Rapha Commuter Jacket review: Style, but not without substance

Is it possible that the Rapha Commuter Jacket delivers on style, performance, and price?

Rapha Commuter Jacket
(Image: © Josh Ross)

Cyclingnews Verdict

The Rapha Commuter Jacket is a style statement that lets you mark yourself as a cyclist in whatever situation you find yourself. It's also not expensive and happens to perform pretty well on the bike when you want to use it that way.

Pros

  • +

    Incredible colour options that rotate regularly

  • +

    Totally waterproof

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    Offset zipper

  • +

    Slight drop tail

  • +

    Upper back venting

  • +

    Quality hood that will stow

  • +

    Plenty of reflectivity on the drop tail

  • +

    Stylish

Cons

  • -

    Next to skin feel isn't great

  • -

    Zipper is tough to move

  • -

    Hood adjustment is unusable

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

When looking for winter cycling jackets, I tend to look for the best of the best within a road or gravel cycling capacity; the kind of jacket that will let you go out in a storm warning for seven hours and come home in one piece with a story to tell. Sometimes I do back off the extremes but, even then, my focus is still on performance. With that in mind, I knew when I put together our list of the best winter cycling jackets that I wanted to have a couple of pieces with a different focus. More people taking more trips on bikes is good for everyone and if you are looking for a jacket for bike commuting, the Rapha Commuter Jacket is likely on your radar. 

Rapha has a solid reputation as a performance brand that also understands style. The brand also tends to have a reputation for pricing that puts them at the top of the market. The Rapha Commuter jacket doesn't focus solely on absolute performance and it's actually priced near the low end. If you've noticed the jacket, it's almost certain you've wondered if it's any good. I've had the same thought and so I've spent time not climbing mountains in it but rather, cruising around the neighbourhood. Keep reading if you want to hear some insights into what it does well and where it's lacking. 

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Testing scorecard and notes
Design and aestheticsGorgeous colours and it looks great.10/10
Thermal managementDon’t expect zipper up breathability but it keeps you warm and protected and with the zipper down the rear vent does a good job.7/10
StorageNo rear pockets but that’s expected. The hand pockets are very useable.7/10
Comfort and fitThe fit is perfect but the fabric is plasticky.7/10
ValueThe price is good at full price but they frequently see significant markdowns as colours change.10/10
OverallRow 5 - Cell 1 82%
Josh Ross

Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes. Height: 5'9" Weight: 140 lb. Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx