Best Budget Cycling Jackets

No cycling-specific jacket under $100 had both a US price and an independent test, so these three come from our running and hiking rankings. They are basic rain shells with a hood and a hem that suit a day on a bike. Independent testers say they can soak through in long downpours, and none of the tests were done on a bike. A cheap cycling rain jacket with strong owner ratings follows the scored jackets.

How these scores are built. Outer layers are judged mainly on waterproofing, which counts for 45% of the score. Breathability counts 25%, and the other two criteria count 15% each. Based on: Independent running and hiking tests (OutdoorGearLab, CleverHiker, Switchback Travel and others), manufacturer specifications and prices read on REI, L.L.Bean and Columbia on October 14 to 16, 2026. We found no cycling-specific jacket under $100 with a US price and an independent test. We do not test products in person. 6 source pages are linked under the 3 products so you can check each finding. How we score.

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never changes our scores. Read the affiliate disclosure.

#ProductBest forWaterproofingScore
1L.L.Bean Trail Model Rain JacketBest for everyday rain76.5
2REI Co-op RainierBest budget overall5.55.5
3Columbia Hikebound IIBest for casual hiking and walks4.54.5

L.L.Bean Trail Model Rain Jacket

Best for everyday rain, $99.95

6.5/10

Waterproofing 45%
7/10
Breathability 25%
6/10
Fit and mobility 15%
6/10
Durability 15%
6/10

Pros

  • Fully taped seams on a 2.5-layer shell, with a 3-point adjustable hood.
  • Owners rate it 4.4 out of 5 across 1,118 reviews.

Cons

  • Some owners report leaks after heavy rain while biking.
  • Owners mention a snagging zipper and a short cut. It weighs 13.4 oz.
  • We scored it from running reviews and owner reports. None of them tested it on a bike, so fit and comfort when riding are untested.

Sources: L.L.Bean, SectionHiker

REI Co-op Rainier

Best budget overall, $99.95

5.5/10

Waterproofing 45%
5.5/10
Breathability 25%
5.5/10
Fit and mobility 15%
6/10
Durability 15%
5/10

Pros

  • Pit zips dump heat quickly, according to OutdoorGearLab.
  • REI lists 11.3 oz, sealed seams and a 2.5-layer shell.

Cons

  • BetterTrail found the DWR holds about 30 minutes of steady light rain, and the shell can wet out after one to two hours.
  • GearJunkie rates breathability 6 out of 10 and notes a clammy interior under hard effort.
  • We scored it from running and hiking reviews and owner reports. None of them tested it on a bike, so fit and comfort when riding are untested.

Sources: REI, OutdoorGearLab, BetterTrail

Columbia Hikebound II

Best for casual hiking and walks, $90

4.5/10

Waterproofing 45%
4.5/10
Breathability 25%
4.5/10
Fit and mobility 15%
4/10
Durability 15%
5/10

Pros

  • OutdoorGearLab scored water resistance 7.2 out of 10, and the jacket held up well in its shower test.
  • Mesh lining. OutdoorGearLab scored breathability 6.5 out of 10.

Cons

  • It weighs about 18 oz. OutdoorGearLab scored weight 2 out of 10 and calls it a poor fit for long-distance use.
  • No pit zips.
  • We scored it from running and hiking reviews and owner reports. None of them tested it on a bike, so fit and comfort when riding are untested.

Sources: OutdoorGearLab, SectionHiker

Check price on Amazon

Readers in Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Sweden are sent to their own Amazon store, where prices show in local currency. The prices on this page are US prices.

Rated by owners only

We could not find reliable independent tests for these product, so they have no score and no rank. We list one only when owners give it at least 4 stars out of 5 across at least 50 reviews. Owner reviews can be incentivized or unverified, so treat them as a weaker signal than the tests above.

  • Bikewa Men's Cycling Rain Jacket$49.99. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 558 reviews on Amazon.A cycling-specific rain jacket from a brand we could not find independent coverage of.

How we picked

Each score comes from independent running and hiking tests, manufacturer specifications and the regular price at a named retailer. We do not test jackets in person. Where a jacket sits in both our running and hiking rankings we kept the lower rating for each criterion. A jacket here is a basic rain shell, and testers say these can wet out in sustained heavy rain.

What we left out

  • Columbia Watertight II: its regular price puts it at the edge of the next price range.
  • Pearl iZUMi Quest Barrier and Castelli Squall: water-resistant, not fully waterproof.
  • Cheap Amazon cycling jackets with fewer than 50 reviews: not listed.

What to look for

  • A hem you can cinch and a hood that fits over a helmet
  • Pit zips or vents, since cheaper shells trap heat
  • Taped seams and a waterproof zip

Questions

Why are these jackets not made for cycling?

We found no cycling jacket under $100 that had a US price and an independent test. These came from our running and hiking rankings, where we scored them from those tests. They have not been tested on a bike.

Why do the scores differ from the running and hiking pages?

Where a jacket appears in both rankings, we took the lower rating for each criterion, because we keep the more cautious figure when sources disagree.

Where do the prices come from?

The regular price at the retailer named under each product, on the dates in the basis line. Sale and outlet prices are ignored.