Best winter cycling jackets reviewed 2024: keep warm with these top rated models

When the temperature drops to single digits, even the best arm warmers and jersey combinations won’t cut it anymore, so the best winter cycling jackets offer much greater protection against cold winds and wintery showers.

Offering windproof panels, fleece linings and DWR treatments, one of these jackets will keep you riding in comfort unless the heavens open, at which point you will need to deploy a packable waterproof. As part of a layering system worn over a base layer, these winter jackets are surprisingly versatile and can be used from sub-zero temperatures up to 10°C or 12°C, depending on the specific garment and the amount of effort being made.

Just as with waterproof jackets, a winter jacket needs to balance weather protection and breathability, so choose one which suits your requirements and shrug off the winter weather.

The Quick List

Best Winter Cycling Jackets: Our picks

1. Best overall

This is Castelli’s latest and greatest softshell jacket, boasting a variety of improvements and upgrades to the previous iteration. I actually tested that previous iteration two winters ago, and was very impressed by its performance. By no means does the Alpha Doppio have an easy act to follow, but I can safely say that it has fully stepped up and surpassed its predecessor.

The biggest difference between the two jackets is the move from a ‘fleecy’ insulating layer to Polartec’s Alpha Direct insulation. This fabric (if you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing it on any other garment) is very lofty, fabulously warm and very lightweight.

To put some numbers on it, I’ve been happily riding in this jacket down to about 4°C without a baselayer. I haven’t yet discovered the limits with a baselayer due to an insufficient number of adequately cold days so far this year at the time of writing. Regarding the weight, about 100 grams are saved from the previous model - around 20% of the garment’s weight.

Now, reducing a winter jacket’s weight might not sound the most obvious stat to boast about, but it genuinely is a relevant one. Compared to the previous iteration (and other, heavy-duty winter jackets), you don’t feel as cooped up or swaddled as you can in some winter getup, which itself makes riding in the cold a better experience.

The external seam taping has gone (what you can see on the shoulders is just a reflective strip, plus it’s offset from the actual seam). Despite this, the water resistance is just as good - potentially even better than before. Although it might be classed as a ‘softshell’, in my experience the waterproofing matches that of many hardshell rain jackets.

Then there’s just all the nice little touches, from the double cuff making glove arrangement decisions easier to the double collar at the rear - providing an extra level of warmth when hunkered down on the bars, blocking drafts coming down the back of your neck. In all, it’s really a very good jacket. It is also very, very expensive.

2. Best for warmth

Rapha’s Pro Team Winter Jacket really stands out against all the others of this group test in relation to two of its qualities. The first is the level of insulation. The Pro Team Winter Jacket is really notably warm - a particularly thick fleece is used across the chest, whilst a slightly thinner (though still generous) fleece is used in areas that are little more protected from the wind, aiding breathability. I’ve found 3°C to be about the limit without wearing a baselayer.

The second superlative relates to the cut. This jacket is much more ‘aggressive’ in its design, rising higher at the front to minimise bunching when bent over the bars in a low, aero position. If you prefer to work on your conditioning through the winter, rather than sitting up and plodding through the base miles, you’ll get on well with this jacket.

But if you are ready to shuffle a few spacers under the stem, or mix things up with winter gravel rides, then you’ll likely find that Rapha’s Pro Team Winter Jacket comes up short - more literally than figuratively, although there is some equivalence.

Notably, after MAAP’s Training Winter Jacket, Rapha’s Pro Team Winter jacket ranks second for taped seams. But despite that, the fabric itself isn’t as waterproof as that of Castelli’s or MAAP’s, and after a while in sustained rain the fabric does become saturated. So long as you’re pushing on a little bit, you do stay warm - which I think is preferable to a clammy rain shell. But if you’re tapping along at an easier pace, you’ll feel most comfortable pairing it with a rain shell.

The Pro Team Winter Jacket does miss out on a few ‘nice-to-haves’, such as the lack of a double cuff for easier glove layering or a two-way zip for better heat management. But then again, it still costs significantly less than the most expensive jacket on test, it’s a little warmer, and the zippered chest pocket is also handy for making it a little easier to get your card out for an impromptu café stop.

