The Rapha Classic Winter Jacket has always been GQ’s go-to jacket for winter weather riding. While other jackets forced you to pick between “hardshell” or “softshell” jacket (broadly speaking: something a bit baggy but waterproof or something fitted and softer but only water resistant), Rapha’s jacket provided the best of both worlds. Or, rather, the best of what else was out there. It was light and flexible, windproof and warm, fitted but with enough give for a base layer or two. Also, being a Rapha jacket, it was pretty damn stylish. 

In fact, it only really had one flaw: while it was mostly resistant to short showers, you would often find yourself a little on the damp side after cycling in a downfall. Until now. 

Yes, sure, you could just wear a fully waterproof cagoule as a cycling jacket if you really want to. But quite apart from it being the wrong shape for when you’re actually riding – there’s a reason cycling jackets are short in the stomach and long at the back – most waterproofs aren’t particularly breathable. And it’s not that different with most waterproof “hardshell” cycling jackets: there’s little point in a jacket that keeps you perfectly dry from the elements if you find yourself soaked in your own sweat after a strenuous ride. 

Step forward, Gore-Tex. Gore fabrics only got into the cycling game a few years back and first partnered with Rapha last year, with their “Men’s Pro Team” line (meant for the kind of person who cycles around Regent’s Park like a gerbil in a wheel). Now, finally, it's brought its patented “Gore-Tex Infinium” technology to Rapha’s iconic winter jacket. And the result, in the form of Rapha's Men's Classic Winter Gore-Tex Jacket, is the most complete cycling jacket out there: one that’s both breathable, lightweight, warm, wind-resistant and – at last! – genuinely waterproof. 

The secret is that Gore-Tex materials are actually quite porous – but on a microscopic level. Each membrane contains billions of pores, each around 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet and 700 times larger than a molecule of water vapour. The result? It allows your sweat vapour to escape, while preventing rain from penetrating. The material used here is from the Infinium range, which allows more vapour out. This makes it perfect for your commute, but you’re probably better going for Gore-Tex's “Shakedry” range if you plan to cycle for hours in a downpour. 

Available in three colours – black, brown, and you-really-can’t-miss-me orange – the first thing we noticed is that, due to the Gore-Tex coating being part of a three-layered fabric, it is a tad more crinkly than the previous Winter Jacket, giving it a slightly more hardshell feel. But once you put it on it feels, both in styling and fit, as good as ever: figure-hugging but with a comfortable stretch, meaning even the most demanding work dash can be done with confidence.

Apart from the coating, the main differences seem purely aesthetic, but are actually key. The previous version featured underarm zips for ventilation when the going got sweaty. Those are gone, presumably for the sake of water resistance (GQ can confirm from rather embarrassing experience that if you ride with them unzipped in a shower, it will provide you with two soaking underarm patches, giving the impression you have recently completed the Tour De France). Instead, it boasts two front ventilation zips – giving you the exact same issue if you unzip in the rain, but offering better ventilation, while also handily doubling as extra storage pockets (we found these perfect for earphone cases). 

Both in terms of technology and style, Rapha has always been our go-to for cycling gear. Not only is it best-in-class, but it’s by far the most stylish too. The Classic Winter Jacket was already an essential for cold-weather commuting. And while this year most are simply commuting to their kitchen table and back, it’s actually become more, not less, essential. With cycling increasingly the safest way to get everywhere, you’ll want to ensure you’re comfortable on the way and dry when you get there. Rapha’s latest winter jacket ticks every box. 

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