Scott RC Weather WP Men's Jacket review

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If you want a truly packable waterproof jacket, the Scott RC Weather WP Men’s Jacket is a strong option.

The PFC/PFAS-free Pertex Shield fabric is both waterproof and breathable, while the two-layer construction boosts the sensation of the latter.

While it's more affordable than some of the best waterproof cycling jackets, at £164.99 / €179.90, some small issues make it a considered purchase.

Scott RC Weather WP Men's Jacket details and specifications

The Scott RC Weather WP Men’s Jacket utilises Pertex Shield fabric, which is PFC/PFAS-free and offers a little stretch.

Unlike the excellent Maap Atmos, which uses a three-layer version of the fabric, the Scott jacket employs a lighter, thinner two-layer variant. The seams are taped on the inside and appear noticeably thin, in order to preserve the jacket’s svelteness.

This means it’s more packable than any other jacket I’ve tested recently, although the inner-facing membrane feels slightly rubbery against the skin because there’s no inner-face textile here.

The cut is slim with an extended tail, although the arms are oddly baggy – something that's noticeable when riding (more on that to come).

In terms of creature comforts, the jacket is relatively sparse, but a zipped section on the rear-right flank offers some access to jersey pockets underneath. There’s a small mesh-backed cargo pocket on the inner-front of the jacket.

The wrists feature an elasticated underside, as does the majority of the waist hem. The latter is backed by a silicone gripper strip to help it stay put.

The collar is double-layered – the outer fabric effectively wraps over to come into contact with the neck – and tall to protect against draughts. The YKK zip is backed by this outer fabric and there’s a zip garage.

Scott offers six sizes (XS-2XL), but only two colours – black and Sulphur Yellow. The Scott graphics and reflective tabs are designed to aid visibility in low light, and the presence of a high-visibility colour option is a bonus.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a like-for-like women’s version of this jacket.

How we tested | waterproof jackets

This group of waterproof jackets were chosen to put to the test the latest PFC/PFAS-free waterproof textile technology.

These jackets are set to be the norm, as older textiles (such as Gore-Tex Active and Shakedry) are retired in response to bans rolling out worldwide.

The jackets were tested in the rain and dry, to assess their ability to resist water as well as their breathability. Each was washed using a technical detergent product, following brand recommendations.

Jackets on test

• Gore Spinshift Gore-Tex Jacket Mens review
• Men’s Rapha Gore-Tex Rain Jacket review
• Scott RC Weather WP Men's Jacket review
• Universal Colours Mono Men's Rain Jacket review
• Santini Guard Neos – Jacket with Hood review
• Albion Men’s All Road Pertex Shield Rain Jacket
• Van Rysel Men's Long-Sleeved Road Cycling Rain Jacket Racer Ultralight

Scott RC Weather WP Men's Jacket performance

The Scott RC Weather WP Men's Jacket feels more like an emergency rain shell than a heavy-duty waterproof jacket, thanks to its two-layer construction.

In this respect, those after a more luxurious or thick-feeling outer layer may wish to look elsewhere, while it’s reasonable to fear that it might be more fragile than garments with textile inner and outer-face fabrics.

I had no issues with durability, though – the outer-face fabric seems resistant to snagging and tearing – although it’s fair to say I didn’t throw myself off my bike in the name of testing.

The Pertex Shield membrane feels rubbery to the touch, which can be conflated with a somewhat clammy sensation usually brought about by sweating, but I was very impressed with the fabric’s overall breathability.

Its thinness seems to promote air and heat exchange to a greater extent than the three-layer version of Pertex Shield in the Albion Men’s All Road Pertex Shield Rain Jacket, and the Gore and Rapha Gore-Tex ePE fabric jackets I’ve also tested. I felt cooler in comparable conditions wearing this jacket versus most others.

This builds on an already high-water mark – I think Pertex Shield and Gore-Tex ePE are both very good, and compare well with previous-generation PFC/PFAS fabrics, in terms of breathability.

The fabric resisted prolonged rain effectively, although its thinness meant I could feel the cold of the water penetrating through the fabric (if not the water itself).

Sadly, this thinness has another drawback: it’s flappy and rustly in the wind, while I found it would balloon around my upper shoulders when in a riding position.

This gave the unwanted sensation of the fabric pushing up against the back of my neck, while it also obstructed my view when taking over-shoulder glances.

Naturally, this needs to be balanced against the utility of the jacket. Thanks to its packability (it fits quite easily into a jersey pocket), it’s reasonable to view it as a jacket to whip on and off when showers arise, rather than wearing it for the duration of your ride.

The £164.99 / €179.90 price tag will also appeal – compared to a raft of more expensive jackets, it offers competitive fabric performance. While it lacks one or two creature comforts, these are a trade-off for how easy it is to pack away. While it's nice to have, who really needs a double-thick fleece-lined collar, for example?

Scott RC Weather WP Men's Jacket bottom line

The Scott RC Weather WP Men's Jacket is a good waterproof jacket that's very breathable.

I found the thin fabric very capable, but it’s flappier and more rustly than most. The bunching around the top of my shoulders was an annoyance, although (as with all fit-related issues) you may find this less of a problem than I did.

A competitive price tag means, if you want a packable and waterproof jacket, the Scott RC Weather WP Men's Jacket is worth consideration.

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