As the seasons inexorably change for the worse (though secretly I actually really enjoy the onset of autumn and the start of gloomy riding), people are always scratching around for that one piece of clothing that’ll allow them to ride in bad weather in something approaching comfort. The fulcrum on which the delicate see-saw of winter comfort is often balanced is the winter cycling jacket, or the waterproof cycling jacket. The former is mostly designed to keep you warm, but the latter has the harder job of keeping you dry.
Waterproof cycling jackets for years were just like any other waterproof jacket, just cut for cycling, but since Castelli launched the original Gabba way back in 2010, cyclists have been torn between the form-fitting a breathable softshell jacket and the more waterproof, but more sweaty hardshell.
Now there are more softshells than ever to compete with the plethora of hardshells. There’s the Castelli Perfetto RoS 3, and the new DoDiCi, which Castelli claims is the ‘spiritual successor’ to the original Gabba. Rapha has the Shadow, which is now on its second iteration, whilst Maap has the Elements Pro. Castelli even has the Gabba R, which I loved, though the aesthetics are somewhat questionable.
Which one should you buy, though? Given that the outlay needed for just one jacket can be prohibitive, it’d be remiss of me to suggest you should just buy one of each. Well, as ever, the answer is ‘it depends’.
What are hardshell waterproof cycling jackets good for?
If you are frequently riding in moderate to heavy rain then a hardshell is probably what you should opt for. They are simply better equipped at keeping you dry than a softshell, as they form a (hopefully) impermeable barrier that at least keeps your top half dry. If you remain dry it’s a lot easier to stay warm when the temperatures plummet, and when it’s really cold it’s not a terrible idea to throw on a waterproof jacket to reduce the breathability of your layering system and up the temperature a little.
They’re also a little easier to throw on and off in changeable conditions and stuff in either a jersey pocket if they’re lightweight like the Maap Atmos or the Pas Normal Mechanism Pertex, or in a bar bag if they’re more bulky.
Because they’re better able to protect you in genuinely horrendous conditions (provided you get a decent one) my recommendation is usually to get a hardshell jacket first, as it’s better…
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