Not all mountain bike jackets are created equally, and that’s especially true for women’s mountain bike jackets. Some are designed to keep you warm on the coldest days, while others are meant to be waterproof for riding in wet and rainy conditions. And then there are the packable, wind layers that sorta do it all, keeping riders warm and relatively dry during shoulder season and in variable weather.
It’s not always easy finding women’s-specific mountain bike jackets, but over the past several seasons, our product testers have tried most, if not all, of the best on the market. Whether you’re riding mountain, gravel, or road, any one of these is an excellent choice.
Wind and water-resistant jackets for women
If you only own one cycling jacket, a lightweight and water-resistant jacket is a great choice. These jackets are generally packable so you can carry them in your pack in case of an emergency, and they’re designed to protect against wind chill and light rain. A wind layer is also handy to have for shoulder season rides and early morning starts.
7Mesh Northwoods wind shell
- Reviewer: Anne-Marije Rook
- Price: $180
- Buy from Jenson USA
Every rider should carry a wind shell in their backpack or hip pack. These highly packable jackets take up little space and weigh next to nothing yet can absolutely save the day when weather conditions change or your ride runs into the early evening hours. Packable, featherweight, comfortable, stylish, and sporting a good hood, 7Mesh’s Northwoods Windshell ticks all the boxes for me.
Weighing barely more than 100g, this rather understated outer layer packs some thoughtful features, including a drop tail, drawstrings around the hem and the hood, a soft lining around the chin and brim of the hood, and a pocket with a key loop. It keeps the wind out without becoming a sweatbox, and the rich, port red color and generous hood make for a good-looking jacket. My only critique about this jacket is that the fit is a tad roomy, and the sizable hood is quite the wind catcher. The hood can easily fit over the helmet, but I do wish it could be tucked away when not in use.
7Mesh Cache Jacket
- Reviewer: Jamieelee Palma
- Packable: No
- Price: $280
- Buy from 7mesh
The 7Mesh Cache Jacket is there for you when you need technical top tier performance to protect you from the harsh elements. Offering water proofing with proper ventilation, the Cache Jacket is part of the brand’s Airmap collection, which “uses a combination of two- and three-layer fabrics to be water-resistant where it needs to be, while maximizing air permeability and breathability.” What makes this fascinating is that the outer shell looks like one singular material, but in reality the inside of the jacket is made up of the different fabrics that are placed strategically and have their unique properties.
The Cache Jacket has a relaxed fit and you can comfortably fit a layer or two underneath if you so desire. The full zipper front has a neat detail on the inner collar and neck area which is made of a soft brushed tricot material making it feel luxuriously soft while providing warmth. There is a discrete elastic pull string on the hem to help create a better fit. With two large zippered pockets, you can stash electronics to keep them safe from any unruly atmospheric conditions.
It is important to note the efforts that 7Mesh has put in to create amazing apparel. The Cache Jacket is made of recycled fabric, it is PFC & PFAS-free (also known as forever chemicals), Bluesign® approved fabric (the gold standard for more sustainable textiles), and Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certified fabric. If the quality of this jacket isn’t enough to intrigue you, surely the environmental standards they’re setting out to accomplish will make you enjoy this jacket even more.
7Mesh also offers to repair or replace your items over the course of their practical lifetime.
Patagonia Women’s Dirt Roamer Jacket
- Reviewer: Jamieelee Palma
- Price: $249
- Buy from Patagonia
The Patagonia Women’s Dirt Roamer Jacket is specifically designed for mountain biking and allows you to ride confidently during changing weather and windy temperature drops.
The 100% recycled nylon fabric is surprisingly breathable, which is a refreshing surprise compared to other windshell jackets. With a DWR (durable water-repellent) finish, this jacket is meant to keep you dry during misty mornings or if you’re caught in a drizzle out on the trails. Throughout the interior of the jacket, you’ll also find reinforced seams to keep things dry.
The jacket is form-fitting and follows the body shape nicely while the longer rear hem prevents air or debris from going up your back. It’s also flexible enough to allow unrestricted movement while riding. I cannot emphasize enough, that it’s very important to check the sizing guide for each item you purchase. I opted for the large size by following the sizing guide. The fit is described as ‘standard fit’ and can also fit over a long sleeve base layer for colder temperature rides.
The Dirt Roamer jacket features a helmet-compatible hood with a semi-hidden elastic adjuster to lock in place. The hood can be rolled up and tucked out of the way with a hook-and-loop stow system. I wouldn’t zip this all the way up during a ride, but it’s nice to know that it zips up to your chin for optimum coverage from the wind. Following the trend with windshell jackets, the rear zippered pocket doubles as a storage pocket when you’re ready to pack it away for your next ride.
