Specialized RBX Comp Rain Jacket review

Bar a reflective Specialized logo on the chest and some small details on the rear, the black version on test of the RBX Comp Rain Jacket won’t win any visibility competitions on the road.

What it does do, however, is offer brilliant protection from the elements.

The RBX Comp's polyester shell does an impressive job of preventing water intrusion, while offering a decent degree of windproofing.

Specialized RBX Comp Rain Jacket specs and performance

The RBX Comp Rain Jacket has an array of riding potential.

The four-way stretch built into the waterproof shell ensures it’s not overly tight, so it works as a cycling jacket for riding to work, worn over casual wear. It’s also fitted enough to sit neatly above tight bib shorts on endurance rides.

The dropped tail isn’t the most excessive, so spray will reach your backside, but it lends the RBX Comp more off-the-bike aesthetic appeal.

The black colourway on test here has an understated style but, even exhibiting slight shine under lights, it didn’t fill me with confidence when I was riding on busy residential roads.

I’d opt for the Cast Blue colourway to increase visibility slightly, but even this isn’t particularly bright. There are a quartet of reflective decals on the front and rear, but they won’t be giving Proviz any sleepless nights.

The zipper has a garage to stop both neck chafing and water ingress, and it’s one of the easier zippers to undo on the move.

It’s a double zipper, too, so you can lift the bottom zip up to make a cape (or, perhaps, to give your belly some post-café stop breathing space).

Breathability, meanwhile, is decent for a hardshell jacket. The RBX Comp Rain Jacket features taped seams, while it doesn’t have any mesh panels, so air circulation relies on the fabric itself.

It worked well on higher-intensity rides, albeit my testing took place during cooler late-autumn and winter weather.

The level of waterproofing has offered reassurance throughout my winter rides, and I’ve used it for endurance road riding, commuting and the occasional bit of gravel riding.

The fabric is great, then, but it’s the finer details that let the RBX Comp Rain Jacket down, starting with the pockets.

Three of the four rear pockets are open to the elements, but oddly they don’t have drainage holes in the bottom. This means they can fill with water in the heaviest of downpours.

They’re deep enough for a wealth of snacks, but I found them to be a little narrow for swift access on the move – an oversight in a jacket costing well north of £100.

There’s also a small, zipped pocket at the back. This is waterproof, but is furiously tough to undo on the move. It’s big enough for some cards, cash and keys.

An internal compartment can safely stash a phone, however, and also act as a pouch to accommodate the entire jacket, resulting in this being one of the more jersey-pocket friendly rain jackets around.

Elasticated cuffs help keep both the rain and draughts at bay, while the taped seams throughout are the icing on the waterproof cake.

Specialized RBX Comp Rain Jacket bottom line

The result of all this is the Specialized RBX Comp Rain Jacket is a brilliant option for beating the rain for a multitude of riding types.

However, those wanting extra visibility may need to look elsewhere, while an improved pocket design can be found in other jackets designed to do similar things.