3. Best all-rounder

The Espresso Air offers an impressive combination of warmth, breathability and great fit. The fabric is constructed to allow a small amount of air to pass through it rather than being 100% windproof, although in use you don't notice that it isn't blocking all the breeze. This air permeability improves breathability and moisture management so that you don't get wet from your sweat and provides better temperature regulation.

As there is no membrane layer to the Ristretto Warm fabric it is super stretchy and light-feeling to wear despite its warmth. This also means that the fit can be close without being restrictive, even if worn over a layer or two.

There is a DWR coating to ward off light showers, but a waterproof will be required in more sustained rain and Castelli's temperature rating of 0°C - 10°C feels pretty spot on if worn with a good long-sleeved base layer.

4. Best value

It’s not often that the cheapest product on test packs quite this many features. The Pro SL 3 really is a very well thought-out jacket, and there are genuine reasons to choose this over the Santini Vega Absolute - even though my personal preference and recommendation would be for the Italian marque.

To start running through those features, the Endura Pro SL 3 comes with a detachable internal gilet which uses Primaloft’s Evolve fabric. This is very similar to the Polartec fabric of the Castelli Alpha Doppio and provides an impressive amount of warmth for its weight.

The rest of the jacket is a mixture of dense fleece and the unbacked softshell fabric. This is a point of contrast with the Castelli Alpha Doppio, which not only has the lofty insulation around the torso, but also extends this down the sleeves - keeping your arms that bit warmer.

With the Endura only having the lofty insulation as part of the gilet, this can result in a bit of a temperature mismatch, with your arms getting colder than your body. To be fair, that is pretty much the premise behind a gilet, but equally, there is a balance to strike.

Endura’s softshell fabric isn’t as breathable as Castelli’s Alpha Doppio jacket or Santini’s Vega Absolute, although it does outrank MAAP’s Training Winter Jacket. On the flipside, MAAP’s jacket provides really top-notch weatherproofing, so it’s largely a matter of preference and application there.

The Endura Pro SL 3, however, does have a party trick in its many zippered vents - two on the front and two on the sleeves. These help increase the airflow, boosting breathability beyond what the fabric on its own would be capable of.

Plus, if you take off the insulated gilet, it’s perfectly possible to ride this jacket on rainy days up to 16 degrees more comfortably than with a hardshell rain jacket - making it more versatile than the others on test. But for pure winter application, I would personally choose the Santini Vega Absolute over Endura’s Pro SL 3, as the materials used do feel higher quality.

5. Best for weatherproofing

It might surprise you how cold, wet and unpleasant Australian winters can actually be.

But even so, it is still a little unexpected that a winter jacket quite as robust and weatherproof as this was developed Down Under. Although the outer material doesn’t quite feel exactly like a hardshell rain jacket, it is pretty close in texture. With this comes exceptional windproofing properties and waterproofing that is fully on a par with hardshell rain jackets.

Further to that end, the seams are fully taped throughout - the biggest point of difference between this and a straight-up rain jacket really comes down to the full fleece backing, providing a considerable degree of warmth. I would say slightly less warm than Santini’s Vega Absolute jacket, although the two are very close.

With this level of weather sealing, the breathability of the jacket does take a hit compared to other softshell jackets, such as Castelli’s exceptional Alpha Doppio jacket, or Rapha’s (less weatherproof) Rapha Pro Team Winter Jacket.

That said, MAAP’s Training Winter Jacket does come with holes punched in the under arms to bolster the breathability - plus the two way YKK zipper does help expel some excess heat and moisture without exposing your chest to the elements. So, as an overall package, the level of breathability isn’t such to really cause a problem.

The double cuff does feel somewhat halfhearted: the extra internal fabric which should sit underneath the glove measures just two centimetres long - much shorter than is needed for it to actually sit underneath the cuff of the glove and have the jacket’s sleeve extend over. I just layered the jacket sleeve on top to aid the water run-off, like a standard jacket.

