With the cooler autumn and winter weather approaching, cyclists everywhere are reaching for their best mountain bike jackets to stay warm and dry on the trails. If you’re in the market for a new one, you might find the sheer number of options overwhelming, so we’ve gathered a list of our top-scoring jackets to help you find the perfect one.

A good waterproof or insulated jacket is a must-have for tackling the unpredictable weather that colder months bring. Not all jackets are created equal, though, with each offering a different balance of waterproofing, breathability, and warmth. Choosing one that suits the weather and riding conditions is important, with some jackets focusing more on insulation, while others prioritise keeping you dry.

The best mountain bike jackets don’t just shield you from wind and rain, they’re also ventilated and breathable, to stop you from feeling that dreaded ‘boil in the bag’ sensation. While many jackets have insulated sections, it’s important to consider how much warmth you need since your body generates heat while riding. Sometimes a versatile non-insulated jacket paired with a base layer can offer the best flexibility in different conditions.

So with that in mind, here's our list of the very best mountain bike jackets that we've tested.

Best mountain bike jackets

• Gore C5 GWS Thermo Trail
• POC M's Signal All-Weather 
• Altura Esker Dune
• Rab Cinder Kinetic
• 7Mesh CoPilot jacket
• Castelli Unlimited Puffy jacket
• Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Infinium Women's jacket
• Leatt MTB Trail 3.0 Insulated jacket
• 7Mesh Men's Chilco Anorak
• Specialized//Fjällräven Räven Anorak W
• Endura MT500 Freezing Point jacket
• Fox Racing Ranger 3L jacket
• PNW Components Lander jacket
• Endura MT500 Waterproof Jacket II

Gore C5 GWS Thermo Trail - £200

Delivering impressive warmth and breathability alongside a really comfortable fit, the Gore C5 GWS Thermo Trail jacket is a great performance option. Thanks to its slim fit, stretchy material and well-proportioned sleeve and hem length, you can really move freely around the bike without feeling restricted, while still getting all the coverage you need.

The outer shell is made from Gore’s Windstopper material, which is 100% recycled polyester, while the inner and high collar are fleece-lined for warmth. Its water resistance exceeded our expectations, and as a bonus, there’s ample storage options, with five pockets overall. 

While the £200 price tag is high, the fit, finish, and overall performance justify the cost, and there's nothing wrong with a premium price tag for a genuinely premium product. There are cheaper alternatives on the market, and certainly in this list, but many of them won’t match the Gore in terms of water resistance or overall quality, so it really comes down to your budget and how dry you want to be year-round.

You can learn more about it in our Gore C5 GWS Thermo Trail Jacket review.

POC M's Signal All-Weather Jacket - £340

The POC M's Signal All-Weather jacket is a premium three-layer waterproof jacket designed to perform well and keep you safe on the trails. The £340 price tag may be steep but, for that, you get seriously impressive water resistance and breathability.

The fit is slim and athletic, which might be a bit snug for mountain biking, but it's ideal for gravel riders. Its two-way zip, adjustable under-helmet hood, and durable materials make it a great option for riding in harsh weather conditions. It also features some smart safety technology like the Recco reflector and NFC medical tag, which adds an extra layer of protection, particularly if you're heading to remote areas.

While the M’s Signal All-Weather jacket is excellent all round, it might be a bit overkill for the average UK rider, especially given its price. Still, it does offer some interesting, and perhaps niche, features like a large rear storage pocket that doubles up as a bar-mountable bag. Handy if you're riding light but not so much if your bike's already loaded up with bags and real estate is at a minimum.

All this said, if you’re after top-tier waterproofing, a close fit, and cutting-edge safety features, this jacket offers it by the boatload.

Read the POC M's Signal All-Weather Jacket review for more detail.

Altura Esker Dune - £155

The Altura Esker Dune is a good option for cold and dry riding conditions. Blending insulated panels with breathable softshell material, it offers great protection from the cold, while allowing for free movement on the bike. 

It’s a well-cut, warm, and windproof jacket, and while it's not waterproof, the DWR coating is enough to handle light showers, making it suitable for winter rides. The fit is on the snug side, but the extended tail and sleeves offer good coverage in the riding position. 

The only downside is the lack of storage options, with only one chest pocket, but the understated design and comfortable fit make it a versatile option for both on and off the bike.

At £155, the price is certainly competitive, and overall it’s a solid choice if you’re after warmth without bulk. If you want more water resistance or storage though – you might want to explore other options.

Read our Altura Esker Dune review for a more in-depth look.

Rab Cinder Kinetic Waterproof - £240

Well-established in the outdoor sector, Rab has expanded into the cycling scene and its Cinder Kinetic Waterproof jacket offers great comfort, breathability, and weather protection for damp, everyday riding conditions. 