Patagonia uses recycled nylon which is made from post-industrial waste fiber and discards from weaving mills and post-consumer fishing nets. Using recycled nylon fabrics aids in reducing CO2 emissions when compared to virgin nylon fabrics. Patagonia reports this has resulted in over 3.5 million pounds of CO2 emissions avoided as of fall 2020.
The Dirt Roamer misses out on the convenient, two-way zipper that’s featured on other comparable windshells. This will be my go-to for this upcoming fall season in Northern California.
Shredly Jacket
- Reviewer: Chris Schieffer
- Price: $118
- Buy from Shredly
Shredly is owned and operated by one of the RADest women in the industry. Full disclosure: I have been friends with the owner/founder of Shredly, Ashley, for several years. Personally speaking, I think she is a wonderful human who is caring and caters to the needs of fellow human beings. It seems she also drives her professional career in a similar direction, ensuring that Shredly listens to and cares about what women want in their mountain bike clothing. Soft fabric, beautiful patterns, long shorts, short shorts, comfortable (feminine) chamois, gaiters, scrunchies, you name it; Shredly has taken your feedback seriously and they have delivered.
They’ve done it again with the JACKET. Stylish enough for casual wear, yet filled with performance features, the JACKET is everything you want when the weather is “iffy.” Currently, the JACKET comes in two colors: KAY and LAYLA BLUSH. One, a beautiful floral pattern and the other, well… a bit more animalistic. The JACKET is constructed from the same athletic short material that Shredly is known for. It offers features that everyone loves; stretchy, lightweight, quick-drying, recycled fabric, that is also somehow extremely soft and wind-resistant.
In addition to the luxurious, eco-friendly fabric, the JACKET also has two zippered hand pockets, a vented back panel, and a high neck collar for additional warmth or style points. It has “bomber-jacket vibes” written all over it, but also comes with a hood that can be left out or rolled up and stored inside the neck.
Unlike a completely waterproof layer, sweat won’t get trapped beneath the jacket for that unpleasantly moist feeling thanks to the vented back panel and overall breathability of the material itself. If it’s raining hard, however, don’t expect this layer to keep you dry. It’ll keep you warmer than having nothing at all, but you’ll still look and feel like a soaked fashionista. An additional downside to having Voguish good looks is that the jacket itself is a bit more cumbersome to pack. It doesn’t fold extremely small and it isn’t in what we’d consider the ultra-lightweight category. However, if space isn’t an issue, this will stuff into packs (or purses for a night on the town) with the best of them.
Warm, insulated cycling jackets for cold days on the bike
On the coldest days, an insulated bike jacket is nice to have, though you might already have a jacket that could work. Just keep in mind that the jackets here are designed with a bike-friendly fit and many have features like zippered pockets, reflective accents, and two-way zippers to help regulate heat during the ride.
7Mesh Chilco Anorak Jacket
- Reviewer: Chris Schieffer
- Price: $200
- Buy from 7mesh
7Mesh recently released the Chilco Anorak jacket featuring an “advanced, lightweight loft fabric that dynamically retains or releases heat as your ride.” The WTV (Wind, Thermal, Ventilation) fabric is waffle-esque which creates small insulation pockets inside. The stretchy WTV fabric also provides ventilation for warm air to exit and allows some cool air to enter, which coincidentally, may be just what we are looking for on cooler weather rides.
The Chilco Anorak is a quarter-zip pullover with a hood that fits nicely beneath a helmet and a large, easy-to-access front pocket that is soft and cozy inside for the inevitable cold hand warm up.
While $200 seems like a lot for a riding jacket, its multi-sport versatility has us sold.
Pearl Izumi Women’s Expedition Alpha Jacket
- Reviewer: Jamieelee Garcia
- Price: $175
- Buy from Pearl Izumi
The Expedition Alpha Jacket has a unique combination of both warmth and lightness with airflow in just the right places. It has inner insulation placed in the front upper chest, arms and shoulders, while the back and side panels are ventilated to let out body heat.
The outer quilted panels offer weather protection and the PFC-free Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment will keep you dry if you’re caught in the middle of some rain showers. The back of the jacket features a silicone grip to keep the back hem in place during your ride. There are two front zip pockets to stash snacks or keep your hands warm in between riding, and the front zipper is easy to grab and pull down should you want some extra ventilation while riding.
This jacket fits true to size and is snug, getting it out of the way while riding. I like that the Expedition Alpha Jacket does have some stretch for comfort and easy movement. It’s great for long chilly rides and stylish to wear off the trails too.
