our tester found it most comfortable for hard efforts when temps were between 45 and 55 degrees (any warmer and he took it off). The two-way zipper is great for dumping heat in a hurry, as well as accessing jersey pockets. But this vest has pockets itself, which is another reason it’s ideal if you’ll be wearing it the whole ride. Though not quite as packable as the Ultralight version, this one is light enough to stuff in a pocket if needed.
—NON-FLAPPY WINDBREAKER—
Pearl Izumi Pro Barrier Jacket
For early spring days when the sun is shining but the wind is blowing, the Pearl Izumi Pro Barrier Jacket has a PI Dry coating on the polyester fibers, which helps shed light moisture. Our wear tester really liked the way the somewhat-stretchy, featherlight fabric fit comfortably and flatteringly. A silicone grip in the rear hem of the jacket helped keep it in place. It doesn’t have pockets, but the jacket itself packs down small enough to fit into a jersey pocket if you find yourself working up a considerable sweat. It also has a two-way zipper that allows you to ventilate just a little if you want, and the reflective detailing helps you catch the eye of other road users.
—BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE JACKET—
Flylow Davis Jacket
This light windbreaker jacket offers just enough coverage to cut the bite of chilly spring winds. Made from a durable, slightly stretchy material, it offers enough movement and protection for shredding through the woods. The hem is lower in the back for more rear-end coverage, and a hydrophobic DWR treatment helps the fabric repel moisture. This jacket’s hood rolls up and snaps in place to keep it from whipping around, but also fits well under a helmet without obstructing your vision, for days when the wind is relentless. Our tester especially liked the unrestrictive, lightweight fabric that kept him just warm enough on a blustery ride in the woods, and gave him plenty of room to move around. It does fit pretty loosely, so if you’re usually between sizes, we recommend the smaller one.
—BEST SPRING JACKET—
Decathlon Sportive Jacket
France-based brand Decathlon is quickly gaining popularity in the U.S., and for good reason—its clothing and gear are high-quality and reasonably priced. This jacket in particular is a delight for long rides in cold temps: The brushed-fabric interior and water-resistant, breathable exterior keep you insulated and dry through chilly, damp conditions, and the extra-long rear hem offers plenty of extra coverage. And instead of having three pockets crammed onto the small back panel, it has two. But don’t worry about lost storage space; each side panel gets a pocket, as well.
—RACE-CUT CYCLING VEST—
Assos Equipe RS Fall Spring Aero Gilet
The Aero Gilet is a great companion for shoulder-season riding and high-intensity outings such as racing or training. It’s made with a waterproof and breathable three-layer membrane. A slightly heavier stretch fabric up front blocks the wind and rain, and a lighter, more breathable back panel helps vent sweat and excess warmth at high intensities. Tester and photographer Trever Raab said that the vest did all this while being formfitting and comfortable. It’s worth nothing that this race vest doesn’t have pockets but does have a double zipper for rear jersey pocket access. The Gilet isn’t as packable as some lighter offerings but works wonders when it’s just c0ld enough to warrant a vest for the entire ride.
—GREAT BREATHABILITY—
Pearl Izumi Men’s Escape Softshell
This jacket is windproof with a fuzzy brushed interior for added warmth. The knitted polyester is water-resistant (not waterproof), but moves and stretches with you easily. There’s an extra tab of wind-blocking fabric along the inside of the zipper to keep drafts from getting in. The single chest pocket is easy to access and big enough for a gel or cycling computer (but not a smartphone). The Softshell has a single zippered back pocket, useful for storing extras like a vest or neck gaiter; just keep things that can bounce around, like keys or a phone, out of it. The bright colors and reflective logos make you more noticeable to drivers
—BEST MEDIUM WEIGHT—
Giordana Men’s FR-C Pro Lyte
Ready to take on your hardest winter rides, this three-layer garment is designed to keep you warm and dry through sweaty intervals in chilly conditions. (You should wear a baselayer to wick sweat, if intervals are indeed what you’re doing.) Despite its ability to trap warmth, the lightweight fabric maintains a slim profile. And the FR-C Pro Lyte is windproof and water-resistant. The interior of the collar is lined with a brushed material that’s soft against your chin, and the side panels and waist are made of a more breathable, flexible fabric. Giordana product designers thought about that annoying sleeve-glove junction and made the cuffs nice and straight to fit inside your favorite lobster claws. Reflective piping around the waist and on the upper arms boosts your visibility, and a smaller zippered pocket keeps valuables snug.
—BEST HI-VIZ VEST—
Specialized Hyperviz Deflect Wind Vest
Stuff this little guy in your back pocket for your first after-work ride of the season, and pull it out once the daylight starts to dim and temps cool a bit. The high-vis yellow and two big reflective strips on the back keep you visible to drivers. The sleek, formfitting vest is made of wind-resistant and highly breathable material, and the front panel is treated with a water-resistant DWR coating, enough to keep a light drizzle from penetrating.
—BEST CASUAL—
Pearl Izumi Versa Softshell Hoodie
The obvious use for this softshell hoodie is commuting, but it’s technical enough that it also makes a great cold-weather jacket for mountain biking or even gravel riding. A subtle drop tail provides full coverage in the riding position but doesn’t scream THIS IS A BIKE JACKET! when you’re not on the bike. The softshell material provides some windproofing, and a layer of foam material between the softshell layers repels water while promoting breathability. A roomy zippered pocket extends all the way across the back panel, allowing you to fit in bulky items like a pair of gloves or leg warmers. One tester noted that after a few months of wear, holes developed where the front pockets are sewn to the jacket. That said, if you wear this jacket to ride more than you do for standing around at a bar, you’ll be gripping the handlebar more and weighing down your pockets less.
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