Choosing the right MTB jacket

Have you ever experienced the moment when you have slightly wobbly stools while stilting?

A little, ah.

Not enough to dare ask for another chair (but given the people at the table and the unevenness of the chairs, you can imagine they are no longer available), but enough to bother you while eating and ruin the evening because you all think about it. ...

He sways, he makes noise, you limp on four legs. You are looking for all possible tricks to subtly substitute the leg that bothers you.

In vain ...

In the end, you make a radical decision: don't move.

Well, riding a mountain bike in the wrong jacket that isn't waterproof and breathable is the same thing.

You go, you start to sweat. The “K Way” jacket does not wick away sweat, you “boil” 🥵 with the sensation of small drops of sweat that trickle down and quietly trickle down the skin. This is already unpleasant. Then the descent comes and you freeze. Add to that the harsh breeze that blows through the jacket and it's enough to make you want to take your mountain bike on a hot summer day.

But you know that you have to follow the three layers principle even on a bicycle:

1. breathable first layer ("technical" T-shirt or jersey),
2. second insulating layer for protection from cold,
3. a third outer layer for protection from inclement weather such as wind and / or rain.

We avoid cotton for the first layer because it is breathable and absorbs water from your sweat.

But you still need to have 2nd and 3rd levels adapted to you and your practice!

This article will help you make the right choice and make a choice in favor of Jacket MTB, waterproof in case of rain, breathable, made for you, one that you will not be ready to forget in the back of your wardrobe!

Selection criteria for MTB jacket

The more choice, the more difficult it is to make a decision. To help you, ask yourself the following questions so you know what to look for:

• Do you need a waterproof raincoat? If so, do you need it to protect you from fine Breton drizzle or heavy rainfall?
• Are you looking for a windproof effect?
• Do you need thermal underwear for cold weather skiing? Note that few jackets meet all of these criteria. For example, most insulated jackets are not waterproof. Therefore, we will have to reason in terms of priority.

Now let's see how to understand labels.

I need a waterproof and breathable cycling jacket

Waterproof or water repellent? Ha ha! This is not the same!

A small point of semantics:

• The water-repellent cycling jacket allows water to drip off.
• On the other hand, a waterproof cycling jacket will absorb a certain amount of water, but will not allow it to penetrate the inside of the garment. This waterproof cycling jacket is made of micro-porous material. Its pores are 20 times smaller than a drop of water, which helps you stay dry by allowing your body to breathe. 👉 Rather, it is this type of property that is required when playing sports such as mountain biking.

To assess the waterproofness of the MTB jacket, it is supplied with water under constant pressure. We tell you this because some brands, in order to convince you to buy their jacket, use this type of number as a guarantee of trust.

Waterproofing unit - Schmerber. 1 Schmerber = 1 column of water 1 mm thick. Clothes worth 5 shmerber will withstand 000 mm of water or 5 meters of water. It is believed that at 000 Schmerber the product is ideally waterproof.

In fact, rain rarely exceeds the equivalent of 2 Schmerber, but in some places (the shoulder straps of the hydration pack) the applied pressure can be as high as 000 Schmerber.

In practice, the actual waterproofness of a cycling jacket depends on three factors:

• water pressure,
• the pressure exerted by the hydration pack,
• time of exposure to bad weather.

Therefore, the fabric of a jacket must have at least 10 Schmerbers to be considered truly waterproof.

Here's how to interpret the manufacturer's waterproof data:

• Water resistant up to 2mm MTB raincoat protects you from small, shallow and temporary showers.
• The 10mm thick waterproof MTB waterproof jacket will protect you in almost any rainy situation.
• Resistant to 15mm of water, the mountain bike raincoat protects you from virtually any kind of rain and wind. There we enter the elite jackets.

For clothing to breathe, water vapor from the body must not condense inside, but escape through the fabric to the outside. However, Gore-Tex type microporous membranes require you to perspire in order for the water vapor removal process to begin. Therefore, the body must produce enough energy for this.

In fact, after very much effort, especially if you are carrying a backpack, the sweat water does not drain completely, leaving the laundry very damp, even damp 💧. This is the downside of Horus's excellent protection.

The barrier is so effective that it keeps air out, a bit like the effect of the K-Way jacket.

Gore-Tex's competitors have focused on this point.

