An Urban Rain Jacket That's Not a Rapha

An Urban Rain Jacket That's Not a Rapha

An urban rain jacket that’s not a Rapha.

Whether you call it a city coat, barn coat, weekend coat or merely a car coat (because they are often made from brightly coloured waterproof vinyl and can be fitted on top of your seatbelt) there’s a special breed of this kind of garment that can make cycling in the wet a pleasure.city jacket These three-quarter length jackets combine functionality with elegant fabric and insouciant style to create the perfect companion for cycling around town, commuting on a bike or even bikepacking.

One of the more distinctive examples comes from DG2, HSN’s Jean Queen, who has legions of dedicated fans for her flattering yet comfortable fits and quality craftsmanship.city jacket Designed for cyclists, the DG2 City Jacket is an updated version of a classic silhouette with solution technology, trend-right color and unique finishes and embellishments that add extra flair.

As with any DG2 product there is a huge amount of adjustability built in, including a hood and waist adjustment on the body and sleeves.city jacket In a large it sized up perfectly – not overly tight or loose anywhere. The sleeves are tailored to not leave that cold and tedious inch of wrist-gap left by so many less-tailored designs, while the cuffs have been given the same treatment with a light neoprene baffle for warmth and to stem the flow of wind, water and sweat past the arm-sides.

The collar is a neat feature too.city jacket It sits high enough to stop those annoying drops of rain from falling down the back of your neck as with some more capacious designs and is trimmed with a bright pink reflective material to help you stand out to other road users. It’s zipped too to ensure it stays secure when hunched over the bars and, like everything else on this garment, is obviously designed for use while riding. There’s a zipped stowaway pocket back there and, for additional spray protection, a tail that can be pulled out to cover the rider and seat.

I’ve had the City jacket out in a variety of conditions and it has always performed flawlessly, from light drizzle to gale force winds with sideways showers that would normally sink any jacket but not this one. In fact it made cycling in the rain almost a pleasure, well, apart from the price tag, of course. Then again, it’s not as expensive as you might think with the Rapha winter sale offering it at a rather tempting PS180. I’d definitely recommend it.