In this blog I’m going to list some of my favorite men’s cycling jackets for cold weather.
In my mind, cold weather doesn’t mean sub zero temperatures. In my mind, cold weather cycling jackets are jackets you need to dust off as soon as your long sleeve jersey can’t keep you warm anymore.
That means these cycling jackets are a first barrier against chilly temperatures as summer turns into autumn, or deep winter turns into spring. They protect you from the wind and rain, but are lightweight, possibly packable, and highly breathable.
Some cycling jackets are definitely more pricey than others, but I’ve added jackets from the entire spectrum.
Whatever you choose, these jackets will help keep you warm as you keep pushing your personal boundaries and finish epic journeys.
So here’s the list of the very best men’s cycling jackets for cold weather.
Troy Lee Designs Shuttle cycling jacket
The Troy Lee Designs Shuttle jacket is a high-quality yet affordable packable cycling jacket.
As a casual fitting jacket for both men and women, it provides the first layer of protection against colder temperatures, but is not water-resistant, let alone waterproof, which is reflected in the price.
The jacket has a single pocket located at the lower back. Ventilation openings at the underarms and back.
- Affordable packable cycling jacket
- Single pocket. Not even water-resistant
Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Light cycling jacket
The Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Light cycling jacket is up there with the most premium cycling jackets for roadies.
As always, I try to make clear what that hefty price sum get’s you, so you can actually make the decision whether the added benefits are truly worth the money.
As far as this jacket goes it packs some extra ventilation in the back in the form of a GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® front and Nano Flex Xtra Dry back panel. That’s nice if you tend to overheat and sweat a lot.
But the real difference resides in the fact that the jacket offers a separate inner layer, which, according to the manufacturer, should improve ventilation even more, while adding more insulation because of the barrier between layers.
The rest of the jacket is pretty stock, with 3 stow pockets in the rear and your usual reflective elements.
Apart from the fact that the thing looks nice, it certainly offers a lot of protection in a package that, admittedly, has a standard weight of about 400 grams. Is that extra layer worth the added cost, or could you layer up yourself? I’ll leave that up to you.
- Versatile, mid-temperature, highly breathable jacket you can use for deep winter rides with an extra layer
- Quality never comes keep, so doesn't this jacket
Castelli Transition 2 cycling jacket
The Castelli Transition 2 cycling jacket is a lightweight cycling jacket meant to extend your riding season.
It has a breathable and water-repellant GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® front with a fleece insulated back. This provides extra protection from wind chill, short rain showers and low temperatures.
It has 3 stow pockets in the rear, alongside a large reflective banner on the back as well as the front for optimal visibility.
There are many colors to choose from, which is a nice touch in a sea of black.
- One of the best season-extenders, with a GORE-TEX and insulated back
- Not waterproof
Castelli Mortirolo VI cycling jacket
The Castelli Mortirolo VI cycling jacket is a road cycling oriented jacket for mild cold weather rides.
It offers GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® fabric, but only at the front, where you can make the most use of it. That means the rest of the cycling jacket offers above-average ventilation, hence its mild temperature usage.
Castelli is one of the brands that certainly scores points in the design department, and this jacket, available in a variety of colors, is just as nice as the rest of their lineup.
At over 400 grams it’s not a particular lightweight, and it’s a bit surprising that that’s not reflected in a lower price. E.g. there are much lighter jackets, with the same level of protection, that are cheaper.
- High quality, well-designed windstopper with GORE-TEX front
- Bit too pricey for the package
Gore Wear Endure cycling jacket
The Gore Wear Endure cycling jacket is a fairly lightweight, and packable waterproof jacket.
Made from GORE-TEX PACLITE® Plus it features a durable outer shell, with a GORE-TEX membrane. In combination with water-resistant zippers and taped seams, it makes this cycling jacket waterproof.
The jacket packs into a tiny package, which makes it perfect to stow away in a pannier, bikepack, or backpack.
It’s hooded with enough space to cover an average-sized helmet.
It’s definitely not the cheapest but none of Gore’s products are. But its waterproof packability, makes this lightweight, breathable cycling jacket a serious contender for adventurous cyclists.
- Helmet-compatible, yet still stowable, waterproof jacket. Highly versatile jacket for any type of riding from trail riding, to touring, and bikepacking
- Pricey
Gore Wear Phantom cycling jacket
The Gore Wear Phantom jacket is one of the best cycling jackets with detachable sleeves, if not the best.