The structure of the new textile membranes, consisting of smaller pores, not only disperses water vapor, but also allows air to pass through. The air flow that is created inside the jacket accelerates moisture removal. This is the principle, for example, of NeoShell laminate from Polartec, OutDry from Colombia or even Sympatex.

Do not skimp on the choice of the outer fabric of the jacket, remember that you will ride a mountain bike, what rubs in the forest, stings, that sometimes you fall. You need a non-fragile membrane that does not move, does not crumble at the slightest scratch, does not break at the slightest fall. This is even more true when looking for an enduro / DH MTB jacket.

I need a windproof cycling jacket 🌬️

Before reaching the squall, sometimes a light breeze is enough to make the walk unpleasant. If you are riding in moderate temperatures (around ten degrees), only a windproof jacket may work for you.

But the wind often accompanies its friend rain. Sometimes she appears, sometimes shy, but always threatening. So, combine windproof and minimal water-repellent effect, at best - water resistance.

In all cases, beware of two elements:

• Opt for a tailored cycling jacket to limit wind haul, which will exacerbate the annoyance of the flag effect.
• Also choose a breathable MTB jacket to avoid the “oven” effect 🥵 that will make you sweat even more.

There are two units of measure for breathability: MVTR and RET.

• Le MVTR (Water Vapor Transfer Rate) or Water Vapor Transfer Rate is the amount of water (measured in grams) that evaporates from 1 m² of fabric in 24 hours. The higher this figure, the more breathable the textile. At 10 it starts to breathe well, at 000 your jacket will become very breathable. This unit is used by many European brands: Millet, Mammut, Ternua, Eider ...
• Le RET (Resistance Evaporative Transfert), rather used by American brands, including Gore-Tex, and measures the resistance of a fabric to wick moisture away. The lower the number, the more breathable the garment. From 12 years old you get good breathability, up to 6 years old your jacket is ultra-breathable, and from 3 years old or younger you are faced with the best in terms of breathability.

There is no exact conversion table between these two dimensions (since they measure two different phenomena), but here is an idea for the conversion:

MVTR	RET
Not breathable	> 20
breathable	<3 g / m000 / 24 h	<20
breathable	5 g / m000 / day	10
Very breathable	10 g / m000 / day	9
Extremely breathable	from 15 to 000 40000 g / m24 / XNUMX hours	<6
Extremely breathable	20 g / m000 / day	5
Extremely breathable	30 g / m000 / day	<4

Note: MVTR and RET should only be considered as guidelines when choosing a jacket. In terms of atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity, the actual conditions of everyday outdoor life usually have nothing to do with conditions in testing laboratories. There is also wind and movement. Therefore, deviations from theory to practice are the rule rather than the exception.

I need a warm cycling jacket 🔥

Again, be sure to bring a breathable jacket that allows air to circulate outside so you don't overheat inside!

Let's talk about numbers for a moment: a jacket is considered highly breathable if it lets through 30000 24 grams of water per m² in XNUMX hours. These tests are done in a laboratory and numbers are often highlighted on membrane labels. But from one garment to another and how the manufacturer uses the fabric, this can vary greatly. Now you know !

⚠️ Please note: As we said, most MTB winter jackets are not waterproof. You will need to make a choice or put a waterproof jacket in your bag in case it rains while walking. Keep in mind, however, that there are heat-resistant and waterproof cycling jackets (watch carefully!), But the level of waterproofing remains quite low (we stick to water repellency more).

If you need a combination of these two criteria, you cannot do without it. In this case, your best bet is to go for a layered jacket like Vaude, which has a removable thermal jacket inside a waterproof jacket and windbreaker.

Details you don't have to think about in a cycling jacket

This is the case with general criteria, but there are others to consider, depending on your practice, your use, your preferences:

• Do sleeves need removable or additional holes (for example, under the arms)?
• Make sure your back is longer so you don't expose your lower back. The same goes for the sleeves so that your skin does not open up at the wrists.
• Should an MTB jacket take up as little space in your bag as possible because you only want to wear it when going downhill in a windbreaker?
• Need reflective stripes to be seen at night? There we can only advise you to answer "yes", even if you are not used to driving at night. In winter, there is little light, the days are getting shorter, you will never be criticized for being too visible!
• Colour ! Stay sober, considering the price and seasonality, you will keep your jacket for years: choose a color that goes with everything.

