The Best Cycling Rain Gear to Keep You Riding

When you know a steady rain is imminent, and you’re determined to ride anyway, water-resistant just won’t do. To keep from getting soaked to your skin, opt for something fully waterproof. This quarter-zip pullover has you covered in more ways than one—from its waterproof Gore-Tex fabric to its taped seams, waterproof zipper, and full-coverage hood. Plus, it kept testers warm in temps just above freezing.

The casual, roomy fit is ideal for layering, and the breathable, durable fabric withstood our most brambly trail rides. In lieu of rear pockets, you get one large chest pouch on the front that doubles as a stuff sack, which we found doesn’t sag when loaded.

The Dyora is a fully waterproof, packable shell with a Schloss Tex three-layer construction and taped seams, but it’s as breathable as anything else on the market and includes elastane for just enough stretch where you need it. The softer wrist cuffs and neck collar are a plus, maximizing the comfort of the shell. One consideration: The Dyora has a slim, race-ready fit with a high collar and tapered arms, so you might not be able to layer beneath it.

You don’t always need rain pants, but this kind of gear is nice to have in a pinch. Enter the ultralight and packable C5 Paclite, which weighs just 6.1 ounces, so you can keep them in your pack for when the storm hits. A few features set these pants apart from other rain shells, most notably the articulated knees, zippered waterproof pocket, and adjustable lower leg length.

We found that, unlike thin latex shoe covers that are a pain to get on and rip easily, these neoprene ones from VeloToze are easy to don and are surprisingly durable. The open-bottom design allows for airflow when combined with vents on the bottom of your shoes; just remember to close those shoe vents before a downpour.

Cold feet suck. Cold, wet feet are miserable. Fizik’s Winter Shoe Covers are made from thick neoprene (think: cold-water wetsuits) and feature sealed seams and YKK zippers for a completely waterproof, windproof package to keep your toes warm on the worst rainy days. Reflective hits help keep you visible, and the rear entry makes them easy to slip on without having to remove your shoes.

We all have that favorite pair of lounge pants we slip into after work that instantly takes our comfort to another level. The women’s Giro Havoc is your trail equivalent. Pulling these ankle-length, rain-resistant pants over bib tights not only adds a little extra wind and water protection, it also happens to be a way more comfortable solution to the bunchy leg-warmers-and-baggies system. A gusseted inseam and stretchy fabric add to the overall relaxed fit, which is snug enough to keep the pants out of your drivetrain but not so tight that you can’t wear them over kneepads.

Perforated panels at the back of the leg and behind the knee let heat escape, adjustable tabs at the waist cinch for a custom fit, and a zipper pocket on the hip is a bonus for storing small items.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more feature-rich taillight than the 30-lumen, USB-rechargeable, 40-buck Hotshot. Two buttons allow you to toggle between customizable blinking and strobe modes, as well as six programmed daytime and nighttime modes: steady, zoom, triple flash, random flash, DayLightning (bright flashes to call attention to you when the sun’s up), and SteadyPulse (a beam that gradually changes intensity to keep motorists alert at night).

Though the Cygolite is intended for commuter use, we found the clamp is strong enough to survive bumping and jostling over rocks and roots during mountain bike rides, too. And after accidentally sending it through the wash, we can vouch for its water-resistance.

The small but mighty vest is your BFF in unpredictable or rainy weather. It keeps your core warm, which in turn helps prevent your extremities from losing heat. The neat thing about the Quest Barrier Convertible is that it starts out life as a water-resistant windbreaker with sleeves—a quick unzip turns it into a vest.

Simply pull down on two zippers that extend from the shoulders to the armpits to free the one-piece sleeve system that’s attached at the back by three snaps, then stash it in your rear pocket. And should the need arise to ditch the vest as well, that pocket doubles as a stuff sack and has an integrated strap that lets you secure it to your seat rails or top tube, saving precious pocket space.

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If you don’t want a set of full fenders taking permanent residence on your sleek steed, consider this cheap, portable mudguard by Ass Savers. It secures to the saddle with a folding front tip that inserts above the saddle rails and folds beneath them. When the rain ends, fold it back to its original position and stash it for future use.

Bright, cheap, and long-lasting, the Serfas Thunderbolt is everything you need in a taillight. Illumination comes from 30 LEDs that have three settings: The brightest lasts for nearly two hours, but the medium and lower settings run for a claimed three hours and 9.5 hours, respectively.

Those figures align with our test experience, although we’ve yet to fully evaluate the run time. However, one of our Thunderbolts has survived two years of consistent use, so it’s a solid investment at just $35.

These crazy-light glasses that tip the scales at a scant 24 grams are ideal for rides in adverse or changing weather conditions. The photochromic lens transitions quickly from light to dark—light enough for safe riding at night and dark enough to handle full sunlight.

These are our go-to glasses for days that are dark and rainy—or threaten to be—because they’re still great when the sun comes out again. We also love them for morning and evening commutes in the fall and winter.

Thin, light, and low-profile arms fit nicely with most helmets and other gear, and we love the unobstructed view with the open frame.

Not all commuter and road bikes come with mounting points for fenders, but the Central Full Fenders mount to quick-release skewers so they can be attached to most road-centric whips. The stainless steel construction comes with a lifetime warranty and will work on a variety of wheel sizes. And the fenders come with extra-wide flares at the bottom for added protection when it’s pouring.

After almost four years of daily abuse, this spacious bag has held up—besides a few torn seams and scrapes, our tester’s backpack is still in great condition. It’s saved a MacBook Pro from countless downpours and keeps our goods dry even when we set it down on wet ground.

The cargo net provides storage for things like shoes, helmets, and outerwear, and helps expand the definition of “carry-on luggage” when you travel.

Most bike lube is petroleum-based, but MountainFLOW created a lube that’s made from plants and still manages to bind to your chain, even in rain-soaked conditions. There are three versions: dry, all-weather, and wet. The wet is specifically designed for sloppy conditions, whether you’re commuting on the road or hitting gravel.

While you can probably pass on thick, insulated mitts in the fall, you can never go wrong with a glove that’s both waterproof and breathable—an ideal combination for rainy days that can warm up as quickly as they can cool down.

The Xnetic may have the appearance of a simple knit glove, but a waterproof layer between a durable nylon outer shell and a hypo­allergenic liner make it a rainy-day superstar. And we found during testing that its insulation is sufficient down to right around freezing.

These waterproof gloves look traditional—not wind- or waterproof—but when our test editor ran them under cold tap water, he said it took several minutes until he felt a chill. Resistance to cold and wet makes this pair an ideal winter companion. Rubber patches help you grip the bar, and a sweat-wicking liner keeps your hands dry from the inside, too.

For the days when you just can’t ride in the rain, there’s Rouvy, an e-sports platform for cyclists with more than 100 different augmented reality courses that use iconic routes from around the world where you can race with 3D avatars. There are also thousands of videos of real-life routes without augmented reality. Rouvy also hosts races and has an extensive catalog of structured workouts as well.

The Ultra-Lite Rain Jacket is ideal for storing in your jersey pocket and pulling out during an unexpected shower. The main body is a completely waterproof stretch fabric, while cloth panels under the arms allow some ventilation. The rear hem sits lower than the front and protects your chamois from road spray—a blessing should you get caught in a sudden downpour. At 117 grams, the jacket is light enough that you’ll forget you’re carrying it—until you need it.

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