It's often said that the most critical piece of cycle clothing that a British cyclist needs to invest in is a waterproof jacket. We ask a lot of though: such a jacket needs to be completely waterproof but not cosy enough to heat the body to the point of unbearable discomfort.
Step forward Rapha's new Rain Jacket. What Rapha have rather smartly done is take the Stowaway, an ultra-lightweight packable wind shell, and boost its ruggedness with waterproof material on the arms, shoulders and chest. Where it doesn't need to be waterproof, under the arms for example, the material is more breathable. There's taped seams around the arms and neck for good measure.
Sounds good on paper, then. And where better to test the new Rain Jacket than a 10-day cycle ride around the French Alps in September? The recent Cent Cols Challenge then, with its early starts, long days, huge mountain passes and a full spectrum of conditions, was the testing ground and beautifully highlighted just how adept the Rain Jacket is at keeping the rain and wind off while avoiding the unpleasantness of overheating. The combination of early starts, long days and very often late finishes, saw the Rain Jacket become an indispensible item of clothing for all but the very few hot days at the end of the event.
On brisk, cold, early mornings, the jacket got us comfortably through the first couple of hours until it warmed up enough to be removed, rolled up and slipped into a jersey pocket. One particular long mountain climb was accompanied by freezing cold rain but the Rain Jacket managed to walk the tightrope of keeping the rain off while also not reducing the rider to a horrible sweaty mess.
The Rain Jacket is a close-fitting affair; there's a high neck and dropped tail and the same Lycra cuffs from the Stowaway. These ensure a tight seal around the wrists but do make pulling the jacket off while riding slightly tricky albeit not impossible. Considering how often (not very) we remove jackets while actually riding, it's something we can live with. A vertically-mounted rear pocket provides enough space for an energy bar or mobile phone, or both, and far from being a matter of style, the off-centre main zip does keep the zip puller away from your chin. I'd like to see Rapha modify the zip so that it's easy to slide open with just one hand when riding along, especially for those moments when you just need to open it up a little to get some cooling air in around your neck. Elasticated pullers tailor the fit of the waist, and there's a colour-contrasting hoop on the left sleeve - making the connection between the many items of clothing in the Rapha range.
Grey and Cream colours available. Sizes from XS to L.
Verdict
The performance of the Rain Jacket exceeded my expectations during the most demanding and challenging weather conditions. Every detail is well judged and well thought out, it's exceptionally lightweight yet still durable.
