Best mountain bike jackets 2021 | 19 tried and tested by our experts

Possibly the most important item in your winter wardrobe, a good mountain bike jacket will keep you riding through all weathers. You can spend a lot of money on one, but do you have to?

Generally, the more you pay, the more you get, in terms of performance – by which we mean breathability, durability, features or a combination of all three. This isn’t always the case, though.

Working out exactly what you need your jacket for can help you narrow down your options and avoid spending money on features you don’t need.

Our expert testers have spent days and weeks out on the trails, putting different mountain bike jackets to the test in the most horrid conditions, to bring you the best performing options for every type of rider.

We’ve tested a selection of fully waterproof garments alongside some hybrid jackets that combine water-resistance with breathability and warmth.

Gore C5 Gore-Tex Trail Hooded Jacket

• £230
• Exceptional breathability
• A super all-rounder
• Protection: waterproof

As its five-star rating suggests, the 240g (medium) C5 Trail is one of the best all-round mountain bike jackets available. The spec of the fabric plus an excellent bike-specific cut make it very difficult to fault.

Decent pockets, a double front zip and an under-helmet hood are all present and well executed.

Its breathability is so good that our tester would reach for this layer without rain being forecast.

We also recognise this as a garment that makes a great choice for commuters who wish not to shy away from the worst of UK weather.

Patagonia Dirt Roamer

• £210 / $229
• Excellent cut
• Versatile layer
• Protection: water-resistant

Although not strictly a waterproof, this weatherproof, packable jacket is a true all-rounder that’s perfect for those days with quick changes in weather.

The DWR finish keeps water off well and dries quickly when wet, but this is not a choice for the worst conditions.

The fit is exceptional with a dropped tail, generous sleeves and over-helmet hood

It’s so breathable that it easily transitions from cooler starts to warmer finishes. Our tester found it ideal for spring and autumn rides in the UK with just a baselayer underneath.

7Mesh Guardian jacket

• £352 / $400 / €350
• Lots of great details
• Exceptional breathability
• Protection: waterproof

7Mesh’s Guardian jacket has a great reputation, but at £352 / $400 / €350 it doesn’t come cheap. Fortunately, though, its performance doesn’t disappoint.

It’s impeccably cut, with brilliant details all over and its breathability is fantastic for a totally waterproof jacket.

• Read our full review of the 7Mesh Guardian jacket

Endura MTR Shell jacket

• £140 / $199.99 / €164.99
• Can fit in a jersey pocket
• No pockets
• Protection: waterproof

Endura’s MTR shell jacket is a packable waterproof jacket primarily designed for off-road use. It packs up small enough to fit in a jersey pocket, but doesn’t compromise on performance or durability.

Our tester also found the fit to be spot on, with plenty of length and strategically placed stretch panels that enable a full range of movement.

• Read our full review of the Endura MTR Shell jacket

Gore C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Hybrid

• £200
• Impressively breathable and weatherproof
• Slim yet stretchy fit
• Protection: water-resistant

This is a particularly versatile and breathable jacket that excels in the most challenging conditions.

A hardshell waterproof this is not, but we’ve been impressed by how it copes with even serious rain showers. The under-helmet hood is an acquired taste but it works well and can be rolled up neatly should you not want to use it.

The fit is relatively slim but stretches and articulates well when on the bike.

Our tester found that this jacket combined with just a baselayer beneath made for a winning combination of comfort, protection and breathability.

This particular finish isn’t going to impress everyone, but black and blue options are also available.

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody

• £250 / $299
• Impressively warm
• Packs down into its own pocket
• Protection: water-resistant

The Micro Puff Hoody from Patagonia is a lightweight, soft-shell garment that looks good both on and off the bike. It’s seriously warm thanks to the use of synthetic PlumaFill insulation and the DWR coating is effective, but we’d still recommend using this as a mid-layer in the worst of conditions.

Despite minimalist looks and a fit that’s neither tight nor slack, it’s full of useful storage pockets. It’s impressively packable too, folding down neatly and easily into its own pocket. Our tester loves his so much that he’s rarely seen without it.