For decades Gore has dominated the tech-fabric industry, and this jacket also features their most recent innovation. The jacket is made from GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® fabric, which is extremely breathable, water-resistant, and windproof.
The cycling jacket has 3 rear stow pockets, and reflective strips on the arms, which can be quickly removed, effectively turning this jacket into a warm cycling jersey, not a sleeveless vest.
The design of this jacket hasn’t changed in over 2 decades, and I can clearly see why. It’s a clear case of not fixing that’s never been broken in the first place.
- One of the very few jackets with detachable sleeves
- Not waterproof
Gore Wear Torrent cycling jacket
The Gore Wear Torrent cycling jacket differs from most of the rest of Gore’s lineup in that it uses their Active fabric.
This enables them to reduce the weight, while maintaining about the same level of cold weather protection. And as always with premium cycling products, as the weight goes down, the price goes up.
Light doesn’t mean it’s in the same category as a stowable rain jacket. Its design is meant for multi-layering purposes.
But with a single zippered back pocket it still very much is a road cycling oriented cycling jacket; light, reasonably tight, minimal, and expensive.
- Premium, performance-oriented, waterproof road cycling jacket for winter rides
- Expensive
Gore Wear Lupra cycling jacket
The Gore Wear Lupra jacket is a high-quality, relaxed-fit option for a winter cycling jacket.
Made from a combination of GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® in the front and GORE® selected fabrics in the back it’s a hooded option compatible with helmets.
The loose fit allows easy layering for increased insulation in an already durable and waterproof setup, with taped seams in the hood and shoulders.
Draw strings let you tighten the hood and hem to further protect you from the elements.
Long sleeves with pre-shaped elbows create the perfect fit when cycling and sit generously over your gloves. 2 zippered hand pockets finish this excellent design.
One of the best allround winter cycling jackets, flexible, versatile, and great-looking on and of the bike.
- Great allround and versatile winter cycling jacket that's helmet compatible
- None
Endura Hummvee Waterproof cycling jacket
The Endura Hummvee Waterproof cycling jacket is a versatile, minimalistically designed, waterproof cycling jacket.
The garment has a 2-layer polyester ripstop with sealed seams and mesh liner. This means, it’s a non-insulated waterproof jacket for riding in cold weather temperatures.
A number of reflective elements, both front and back, aid in increasing your visibility while on the road.
The single zippered back pocket and easy-access zippered breast pocket, makes for an allround, great addition to your off-season cycling wardrobe.
- Versatile, and flexible allround cycling jacket with loose fit
- Not the most breathable
Endura Pakajak cycling jacket
The Endura Pakajak cycling jacket is a packable cycling jacket you can stuff into your jersey for quick use.
Without any pockets it’s a minimal cycling jacket especially made to provide protection from wind-chill and a possible light shower, so don’t expect to be using this in freezing temperatures. That’s not what it’s meant for.
With a mesh ventilation underneath the arms, and a water-repellant treatment it provides carry-with-you protection when the weather becomes fickle.
- Lightweight, packable cycling jacket
- Not a replacement for a more standard cycling jacket
Endura FS260-Pro Adrenaline Race Cape II cycling jacket
The Endura FS260-Pro Adrenaline Race Cape II cycling jacket is as minimal as they come.
With a translucent, lightweight design and made from ExoShell20ST 20K fabric, the jacket is meant to do only one thing, which is offering on-the-fly protection from the rain.
Meant for road cyclists who want to travel light with rain insurance that can be stuffed in a back stow pocket.
- The best insurance against sudden rain showers
- Very fragile. Not very breathable
Proviz Nightrider 2.0 cycling jacket
The Proviz Nightrider 2.0 jacket is the most affordable entry into this brand, which takes increased visibility more seriously than any other brand out there.
Fully water- and windproof, the cycling jacket is made from Oxford polyester w. REPREVE mesh and R360 reflective panels. It means it’s not only extremely durable and breathable, but also the most lightweight entry in Proviz’s lineup.
2 zippered pockets let you carry along things like keys and your phone.
Available in many bright colors, there’s no excuse of not being seen.
- Affordable, breathable, waterproof jacket with large reflective panels
- None
Proviz Reflect360 Outdoor cycling jacket
The Proviz REFLECT360 Outdoor jacket is your go-to option for the reflective waterproof hooded cycling jacket in the market.