In all, MAAP’s Training Winter Jacket offers truly excellent waterproofing. If you’re looking for something more breathable than a hardshell to essentially replace your hardshell, this is a great option. Plus, despite the high price, it is still a fair chunk cheaper than Castelli’s Alpha Doppio. However, for general winter riding, I think that Santini’s Vega Absolute is a more well rounded jacket and it is considerably cheaper still.

6. Best premium jacket

The Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Thermal Jacket uses some impressive tech to make it very effective in cold and wet weather. The Windtex Pro fabric keeps the wind out brilliantly, while the grid fleece internal material provides excellent levels of insulation. The DWR coating and internally taped seams do a superb job at keeping out any water and the jacket performs more akin to a hardshell than a softshell.

The dual-zip and zip tabs make using the jacket while wearing thick gloves very easy, and the drainage holes on the rear of the pockets are another nice addition. The race fit works really well to keep the jacket form-fitting while in the cycling position. However, PNS tend to size things a bit short, so on my long torso, I found the rear pockets sat quite high and were very difficult to access while riding.

Aside from that, the jacket is faultless, but it is also £390 making it significantly more expensive than many competitors. If you want the style, fit, and brand name, plus genuinely superb cold and wet weather performance, then this jacket may be for you. Those looking for the best value for money should look elsewhere.

Best value warmth

Some of the jackets on test are quite straightforwardly best in their respective classes. The MAAP Training Winter Jacket has exceptional water and weather proofing qualities. The Castelli Alpha Doppio is super warm for its weight. The Rapha Pro Team Winter Jacket is super warm full stop.

The Vega Absolute doesn’t conquer any categories quite like that, but what it does do is perform strongly across many categories - and at a price which is now quite competitive for a winter softshell jacket.

Although the gridded fleece of the Vega Absolute isn’t as warm as Castelli’s Polartec Alpha fabric nor the much thicker fleece of Rapha’s Pro Team Winter Jacket, it still provides effective insulation without feeling cumbersome - which, to be fair, Rapha’s jacket can be somewhat accused of.

Without a baselayer, I was happy riding this jacket down to temperatures of around 6°C - and it could be taken much lower with a good quality merino baselayer (again, I haven’t yet found the lower limits with this pairing). It is notable, though, that the insulation around the collar is a little more minimalist, making a buff a necessity much sooner than with other jackets with a fleecier layer..

The wet weather performance is at the tier just below MAAP’s Training Winter Jacket and Castelli’s Alpha Doppio - two jackets which rival fully fledged hardshells for their waterproofing capabilities.

The Vega Absolute sits around the more modest performance of Endura’s Pro SL 3 and Rapha’s Pro Team Winter Jacket - though I would say this jacket actually did a better job than both of those, thanks in part to the extra layer of material covering the chest.

In all, I think that this is a really good jacket and would be my recommendation for most people. It’s a little more expensive than Endura’s - but you can see what you’re paying for in the more breathable, slightly warmer and more weatherproof fabrics. You can also see what you’re paying for in contrast with the Castelli Alpha Doppio, but I think the performance gains are more modest for the level of price increase.

Advice

While your legs are constantly moving on a bike, your torso and arms spend a lot of the time pretty static. Keeping them warm by wearing a great fitting winter cycling jackets is paramount, not only for your riding enjoyment, but, as the key controllers of your bike, in keeping you safe too.

Differing from the best long sleeved cycling jerseys, that plug the weather gaps of spring and fall/ autumn, the perfect winter cycling jacket will allow you to keep riding in much colder and wetter conditions, thanks to its thermal insulation, wind and waterproof properties, as well as being capable of maintaining good breathability.

How we test

All of the best winter cycling jackets in this buyers guide have been put through their paces, having been ridden by our tech team in the harshest of conditions

We all have a wealth of experience of cycling year round, so know what makes an ideal winter warmer, and what doesn't.

These winter cycling jackets are all standout quality because not only will they keep you warm in the coldest season, but also feature either technical innovation, super practical detailing or are just a great jacket for the price.

We're testing kit all year round, so as soon as the mercury drops, we'll be pulling our thermals on and reviewing more of the latest winter cycling kit, and will ensure this page is kept up to date with only the best on test.

More information on our rating system.