The Rapha Men’s Pro Team Gore-Tex Rain Jacket marries the established excellence of Gore-Tex Active fabric with Rapha design.
The jacket offers exceptional protection. Its fabric is highly waterproof, continuing to bead water off well following several washes, aiding breathability.
That said, it is expensive, and isn’t as practical as some of the best waterproof jackets due to the omission of pockets.
Rapha Men's Pro Team Gore-Tex Rain Jacket details and specifications
The Rapha Men’s Pro Team Gore-Tex Rain Jacket is constructed using Gore-Tex Active fabric throughout, with Gore’s breathable ‘Black Diamond’ membrane inside.
A slim cut is reflective of the brand’s Pro Team range (as is the reflective branding), with a dropped tail and raised front to reduce bunching when riding in an aggressive position.
The seams are taped on the inside, but the front, side and back panels are large, reducing the number of seams needed to join them.
The jacket has two zips, enabling the rider to open it from the bottom if desired, while there’s a covering strip to stop draughts and a small zip garage at the neck.
The waist hem is elasticated for the rear half – the front half isn’t and is designed to sit flatly.
The cuffs take a similar approach, with the underside only elasticated.
It’s available in navy blue and ‘Fluorescent Green’, and in sizes XS-2XL. Rapha doesn’t make a women’s version.
Rapha Men's Pro Team Gore-Tex Rain Jacket performance
The Rapha Men’s Pro Team Gore-Tex Rain Jacket performs very well, thanks primarily to its use of Gore-Tex Active fabric.
Through repeated showers, it beaded water effectively, never wetting out, and is very breathable when the weather’s changeable.
Naturally, when it’s near 100 per cent humidity outside, breathability is very limited, but the lightweight nature of the fabric allows some air to pass through the layers and offers some dispersion of built-up moisture and body heat.
This side of Gore-Tex Shakedry fabric (which is soon to be retired by Gore, as the industry makes moves towards a PFC-free future), it’s among the very best.
The cut is certainly geared towards the more aggressive end of the spectrum, but – because I’m not a racing whippet – I appreciated that Rapha has left enough space for slightly girthier human beings.
I like the slim fit on the arms and around the shoulders, although people needing extra space may feel slightly restricted. I think it sizes up slightly small (I fit snugly, but without any notable restriction, into a size large).
However, to criticise it heavily for this would be to forget the Rapha jacket's inherently racy intentions.
The biggest omission is its own pocket, or access to jersey pockets underneath. The two-way zip offers some access by undoing it from the bottom, but this solution feels like more of a palava than offering access through the back.
The cuffs are well designed and do as good a job as any of sealing out draughts and excess water. They tuck quite neatly under the cuff of cycling gloves too.
I found I could just about roll up the jacket into my jersey pocket, but not without a good chunk of it sticking out.
Those who like Rapha’s particular brand of styling will appreciate the design, complete with signature arm band and ‘Pro Team’ signatures, which may be enough to swing a purchase decision between this and the Gore Torrent jacket (in this price bracket).
The Torrent is very similar overall, save for a few details, but is £20 cheaper.
The Castelli Tempesta Lite is another similarly performing jacket – perhaps a little more breathable and with direct access to jersey pockets – but you’ll need to part with £100 more.
Rapha Men's Pro Team Gore-Tex Rain Jacket bottom line
The Rapha Men’s Pro Team Gore-Tex Rain Jacket is an impressive waterproof jacket, using an excellent fabric to achieve its key aims.
A dedicated pocket, or direct access to jersey pockets, wouldn’t go amiss, while the slim cut may not be to more relaxed riders' tastes.
It’s also slightly more expensive than the Gore Torrent, a jacket that is its equal in raw performance terms.
That said, if the cut particularly suits you, you have the budget and you like the styling, the Rapha jacket will be a great pick.
How we tested | waterproof jackets
Our 2024 cohort of waterproof jackets were tested in the depths of a particularly wet and miserable UK winter period.
Alongside rainy rides, they were also ridden in dry weather to better assess fabric breathability, and were put through several wash cycles to check the initial durability of the DWR treatments.
We used a technical wash fabric for our wash cycles, following brand recommendations.
Jackets on test
Product
| Brand | rapha |
| Price | 415.00 AUD,270.00 EUR,250.00 GBP,295.00 USD |
Features
| br_gender | mens |
| Features | Sizes: XS-2XL Fabric: Gore-Tex Active Colours: Navy blue; Fluorescent Green; Lime Green |
