The best packable rain jackets are an essential piece of your cycling toolkit. Regardless if it's summer or winter the weather can be a fickle beast and in many places, it can almost be expected that you are going to get rained on at some point — even during the warmer months.
While you can go all out and wear a fully protective waterproof jacket, quite often they are pretty bulky. When the rain stops and the time comes to just peel off the layer to prevent overheating, it might prove to be nigh on impossible to pack away. This is where a lighter, packable jacket can pay dividends. And of course, even if it isn't raining, having an additional layer to take on and off can add comfort and windproofing on cooler rides in drier conditions.
As technology has advanced it's often no longer a compromise in weather protection when opting for a lightweight packable. Single-layer Gore-Tex Shakedry and other comparable technical materials pack in the weatherproofing of multi-layered fabrics sans bulk, without sacrificing waterproofing or breathability, avoiding the boil in the bag feel of thicker jackets.
We've compiled a selection of our favourite, best-performing packable jackets below, hopefully taking the guesswork out of which jacket to buy.
The best packable rain jackets reviewed
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Without doubt one of the best performing full waterproof rain jackets we have ever tested, let alone in the packable category.
The Idro 3 uses Gore-Tex Shake Dry fabric to ensure complete weatherproofing, yet a quick shake and it is dry enough to comfortably put back in your pocket. It is very expensive and lacks any additional features, but the performance of the fabric more than makes up for that.
On this latest iteration, we found that the cut on the forearms was too tight and, without much give in the fabric, this wasn't ideal. Providing that the fit suits you, this jacket is brilliant - just make sure to either try it on first or make sure you're ontop of the returns policy.
For more, read our full review of the Castelli Idro 3 jacket (opens in new tab)
Altura's packable Firestorm jacket utilizes a proprietary waterproof and breathable fabric to deal with the worst the weather can dish out. It's a little bulkier than some of the other jackets here, but also provides a little more warmth for really cold days. Plenty of reflective features add another dimension to the Firestorm and make it a good choice for riders getting out in the early mornings or evenings.
Read our full review of the Altura Firestorm (women's) jacket
Having already established a range of jerseys and shorts, the Albion Rain Jacket sees the London brand break into new, water-resistant territory. It features fully taped seams and the jacket body has a three-layer waterproof and wind-resistant fabric. To touch, the jacket is lightweight and doesn’t feel bulky or heavy in your hands. In fact, one of its best features is its packability, and it easily fits into a rear pocket.
The fit is quite constrictive and we found it tight across the shoulders, although arm length is good.
Read our full review of the Albion Rain Jacket
Rapha's entry into the Gore-Tex Shakedry jacket category actually proves to almost be a bargain compared to its rivals. Our tester lauded Gore's Shakedry fabric for its ability to keep the precipitation on the outside, while also preventing the boil in a bag feeling on the inside. In fact, this particular CW staffer, Rupert, who usually dislikes wearing waterproofs, happily wore the Pro Team Jacket for entire rides; something he would usually only do if it was completely unavoidable.
Read our full review of the Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Jacket (men's)
Read our full review of the Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Jacket review (women's)
As Assos puts it, the Equipe RS is the offspring if its legendary Rs.strumprinz jacket, which also has a legendary £350 / $499 price tag. Made from a softshell, Scholl Tex fabric, the Equip RS is completely waterproof, but also breathes quite a bit better than some its crunchy hardshell competitors. It's not quite as compact as some of the others on this list, but the Swiss jacket will easily stuff into a pocket.
Read our full review of the Assos Equipe RS rain jacket
The 365 Scudo is an ultra-lightweight jacket that has a little less waterproofing than some of the other rain jackets here but still offers 100% windproofing, making it ideal for those days when the weather just can't make its mind up and threatens showers. Packing down to less than the size of an apple, it will fit into a jersey pocket with space to spare.
Read our full review of the Santini Scudo rain jacket
Scottish brand Endura knows a thing or two about creating weather beating kit and the Pro SL Shell jacket is no exception, with a three-layer fabric that's thinner than the competition.
It's on the bulkier side of the packable jacket spectrum but will still fit into a pocket. What it does have is an exceptional fit and a three-layer fabric that is as tough as it is weatherproof and a storm flap to stop water finding its way in through the zip.
Read our full review of the Endura Pro SL Shell jacket
Buyer's guide to the best packable rain jackets
What fabrics should I look for?
Above all else the material used in the construction of the jacket is what makes the biggest difference in performance. Ideally, you want a fully waterproof material that also has a high degree of breathability.
Some techy modern fabrics such as Gore Shakedry manage to combine both aspects into a single layer of material, making them not only high performance but also extremely lightweight.
The only issue with such fabrics is they usually come with a high ticket price and can be a little fragile. At the entry-level you can still expect solid performance but don't expect fully waterproof materials to be anywhere near as breathable or pack down as small.
How should a packable rain jacket fit?
Most packable rain jackets follow the same vein as the traditional race cape, i.e. will be tight to the body and offer an articulated cut to fit well in a riding position.
If you prefer a looser fit or plan on wearing more layers underneath then you might want to go up a size from your usual choice. A good packable jacket should have a long sleeve length and a dropped tail to protect your derriere and lower back as dry as possible.
The alternative if you're not expecting to need to remove your jacket too often and are usually carrying luggage on your rides is one of the best commuter cycling jackets.
What other features should I look for?
Of course, there is always going to be a compromise when choosing a rain jacket that packs down to the size of a baseball, and that packability normally comes at the cost of extra features.
Don't expect multiple pockets, additional drawstring closures or even zipped vents in most cases. The construction will also be a little less robust and fabrics and zips might not be as durable, so you will need to use a bit of extra care when using.
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