Made with recycled materials, it’s soft to the touch and stretchy, unlike typical hard-shell jackets, while still delivering solid weather-proofing. The fit is excellent, with a longer back, extended sleeves, and a well-designed oversized hood that can be worn over a helmet.

While it’s not the best for heavy rain, the sustainability of its production and design adds value. Its breathability and water resistance in lighter showers are impressive, so it’s a great option for wet-weather rides in milder conditions rather than extreme downpours.

Other jackets at this price point may offer higher waterproofing but the Rab stands out for its environmentally conscious materials and serious comfort, which might be more of a pull for some.

You’ll find a lot more detail in our Rab Women's Cinder Kinetic Waterproof Jacket review.

7Mesh CoPilot jacket - £300

7Mesh's CoPilot jacket is a high-end bit of kit that packs the performance but for a price. It provides waterproofing and breathability at equal levels, utilising Gore-Tex's Paclite Plus material, which has been included to keep this jacket cool during those warm but wet days. On top of that, it gets fully taped seams to keep the wet stuff.

Otherwise, it's a fairly minimalist jacket with only a single pocket at the rear that can either carry essential kit or be used to pack the CoPilot down into a super small and easily carryable package. The hood is large enough to fit over a helmet and it can be cinched down via a couple of drawcords to keep it in place.

It's shaped with a spacious and relaxed fit allowing room for under layers and a dropped hem at the rear for extra weather protection.

Even though its zips are a little fiddly with thick gloves, this jacket has earned its keep in this roundup so be sure to check out the 7Mesh CoPilot jacket review to find out exactly why.

Castelli Unlimited Puffy jacket - £280

The Unlimited Puffy jacket from Castelli is another high-end addition to this round-up but thanks to its combination of sorted wind protection and added insulation, it's earned its spot. Although windproof, it's excellently breathable, making it a great addition to anyone's wardrobe.

For its insulation, the Unlimited Puffy uses Polartech's Alpha fabric that's designed with an open weave insulation layer that was actually built for the US Special Forces. Towards the outside of the jacket, there's a thin windproof microfibre and areas that don't get insulation to boost ventilation.

This jacket is loaded with pockets, featuring two large pockets at the rear, a small zipped pocket and a second zipped pocket at the chest.

Although its price is high, our Matt liked it for its easy packability and wide temperature range. Check out his review of the Castelli Unlimited Puffy jacket here.
 

Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Infinium Women's jacket - £295

Although Rapha is still a relative newcomer to the mountain bike clothing space, the brand has done an excellent job with the women's Trail Gore-Tex Infinium jacket. Suvi liked it so much for its classic styling and high performance that she reckons it's one of the very best women's MTB jackets around.

As its name suggests, it benefits from Gore-Tex's Infinium material that's breathable yet windproof and water-resistant. It's a ripstop material too that improves the jacket's durability. There's a C-KNIT backer inside the jacket to provide a soft feel and stretchy underarm panels for freedom of movement and to promote airflow.

Moving onto pockets, there aren't many with one inner and one outer chest pocket. Although, the hood is large enough to fit over a helmet.

To find out more head over to our Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Infinium Women's jacket review and for the gents, we've got the Rapha Men's Trail Gore-Tex Infinium jacket tried and tested, too.

Leatt MTB Trail 3.0 Insulated jacket - £140

The MTB Trail 3.0 Insulated jacket is proof South African brand Leatt is good at building cool-weather garments. This jacket is an excellent cold weather option for its combination of useful insulation and impressive effective waterproofing. It works excellently off of the bike too.

This winter warmer uses its insulation carefully by only locating it at the very front panels whereas there's no insulation anywhere else on the jacket. The idea here is to keep the front of the body warm as it bats off cool winds while encouraging breathability and thermoregulation elsewhere. The MTB Trail 3.0 jacket is packed with features, including Leatt's ClimbVent which allows the user to open the zip while keeping both sides of the jacket securely together to promote a bit of airflow to the chest and there's a 5K/5K waterproof/breathable fabric.

Finally, this top comes with the brand's Ride Adaptive Hood system which allows the hood to fit over a helmet, while offering a range of stowage and weather protection options.

Head over to the Leatt MTB Trail 3.0 jacket review to find out more.

7Mesh Men's Chilco Anorak - £170

7Mesh's Chilco Anorak is part of the recently released WTV (Wind, Thermal & Ventilation) range that benefits from some very cool thermoregulation tech that makes this top an effective and versatile warmer during chilly rides. It follows an anorak, pull-over design but the best bit is that it uses 7Mesh's WTV fabric. 

That means it's built with a high loft fabric with a woven exterior and soft interior. The aim of this is for the exterior to form a breathable wind layer while the interior keeps warmth inside. The combination creates a solid balance between insulation and breathability.