The entire jacket is made from reflective R360 fabric with a highly breathable REPREVE mesh on the inside. It’s the perfect commuter jacket on busy roads, or traveling in places where there aren’t any street lights.
With 2 zippered hand pockets, and 2 zippered breast pockets there’s more than enough cargo capacity conveniently located on the front. All zippers are water-resistant.
When safety is a priority in a waterproof hooded jacket, there’s simply no better option.
- Breathable, waterproof jacket which is made entirely from reflective material. Many zippered pockets
- None
Fox Racing Ranger Wind cycling jacket
The Fox Racing Ranger Wind jacket is an effective and stylish option to protect yourself against wind chill.
One of the more affordable options to obtain a cycling jacket, which is both windproof and protects you against light showers in the form of a DWR treated fabric.
2 zippered pockets ensure you’ve got the right amount of cargo space. And it’s lightweight and minimal enough to be stored in a jersey. You can take this jacket with you as an insurance should the weather take a turn for the worse.
Budget-friendly, but still more than adequate enough to be a great all-round option for cold-weather riding.
- Affordable windbreaker for chilly trail rides
- Not waterproof
Fox Racing Ranger Tech Fleece cycling jacket
The Fox Racing Ranger Tech Fleece cycling jacket is a long name for this flashy camo jacket.
The tech-part comes in the form of TruDri fabric, which allows for enhanced moisture-wicking characteristics for those of us who sweat more than average.
With 2 zippered hand pockets and 1 zippered breast pocket you have more than enough cargo space.
The jacket is water-resistant, not waterproof, which means it falls in the light weather protection category.
In combination with the camo print, and tech fabric, you get a fashionable cycling jacket for cold weather trail riding.
- Fashionable water-resistant, and breathable jacket
- Not waterproof
Craft Essence Light Wind cycling jacket
The Craft Essence Light Wind cycling jacket is a portable windbreaker you can easily stow away.
This means it’s meant for roadies that need ad-hoc protection when facing strong and cold headwinds.
Made from a polyester ripstop with a DWR treatment, it’s a pocketless, water-repellant and windproof, non-insulated cycling jacket.
Cheaper than many of the garments that fall into the same category.
- Budget-friendly, portable pocketless, water-repellant and windproof, non-insulated windbreaker
- Not waterproof. It's a windbreaker
POC Motion Wind cycling jacket
The POC Motion Wind cycling jacket is a flexible cold-weather, windproof cycling jacket.
Made from nylon spandex fabric it’s very durable and has an excellent fairly loose fit.
It sits between jackets meant for MTB and road cycling, but could be used for both as well as for commuting and bikepacking.
With a long drop tail, reflective elements front and back, and a helmet-compatible hood it’s the perfect allround option that doesn’t hurt your wallet much.
- Allround cold-weather, windproof cycling jacket with large droptail and helmet-compatible hood
- Not waterproof
Pearl Izumi Zephrr Barrier cycling jacket
The Pearl Izumi Zephrr Barrier jacket is more than a simple windbreaker.
As do many other brands, Pearl Izumi has upped the ante by making this cycling jacket windproof and water-resistant. Using a polyester ripstop fabric w. PI Dry®® technology, you’ll be protected from anything but sub zero temperatures and heavy rain.
A relaxed fit lets you put your preferred layers underneath, and reflective striping and a zippered back pocket finish the overall great design.
- Cycling jacket with relaxed fit with excellent water-repellant characteristics
- Not a fan of rear zippered pocket.
Giro Chrono Expert Wind cycling jacket
The Giro Chrono Expert Wind jacket is a solid choice if you’re looking for minimal protection you can quickly put away at any time.
Basically a packable water-repellent windbreaker, the jacket features nylon ripstop fabric with a DWR treatment.
The jacket doesn’t feature any pockets and needs to be stowed away into a separate bag.
The entire back is perforated, which is great for ventilation, but not so much to keep out the rain.
A great packable cycling jacket to keep you warm and offer some protection against the rain and wheel spray.
- If you're looking for a packable, water-repellent windbreaker
- Meant as first layer of protection against the elements, and not much more
Leatt MTB AllMtn 2.0 V22 cycling jacket
The Leatt MTB AllMtn 2.0 V22 jacket is an affordable entry into a packable jacket with a decent amount of water resistance.
