Rapha recently introduced its US$295/£190 Rain Jacket, designed in London and field tested during the Tour of California and various Rapha Continental rides.
"Our original Stowaway from four years ago was the last waterproof piece we made," Rapha's US general manager Slate Olson told BikeRadar. "That jacket was bombproof, but didn't breathe at all. It led us to our current Stowaway which we love, but knew that there was a need for a rain jacket from Rapha. This one has been in development, testing, refinement for the past 18 months."
According to Olson, the Rapha Rain Jacket is made with a simple nylon with an inner laminate that the U.K. company developed to be as thin as it can so the jacket is still very packable.
"It not only share the shape of the Stowaway, but we've brought that material to the sides and under the arms to improve the breathability of the jacket," Olson added. "Technically, we can't call it 'waterproof' because of that, but it's taped and sealed everywhere that matters, except for the sides."
The cuffs are a heavy neoprene that keep it on your wrist and impenetrable. The pocket on the back is vertical, not horizontal, making it a bit easier to get into while keeping water off money, identification, etc.
The Rapha Rain Jacket is made in the same Asian factory as the Classic Softshell and Stowaway jackets, and is available in both grey and cream, in sizes XS, M, L, XL and XXL.
For more information, visit www.rapha.cc.
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