Making for a jacket that's equally as great on and off the bike is its excellent fit but incredibly effective insulation and breathability. Its hood fits over helmets and the hoodie-style front pocket is great for storing small essentials.

Click here for the full review of the 7Mesh Men's Chilco Anorak.

Specialized//Fjällräven Räven Anorak W - £260

Specialized's collaboration with the Swedish outdoor adventure brand Fjällräven is proving to be more than a flash in the pan as its Räven Anorak has stacked up to be rather good indeed. Not only does it look good but it comes ripe with bike-specific features while being great to wear on the bike or in the pub.

Ideal for hiking or biking, the Räven is made of a G-1000 Lite Eco fabric at the torso and a four-way stretch fabric at the back and lower sections. The brands have added wind-resistant measures where it's needed and there are reflective details on the articulated sleeves. For ventilation, there are two-way zipped vents at each side.

This jacket has five pockets with zipped hand pockets, mesh pockets on the inside and two chest pockets with snap buttons. This one doesn't get any waterproof treatments, however – although the G-1000 is somewhat water-resistant. 

Follow the link for the full review of the Specialized/Fjällräven Räven Women’s Anorak

Endura MT500 Freezing Point jacket - £160

As a brand based in Scotland, Endura knows a thing or two about cold weather and that shows with the MT500 Freezing Point jacket. We liked this one for its blend of useful ventilation and super warm insulation while being equally as awesome off of the bike.

This is the first time we've seen the Freezing Point jacket in a women's fit. Like the men's version, it uses PrimaLoft's Gold Insulation combined with a stretchy thermal softshell fabric. On top of that, there's a ripstop fabric and a PFC-free, non-toxic DWR coating to keep spray at bay.

While there's a lot of insulation built into the Freezing Point jacket, Endura has included large zipped vents under each arm to encourage a bit of airflow and as standard for most Endura jackets, there are silicone traction areas that help grip a backpack's straps. With that, the front pockets are designed to make excellent hand warmers.

To find out more about the Endura MT500 Freezing Point jacket, check out our review.

What should I look for in a mountain bike jacket?

Mountain bike jackets come in all kinds of designs, so you should think carefully about what you need: is it full-on waterproofing, or just something to keep you warm on cooler days?

Some jackets include insulation to keep out the cold. Others don’t, which makes them more versatile outer shells that let you choose your own base and mid-layers, depending on the temperature. These are the jackets that offer the most flexibility. However, if you tend to ride in very cold conditions, a loose-fitting insulated jacket can provide extra warmth while still letting you layer.

Most jackets will offer some level of waterproofing, but it's important to check their waterproof/breathability rating (e.g. 10k/10k). The higher the numbers, the better the jacket will be at keeping you dry and comfortable. For more on this, see our guide to
waterproof cycling clothing.

Some jackets rely on non-waterproof fabrics with a DWR (durable water-repellent) coating, and while it's very effective, it's worth bearing in mind that the coating can wear off over time, so it will need to be re-applied.

Other features to look for include helmet-compatible hoods that ideally fit over the helmet rather than under, along with well-placed pockets. Lots of pockets means lots of storage for all your essentials, and they can often double up as extra vents. Storm cuffs are another handy feature to keep out the worst of the weather.

Should the best MTB jackets be tight or loose?

The ideal fit of a jacket will depend on the type of riding you plan to do. Most mountain bike jackets are designed to be fairly loose, to allow for maximum movement on the bike. Some may have a more fitted torso to prevent snagging or flapping, while the arms and shoulders tend to be baggier so you can be flexible.

The cross-country crowd tend to favour tighter jackets, because the more streamlined fit can be more aero and reduce drag. That's why this type of close fit tends to be more common in road and gravel cycling.

What should you wear when mountain biking?

In winter, a good waterproof jacket is essential for staying comfortable on a ride, but it’s only one part of the equation. Combining a great jacket with a pair of the best MTB pants or waterproof shorts will go a long way in protecting you against the elements, making cold and wet rides much more tolerable.

To complement your jacket and trousers, a solid pair of waterproof shoes or socks is also a smart move.

What is a DWR coating?

A DWR (durable water-repellent) coating is a treatment that’s applied to most modern outdoor gear, and not limited to just cycling kit. It essentially creates a barrier between the outer fabric and any moisture it’s exposed to, to stop water ingress in its tracks. 

While it is effective, it does wear off over time, especially after numerous wet rides. To prolong its lifespan, avoid washing your jacket (or any DWR-coated products) with harsh detergents. You will still need to re-apply the coating at some point though, with after-market treatments like Nikwax’s TX Direct. Just be sure to follow the instructions.

Another thing to be aware of is that traditional DWR coatings aren’t great for the environment, which may be a snagging point for some. Still, there's hope on the horizon as some brands, like Endura, are working on eco-friendly alternatives.