The 5K water-resistant fabric will keep you dry through light and short showers, and has a hood you can pull over your helmet. The hood actually stays in place using a magnet.
2 zippered pockets let you take necessary items with you, like your phone and keys.
Offered in a single black version, it’s a clean-looking water-resistant and windproof jacket, which can fold into its own chest pocket.
- High-quality, yet affordable, entry-level MTB jacket
- Not waterproof
Specifications men's cycling jackets for cold weather
Name | Price | Material | Weather protection | Pockets | Reflectiveness | Packable | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Troy Lee Designs Shuttle cycling jacket | 89 USD | TLD Wind Resistant Ripstop Fabric | windproof | 1 lower back zippered pocket | none | yes | |
Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Light cycling jacket | 310 USD | GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® front w. Nano Flex Xtra Dry back | windproof, water resistant | 3 rear pockets | reflective laser-cut drain holes in rear pockets | no | |
Castelli Transition 2 cycling jacket | 210 USD | GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® front w. fleece back | windproof, water resistant | 3 rear pockets | rear vertical reflective strip | no | |
Castelli Mortirolo VI cycling jacket | 220 USD | GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® front | windproof, water resistant | 3 rear pockets | reflective back panel | no | |
Gore Wear Endure cycling jacket | 230 USD | GORE-TEX PACLITE® Plus | windproof, waterproof | 2 zippered front pockets | reflective logos | yes | |
Gore Wear Phantom cycling jacket | 200 USD | GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® | windproof, water resistant | 3 rear pockets | reflective strips on arms | no | |
Gore Wear Torrent cycling jacket | 230 USD | GORE-TEX Active w. fleece lined collar | windproof, water resistant | 1 zippered back pocket | reflective details | no | |
Gore Wear Lupra cycling jacket | 180 USD | GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® front w. GORE® selected fabrics back | windproof, waterproof | 2 zippered front pockets | reflective strips on arms | no | |
Endura Hummvee Waterproof cycling jacket | 125 USD | 2-layer polyester ripstop w. sealed seams and mesh liner | windproof, waterproof | 1 zippered back pocket w. 1 zippered breast pocket | reflective stripes and logos on back, shoulders and front | no | |
Endura Pakajak cycling jacket | 75 USD | Nylon ripstop fabric w. DWR treatment | windproof, water resistant | none | reflective elements front and back | yes | |
Endura FS260-Pro Adrenaline Race Cape II cycling jacket | 110 USD | ExoShell20ST™ 20K fabric | windproof, waterproof | none | reflective logos w. striping | yes | |
Proviz Nightrider 2.0 cycling jacket | 100 euros | Oxford polyester w. REPREVE mesh | windproof, waterproof | 2 zippered hand pockets | R360 panneling | no | |
Proviz Reflect360 Outdoor cycling jacket | 120 euros | 5K R360 fabric w. REPREVE mesh | windproof, waterproof | 2 zippered breast pockets w. 2 zippered hand pockets | R360 | no | |
Fox Racing Ranger Wind cycling jacket | 85 USD | Cordura® ripstop fabric w. DWR finish | windproof, water resistant | 2 zippered hand pockets | reflective logo | yes | |
Fox Racing Ranger Tech Fleece cycling jacket | 120 USD | TruDri® fabric | windproof, water resistant | 2 zippered hand pockets w. 1 zippered breast pocket | none | no | |
Craft Essence Light Wind cycling jacket | 90 euros | polyester ripstop w. DWR treatment | windproof, water resistant | none | reflective elements | yes | |
POC Motion Wind cycling jacket | 140 euros | Nylon spandex fabric w. DWR treatment | windproof, water resistant | 1 zippered breast pocket | reflective front logo and back stripes | yes | |
Pearl Izumi Zephrr Barrier cycling jacket | 100 USD | Polyester ripstop fabric w. PI Dry®® technology | windproof, water resistant | 1 zippered back pocket | BioViz® striping | no | |
Giro Chrono Expert Wind cycling jacket | 120 USD | Nylon ripstop fabric w. DWR treatment | windproof, water resistant | none | reflective strip on back | yes | |
Leatt MTB AllMtn 2.0 V22 cycling jacket | 130 USD | 5K w. DWR treatment | windproof, water resistant | 2 zippered hand pockets | reflective elements | yes |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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