Castelli

Pocket Liner Jacket

There's a reason pro cyclists wear the Castelli Pocket Liner Men's Jacket. Sure, most of that reason is because they're sponsored by Castelli, but they wouldn't be using the gear if it wasn't high quality. The Pocket Liner is one of the best cycling-specific rain jackets we've seen, with a design that's uniquely waterproof, breathable, and tailored to fit aggressive cyclists who ride hard in any weather.

The Pocket Liner's main party trick is its combination of waterproofing and breathability, which comes courtesy of the eVent membrane. Featuring lots of microscopic pores, eVent keeps water droplets out but lets vapor escape, so you stay dry even if you're pedaling hard and sweating. Castelli built in zippered underarm vents to increase breathability and cooling on muggy days, too.

Lots of rain jackets will keep you dry, but most don't fit well enough to be worn on the bike. The Pocket Liner is cut with Castelli's trademark attention to fit, though, with a slim-but-layerable fit for cold weather and a dropped hem to keep wheel spray off your back. There are also sections of pleated fabric on the back and elbows, which allow for increased flexibility without getting billowy and causing lots of drag. You can adjust the sleeves with hook-and-loop tabs at the cuffs, and the front storm flap covers the zipper to prevent windblown moisture from entering your outer layer. The Pocket Liner is also supremely lightweight and packable, so it's easy to stuff into a jersey pocket if you're not sure what the weather has in store.