Available in one snazzy color, Pine.
Giro Cascade Insulated Jacket
- Reviewer: Leah Barber
- Price: $249.95
- Buy from Giro
The Giro Cascade Insulated Jacket is designed for cold rides, where the key is to stay warm enough without being trapped in a sweat box. With insulation on the windward side of the chest and arms, and thinner fabric at the back for venting, the Cascade is a technical jacket designed specifically for biking. Naturally, the material is both wind- and water-resistant, and it’s stretchy for easy movement. Tight wrist cuffs help block the wind, though they make rolling up the sleeves difficult. Smaller riders should take note that the fit is long overall and in the arms.
Waterproof women’s bike jackets
For the most part, mountain bikers avoid riding in the rain, so you probably don’t need a full-on waterproof jacket unless you’re also commuting by bike, or riding gravel/road in the rain. If you don’t have a waterproof jacket, all of these are good choices, not just for biking, but for pretty much any outdoor activity, including running and hiking.
Velocio Anorak
- Reviewer: Leah Barber
- Price: $389 (sale $272 at time of publication)
- Buy from Velocio
The Velocio Trail Anorak is a refreshing new take on mountain bike jackets. The Italian-made, pullover-style hardshell is semi form-fitting and is both wind and waterproof. The drop tail and waist cinch provide a customized fit and coverage when on the bike. The large hood can fit a helmet and is also adjustable with large, easy to operate cord locks. The hand pockets open to a large pass-through space large enough for a guinea pig, and provide extra venting should you decide to carry your pet in your pocket.
This lightweight jacket makes a versatile layering piece adaptable to all four seasons. Take it in your pack as an extra layer for spring/summer rides or combine it with a baselayer or thermal layer on the coldest winter days. For sizing, I have gone back and forth between XS and small on different Velocio pieces. This time I chose size small, and could have sized down as the overall length of the torso as well as the arms were a little large for my petite frame. This works fine for layering purposes though.
Craft Pro Hydro Running Jacket 2
- Reviewer: Leah Barber
- Price: $199.99
- Buy from Craft
Don’t sleep on this one just because the Craft Pro Hydro Running Jacket 2 is designed for “running.” As someone who has logged many marathon training miles in frigid temps, a good running jacket that offers ventilation and mobility will easily function as mountain biking outerwear. Before we jump into the long list of technical features of this jacket, can we please acknowledge the striking (not-black) aesthetic? The varying shades of blue on the women’s jacket are reminiscent of mountain ridge lines in artistic shibori-esque hues, and the men’s version adds a touch of green, grounding the design to earthy terrain.
On top of the technical feature list is the superior ventilation and breathability of the Hydro running jacket. Sweat and excess body heat can readily escape on 30-ish degree temps through the vents in the neck/upper chest and armpits. The wind- and waterproof 3L laminated fabric (WP 15k/MVP 10k) has a soft, silky feel and more stretchy and flexible than a typical hardshell raincoat. It also lacks any noticeable swooshes or crunchy sounds during movement. The sleeves are tapered and have a partial elastic cuff so they stay in place and out of the way. The adjustable hood can be rolled up and snapped down for storage. Two streamlined zippered pockets are handy for stashing gloves or a snack.
I did find the fit to be slightly longer and wider than the size chart suggested, not surprisingly for a petite 5’0″ woman. Craft does note on their US website that “As a Swedish brand our products can fit long and lean” and recommends sizing up if between sizes. A baggier, bigger jacket might have more of a performance effect for running rather than mountain biking. I would not hesitate to use this on 99% of trail rides, though I’d opt for one of the other black jackets if there was a good chance I might be rolling in some rocks as I don’t know how well the material would hold up to abrasion.
Pearl Izumi Summit 3L WxB Rain Jacket
- Reviewer: Hannah Morvay
- Price: $185
- Buy from Pearl Izumi
Pearl Izumi’s Summit 3L WxB jacket is made for “the wettest, rowdiest rides” and that’s where it ended up. The rain jacket is constructed from a three-layer fabric and meant to stay breathable and comfortable while on the move. Our tester found this to be true. The Summit 3L jacket is light and maintains good breathability when it’s zippered up, sheltering the rider from the rain.
The hood is big enough to get around a helmet, and has a cinch behind the crown for a tight fit. There is plenty of space in the pockets for hands, snacks, and keys and our tester appreciated the true-to-size fit and droptail for added coverage in the rear.
Ladies tell us: What is your favorite jacket for cycling?
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