Best waterproof motorcycle jackets | Beat the British weather

Coping with changeable weather is a conundrum that faces all riders, but arm yourself with a waterproof motorcycle jacket and you’ll always be ready to face the worst of it. Textiles lend themselves more easily to this as waterproofing can either be attached to the outer layer during construction in the form of a laminate, or attached directly beneath as a drop liner. Some textiles come with a re-treatable coating to prevent water ingress, much like the traditional wax cotton jacket.

The biggest advantage of choosing a waterproof motorcycle jacket instead of an oversuit is that the waterproof layer will be breathable too. This will prevent you getting wet from condensation, which can be very unpleasant, especially in winter.

Whichever you choose, it will likely come down to price and personal choice, however consideration should always be given to protection, as with all bike kit. The CE rating will give a good indication as to how it will perform should the unexpected happen, as well as to how durable it’s likely to be in general use. Ratings range from B at the bottom end to AAA offering the highest level of protection.

Armour at the shoulder and elbow should feature as a minimum, and most manufacturers will include provision for a back protector, if not the actual item itself. This will also be CE rated, to either level 1 (good) or 2 (better).

We’ve gathered a selection of the best waterproof motorcycle jackets here

How MCN tests products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.
Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one. If you can’t see a review against an item on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.
To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products

Justin Hayzelden is a Commercial Content Writer at MCN Products. He has extensive industry experience, having spent over 10 years as a freelance road tester and journalist.

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