Softshell or hardshell?

• La Softshell provides warmth, good thermal insulation, windproof effect, excellent breathability and freedom of movement thanks to the elastic properties of the fabrics used in its design. It is water repellent but not water resistant. You will wear it as a middle layer or as an outer protective layer if the weather is nice but cool.
• La Hardsell does not warm, but provides waterproof and breathable. Its role is to enhance protection against rain, snow, hail and wind. You will be wearing it in the third layer. A hardshell jacket is lighter than a softshell jacket and can be easily packed into a backpack.

Cycling Jacket Care

Contrary to popular belief, membrane-type fabrics need regular washing 🧽 to maintain their properties (dust or salts from sweat block micro-holes in the membrane, which in this case works worse).

To avoid damaging the specifications of your jacket, avoid using laundry detergent, chlorine, fabric softeners, stain removers, and especially dry cleaning. Small amounts of liquid detergent are preferred.

You can wash your cycling jacket with a regular detergent, but a specially formulated detergent is preferred.

Before cleaning the jacket, lift the front closure, close the pockets and vents under the armpits; attach the flaps and webbing.

Wash at 40 ° C, rinse well and dry at moderate temperature.

Retain fabric type labels and visit the manufacturer's website for specific care tips.

To improve the waterproofness of the jacket, you can either dip it or use a spray bottle, or you can reactivate the water repellency by following the manufacturer's advice.

Our selection of MTB jackets

Here's a selection of the best waterproof, windproof and breathable MTB jackets to date.

⚠️ How often, when it comes to working with female practitioners, the choice becomes more limited, the wine market is much less than that of men. Ladies, if you can't find a specific women's range, go back to “men's” products, which are often considered unisex. The border is thin and sometimes comes from simple variations of more girly colors. Obviously, we prefer brands that tailor their products specifically to female morphology.

Ladies' special jackets are marked with a 👩.