• Read our full review of the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody

Rapha Explore Hooded Gore-Tex Pullover

• £250
• Unique style
• Good for a wide range of temperatures
• Protection: waterproof

Rapha’s uniquely styled Explore jacket was originally marketed at gravel riders, but can make a great choice for commuters or mountain bikers too.

Constructed from three-layer Gore-Tex Active material, the Explore does waterproofing with an impressive level of breathability and makes for a low overall 220g weight in a size large.

It’ll pack down into a supplied sack where it can double as a pillow, or smaller still to wedge into a pack or jersey pocket.

Not everyone wants a pullover, but we didn’t miss a full-length zip when wearing this jacket.

It was comfortable in a range of temperatures ranging from single digits right through to mild 17-degree Celsius autumn conditions.

It’s a wildcard choice but one that we really enjoyed.

Altura Mayhem 2

• £120
• Good cut
• Well featured for the price
• Protection: waterproof

The Altura Mayhem 2 is a practical waterproof jacket that delivers great performance at a good price.

It’s not the lightest at 369g, nor does it use the best technical fabrics, but it delivers on value. Its cut is as good as many high-priced jackets, and it delivers on waterproofness.

Breathability is helped by vents under the arms, but in an ideal world these would be slightly larger to promote even better airflow. This is only a minor quibble though, because in reality this jacket offers excellent value for money.

• Read our full review of the Altura Mayhem 2

Berghaus Changtse jacket

• £290 / €350
• Technical construction with lots of vents and pockets
• Do-everything credentials
• Protection: waterproof

The Changtse is absolutely jammed packed with features. It uses a number of different Gore-Tex waterproof fabrics across the jacket for optimal performance in each area.

There’s Paclite Plus on areas such as the chest and arms, which are more prone to wear, while the core is made from Active Shell for greater breathability.

It’s not a bike-specific jacket, but the cut and flexibility are good enough that it never feels like a compromise.

• Read our full review of the Berghaus Changtse jacket

Endura MT500 Waterproof Jacket II

• £230 / $329
• Adjustable helmet hood
• Multiple pockets
• Protection: waterproof

An update to the popular MT500 jacket only adds to the appeal of this excellent fully-featured waterproof layer.

The three-layer waterproof fabric performs well and combined with the refined fit and plentiful storage adds up to a garment that does not disappoint.

The 536g (large) MT500 kept our tester both dry and comfortable during challenging conditions.

It’s also been designed to work well with a backpack, and we can confirm it does just that.

Jack Wolfskin Atlas Tour

• £150
• Multi-sport design
• Solid value for money
• Protection: waterpoof

The 515g (large) Atlas Tour represents good value for money, particularly when you consider this fully-featured waterproof has been designed to meet the needs of cyclists but with extended use for hikers too.

This multi-sport approach does not hinder the jacket or lead to a compromise in fit or performance.

The two-layer design did warm up quicker than some, but the temperature was easily controlled with the zip.

Three pockets, an adjustable helmet-compatible hood and reflective highlights complete an impressive feature list.

Mission Workshop The Sans jacket

• £400 / $475 / €475
• Fantastically light and waterproof
• Great fit both on and off the bike
• Protection: waterproof

Mission Workshop’s The Sans isn’t a cycling-specific jacket, but it has the specification and performance to make it a great choice both on and off the bike.

The Toray fabric is impressively waterproof, breathable and lightweight (our tester’s size medium weighed just 169g), making it a great packable option for stuffing into a jersey pocket.

If we’re nitpicking, it’s a shame the hood doesn’t fit over a helmet, but otherwise it’s really only the price that might put you off.

• Read our full review of the Mission Workshop The Sans jacket

Nukeproof Nirvana jacket

• £150 / $184.95 / €175.99
• Packable but with plenty of pockets
• Great price relative to the competition
• Protection: waterproof

Built from a 2.5-layer waterproof fabric, Nukeproof’s Nirvana isn’t the most breathable jacket we’ve ever tested, but it’s very good for the price and the gills under the arms help dissipate excess heat and sweat.

The fit is relaxed, so there’s room to layer up underneath when it gets cold, and the hood also fits comfortably over a helmet.

All things considered, it’s built like a jacket that costs a lot more than it actually does.

