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Wanting to have smart cycling clothes, that are both stylish and highly functional plus look good on and off the bike was something that became keen interest to me when I first began my time on the bike and just over 18 months ago a few spare pennies (well pounds) fell in my pocket and I decided to indulge myself and buy a rain coat to wear for the cycle to work when it, well, rained.
So a search began for the rain jacket. I went to Evans Cycles and had a look around, got introduced to Gore Jacket’s which looked nice but a bit sporty. I wanted cycling attire that was a bit more tailored and smart looking. I knew about Rapha for a while but couldn’t find another jacket that matched what Rapha had on offer.
So I ordered it. The Rapha Cycling Rain Jacket.
Spending over ÂŁ100 for a piece of clothing was something I had never done before but want, desire and functionality convinced me to part with the cash and very soon after a nice red cycling jacket landed on my doormat (well I wasn’t in so I had it delivered to my mum & dad’s but you get the idea.)
The first thing you notice is the actual packaging the rain jacket comes in. A very high finish pack with a fabric backing and a plastic, slightly tinted front giving you a teasing glance at the smart piece of cycling clothing you’re about to instantly try on and oogle at yourself in.
Key Features
- Waterproof front and rear panels
- Breathable side panels
- Lightweight and packable
- Waterproof zips
- Taped seams on shoulders and upper arms
- Offset front zip for comfort
- Reflective details
The jacket is light but strong and the quality is apparent straight away. The fit is tailored as well so you potentially may need to get the size up if you are carrying any extra weight and don’t want a tight fit but Rapha’s size guide is generally pretty accurate so you shouldn’t have any real problems.
The thing that seperates this jacket from other smart cycling jackets is the details. The side zip that is fully waterproofed is offset so instantly gives a unqiue look, upping the stylishness of the jacket as it’s got that little something different, more time went into moving that zip to gives this jacket it’s own image. Breathable underarm fabric mean its not too hot and not tool cold to cycle in and neoprene cuffs mean no water is getting in that way. The tapered seams along the back of the jacket form fit which finishes of the jacket nicely so its not overly baggy in the wind even when getting a size up.
The most attractive thing about Rapha’s Cycling Rain Jacket is although it’s functional it’s not too sporty. It comes in three colours (Red, Off White and Grey) and each one is fully in that colour no stripes or slashes of another colour. Just Rapha’s trademark armband wrapping around the right arm breaks up the one colour jacket and in doing so just makes this sit on the edge of a sporty jacket.
With the extended back to cover rain splashes from the rear whilst riding. This jacket probably isn’t duel purpose, bike only. Certainly the red is only usable for bike riding. The other colours may be able to be worn in a casual nature but that shouldn’t take anything away from the Rapha Cycling Rain Jacket as it’s a fantasticly well made high quality tailored jacket with superb details throughout.
One major beef of the Rapha Cycling Rain Jacket is the lack of care instructions past the obvious. No mentioning of using a waterproofer after washing and future care of the jacket which I had to be told by Evans Cycles and the fact that after a few washes the rain didn’t repel as well. I think that’s something they could certainly address.
All in all if you’re after a high stylish cycling jacket with the extra tailored look, the Rapha Cycling Rain Jacket is for you.