Product	Perfect for
	Lagoped Tetra 🐓 🌡️ Thermal: No 💦 Water resistance: 20000 mm 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: 14000 g / m². ➕: Cocorico, we operate under a French brand (Annecy) that promotes local production and processing. Sympatex membrane; a fabric produced in Ardèche and a jacket assembled in Poland. Recycled products without endocrine disruptors. The jacket is versatile for any outdoor workout and is not specifically designed for mountain biking, but can be adapted for cycling. Ventral zip closure at the top and bottom. Large hood. Chin and cheek protection. ⚖️ Weight: 480g	Mountain biking and outdoor activities in general	View price
	Dirtlej Straight Fucking Down 🚠 🌡️ Thermal: No 💦 Water resistance: 15000 mm 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: 10000 g / m². ➕: Jumpsuit with a wide fit for comfortable use of the protection underneath. Sleeves and legs without zippers. Very durable material. thought of a product focused on dedicated practitioners. ⚖️ Weight: N / C	Descent and gravity in general	View price
	Gore C5 Trail 🌬️ 🌡️ Thermal: No 💦 Water resistance: 28000 mm 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: RET 4 ➕: Very lightweight and compact to fit in your bag without taking up too much space. Reinforcement for the backpack. Long back for good protection, the Gore Windstopper membrane you no longer need to imagine ... a choice of experience! The cut is classic and modern, with two side pockets and a large front pocket. The product is simple, with a very good finish; nothing sticks out, everything is down to a millimeter, the seams are heat-sealed, 2 types of fabric are used, depending on the points of friction, to ensure strength and lightness. The sleeves are designed to protect you from rain and scratches. This is a cycling jacket that can be used for any workout, can be rolled up in a bag, easy to put on and take off. A completely redesigned equivalent of the good old K-Way, but made of Gore-Tex membrane: maximum efficiency in case of rain or wind. ⚖️ Weight: 380g	Practical even in rain and wind	View price
	Endura MT500 II 🌡️ Thermal: No 💦 Water resistance: 20000 mm 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: 40000 g / m². : The cut is very well adjusted and yet remains sufficient for all the necessary movements in a mountain biking position. Compared to the solid feel and many of the original trims, the jacket remains lightweight. The first difference is a very large protective hood, which can store all helmets, even the largest ones. We feel that the jacket is designed with a strong doctrine: to keep out the rain. Large ventilation under the arms is compatible with carrying a backpack. We can see that this is a product that has matured over the years and that there are no mistakes of youth, examples: all zippers are equipped with small rubber bands so that they can be easily manipulated with full gloves, the zippers are heat sealable and waterproof, a ski pass pocket is present on the left sleeve, Velcro fasteners are the best in the range. The shoulders are reinforced with Cordura to prevent wear and tear from the hydration pack and hold the hydration pack well when shaken. Front pockets and underarm vents open to both sides. The hood can be rolled up to take up less space and avoid the parachute effect when riding fast. In short: very high class and top quality finishes. This is a product made without PFC, very durable, perfect for All Mountain and Enduro, and we will go out in really difficult weather conditions and it will no longer give you a reason to back down in the face of guaranteed rain. ⚖️ Weight: 537g	MTB Enduro + All practices	View price
	Waters of Minaki Light 🕊️ 🌡️ Thermal: Yes 💦 Tightness: No 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: very important (without membrane) ➕: Ultra-compact and ultra-light (like a soda can), the jacket can be folded into a chest pocket for storage. It should always be kept at the bottom of the bag so that it never gets cold at the top and all efforts will cease. Recycled insulation, PFC-free water repellency, produced in a Fair Wear Foundation certified by Grüner Knopf and Green Shape. A practical, surprisingly effective product, developed with the pragmatism of German tailors in mind, which does not make itself felt, but makes you feel very good with it. Ideal for riding in cool weather or as a middle layer in cold weather. ⚖️ Weight: 180g	All mountain biking practices are more for wind and heat protection.	View price
	ARC'TERYX Zeta LT🏔️ 🌡️ Thermal: No 💦 Water resistance: 28000 mm 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: RET 4 ➕: This is not a product designed for mountain biking, it is a product designed for outdoor activities in general (mountain rather), the third layer of hard shell, lightweight waterproof and breathable, with a form-fitting cut. Made from 3-layer N40p-X GORE-TEX fabric, it is highly waterproof yet still breathable and durable. It is a good compromise between durability, breathability, waterproofness and flexibility. The sleeves and waist are long so as not to expose yourself to the bike. The interest lies in the versatility of this hardshell jacket, which can also be used for hiking, mountaineering… When you do multiple activities, you don't necessarily have the option of having a jacket for every workout, every weather. The Arc'teryx jacket is a great compromise. It allows you to work in harsh environments while being perfectly protected. The finishes live up to the brand's reputation for being simple, efficient and well thought out. We can even use it in streetwear and especially when roaming, bikepacking or even cycling to never leave it. ⚖️ Weight: 335g	General practice in nature and every day!	View price