• Read our full review of the Nukeproof Nirvana jacket

On Waterproof Anorak

• £320 / $359.99 / €359.95
• Light and athletic fit
• Hydrophobic inner helps wick perspiration away
• Protection: waterproof

On’s Waterproof Anorak isn’t a cycling-specific jacket, but its performance impresses nevertheless. The half-length zip isn’t perhaps the most practical option for getting On’s Waterproof Anorak on and off while on the bike, but it does reduce bulk a bit, and fashionistas will likely welcome the alternative look.

We didn’t notice any compromise in breathability either, possibly thanks to the hydrophilic elements on the innermost layer of the jacket’s three-ply fabric.

It’s an especially good jacket for those who do a bit of running as well as cycling because it can happily share duties across the two sports.

• Read our full review of the On Waterproof Anorak

Patagonia Rainshadow jacket

• £230
• Unassuming styling
• Well thought-out storage
• Protection: waterproof

Should you purchase the Rainshadow jacket from Patagonia we are willing to wager it will quickly become your most used jacket.

Despite not being bike-specific, the 397g (medium) Rainshadow excels both on and off the trails. It’s better at colder conditions than mild ones, but the pit zips mean it is useful for both. The fit is roomier than most bike-specific clothing, which in this case is no bad thing.

The three-layer fabric is light to wear with some useful stretch meaning plenty of mobility. We were also big fans of this jacket’s generous pockets with their long zip pulls.

The Rainshadow will happily pack down into its own chest pocket too.

POC AVIP rain jacket

• £295 / $300  / €350
• Comfortable even against bare skin
• Tear resistant fabric
• Protection: waterproof

The style, colour and cut are reminiscent of a road jacket, but in reality POC’s AVIP is more of a multi-purpose cycling waterproof.

Its tear-resistant Vectran fabric, for example, means it can stand up to the rigours of XC and gravel when a true road jacket might be too delicate.

The three-layer waterproof fabric does its job well too, but the lack of a hood might be a dealbreaker for some off-road cyclists. If that’s not a problem for you, though, there’s a lot to like here, with great on-bike performance and fit.

• Read our full review of the POC AVIP rain jacket

RAB Arc

• £200 / $260
• Multifunction styling that works on the bike
• Sturdiness means good warmth and durability
• Protection: waterproof

The RAB Arc jacket isn’t made specifically for cycling, but this compromise means it brings more versatility to the table.

In particular, the cut feels a little boxy on the bike, but the 422g jacket feels great when you’re not riding – unlike cycling specific jackets, which are often poorly shaped for off-bike use.

Generously sized front pockets and a hood that fits comfortably over a helmet only further its credentials.

The fabric is three-layer rip-stop with a high-quality and durable feel. This adds a bit of weight and a fair bit of warmth, but it also means it’s more likely to stand the test of time.

• Read our full review of the RAB Arc

Scott Trail MTN Dryo 20

• £220
• Gear functionality
• Lots of great bike-specific details
• Protection: waterproof

Scott consistently makes high performing waterproof jackets, with the kind of small, bike-specific details that make a big difference in use.

The chest pockets, for example, are large enough for easy access with gloves or freezing hands at the end of a long ride. Extra-long vents complement an already breathable fabric for excellent airflow. They can also be quickly closed off for long descents.

The triple layer waterproof fabric is durable, and the lining bonded to the inner layer makes for a much more comfortable feel than single layer jackets. Our sample weighed 407g in a size large.

• Read our full review of the Scott Trail MTN Dryo 20

Vaude Moab Rain Jacket

• £160
• Generous fit
• Capable on and off the bike
• Protection: waterproof

The Moab is considerably cheaper than many jackets on this list, but it still offers decent performance for mountain biking or other outdoor excursions.

Taller people are likely to appreciate that the fit is more generous than most, particularly in the sleeves and the length of the body.

The 2.5-layer fabric has a rubbery feel inside, which can stick to skin in warmer conditions, but in colder conditions and when placed over a baselayer this was not a problem.

There are hand warmer pockets, reflective highlights and an adjustable hood, though the latter proved to not be ideal for use when riding.

What to look for in a jacket for mountain biking

Water resistant zips