	Waters Year round Moab II 🌡️ 🌡️ Thermal: Yes 💦 Water resistance: 10 mm 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: 3000 g / m². ➕: It is primarily a breathable and waterproof windbreaker that combines a removable thermal inner jacket that makes the jacket very warm when needed. The jacket is made according to Vaude's Green Doctrine, which uses recycled polyester and does not use PTFE. It's not the lightest, but it's perfect for mountain biking, and its modularity makes it the perfect roaming bike jacket due to its compactness and versatility. ⚖️ Weight: 516g	Cycling or winter walks in inclement weather.	View price
	Leatt DBX 5.0 🌡️ Thermal: Yes 💦 Water resistance: 30000 mm 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: 23000 g / m². : Designed for rainy weather, the Leatt DBX 5.0 jacket is completely waterproof, made of a very durable material that gives you immediate confidence over extended use. The cut is well-fitting and follows the biker style codes. It has VERY large pockets in which you can store your phone, keys, etc. There are ventilation zippers on the back, this is original and effective, as it does not interfere with ventilation even with a hydration pack. The scratches on the sleeves are very well treated to ensure a perfect fit. After putting on, the jacket does not rise, regardless of the position: there are no exposed skin areas. Several rubber inserts on the shoulders and arms showcase the durable character of the product. They make sure that the jacket does not wear out despite the possible friction of the backpack. Likewise, in the event of a fall, these parts will be protected, which contributes to the durability of the product. Innovative, the hood has magnets to keep it on the helmet or folded down, preventing the effect of a parachute when not in use. We also note a focus on small touches for gravity practitioners: a ski pass pocket on the left forearm, very practical for lifts in a bike park. A well-designed, high-end, innovative, well-tuned product focused on decisive practice with an emphasis on sustainability. Quality has not been overlooked by Leatt and the jacket has a solid (which cannot be denied on a scale) impression with a very stylish design. ⚖️ Weight: 630g	DH / Enduro MTB in cool and / or wet weather	View price
	👩 Endura Singletrack 💧 🌡️ Thermal: Yes 💦 Water resistance: 10 mm 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: 20000 g / m². : We'll always be tempted to compare Endura's top MT500 MTB jacket... but don't, it's not the same use case. The singletrack jacket is a less exclusive softshell product, more focused on everyday practice and more versatile in use. In design and finish, we see the maturity of a brand that manufactures products for a market where local weather conditions are a great test of quality (Scotland). Constructed from our own Exoshell 20 3-layer membrane, it is an excellent compromise in terms of warmth, wind protection, water resistance and lightness. The cut is absolutely modern. It has 3 external pockets (including a chest pocket with a waterproof zipper) and XNUMX internal pockets. Underarm ventilation with well placed zippers. The product lives up to Endura's reputation for superior quality. A large protective hood that can be rolled up on itself with an ingenious system completes the functionality of this Women's Endura Singletrack Jacket. ⚖️ Weight: 394g	All practices	View price
	👩 Ionic scrub AMP femme 🌡️ Thermal: No 💦 Water resistance: 20000 mm 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: 20000 g / m². ➕: great freedom of movement, very light, long back. Three-layer laminate - hardshell jacket. The hood is helmet compatible. ⚖️ Weight: N / C	Descent - All Practices	View price
	👩 Woman GORE C3 Windstopper Phantom Zip-Off with Zipper 👻 🌡️ Thermal: Yes 💦 Waterproof: No (water repellent) 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: RET 4 ➕: This is a modular softshell jacket that keeps you warm and breathable while remaining windproof thanks to the Gore-Tex Windstopper membrane. The elastic and soft fabric is very comfortable on the skin. We are on a jacket that in the 3-layer concept perfectly replaces the 2nd and 3rd layers if there is no rain. At the same time, it is heat resistant, breathable, windproof, and can protect against rain in the event of a small shower. A big advantage is its modularity with the possibility of removing or replacing the sleeves thanks to the original system of zippers and sleeves. They can also be half-opened to stay inside the jacket, creating ventilation inside. The jacket has pockets inside (mesh) and outside (with zippers or 3 pockets in the back to avoid taking a hydration pack). A finished product to have in your MTB wardrobe if you don't want to ride in inclement weather. ⚖️ Weight: 550g	Cross-country running in cool weather but no heavy rain	View price
	👩 Vaude Moab Hybrid UL for women 🌪 🌡️ Thermal: Yes 💦 Tightness: No 🌬️ Windproof: Yes Air permeability: Yes (without membrane) ➕: Same as the male model! An ultra-light product adapted to the female morphology and super compact, which can be used as insulation or as an outer layer as a windbreaker. The jacket is so light and compact that there is no reason not to leave it in the hydration bag all the time during low season. ⚖️ Weight: 160g	All workouts without rain	View price

A small guide to clothes depending on the weather and temperature

Tested and approved, here are some examples that can be customized to suit your personal preference.

⛅️ Weather conditions	🌡️ Temperature	1️ Substrate	2️ Thermal layer	3️ Outer layer
❄️	0 ° C	Long Sleeve Thermal Base Layer (Natural Peak)	Waters of Minaki Light	Endura MT500 II or Leatt DBX 5.0
️	5 ° C	Long Sleeve Technical Base Layer (Brubeck)	Long Sleeve MTB Jersey	ARC'TERYX Zeta LT or Lagoped Tetra
️	10 ° C	??	Mother MTB	Up C5
☀️	0 ° C	Long Sleeve Padded Jersey (Brubeck)	Waters of Minaki Light	Endura MT500 II or Leatt DBX 5.0
☀️	5 ° C	Warm jersey with long sleeves (Natural Peak)	Mother MTB	Up C3
☀️	10 ° C	??	Mother MTB	Waters of Minaki Light

If you get too hot while working, you will have to remove the insulating layer first!

📸 Marcus Greber, POC, Carl Zoch Photography, angel_on_bike