Test MTB wind jackets: Gone with the wind - 12 jackets for biking, which one provides the best protection?

My oldest cycling gear is bright green and resembles a golden hamster in size and weight. It has travelled in its small pannier in every one of my bike backpacks for years. It's Endura's first pakajak windbreaker, which has saved me many a summit rest. Protected by vegetation or on the lee side facing away from the wind, it's not uncommon to climb an Alpine ascent only to be hit by a strong westerly wind on the summit ridge. If you don't catch a draught in your back while looking at the panorama, sweaty from the climb, you will catch a chill on the descent at the latest. Unless you take one of the practical windblockers out of your rucksack or jersey pocket.

Always with you - a light windbreaker

If the minimal version of a wind jacket is enough for you, then at best you won't be carrying more than 80 grams around with you. Scott tailors the absolute lightweight in this test - a classic jacket for racers. Of course, with this weight you have to do almost completely without features. Apart from mesh inserts on the side of the back to prevent overheating during exertion, the RC Team is simply a jacket. If you want to accelerate into a headwind, you should pay attention to the air-permeable zones on the underside of the arms, otherwise sweat will run down the sleeves. Although a wind jacket "breathes" significantly better than a rain jacket, the tightly woven fabrics are still a difficult obstacle for beads of sweat to overcome.

More equipment = more weight

Better equipped jackets have a lightly lined collar that opens high and the zip is parked behind a small cover. This prevents it from scratching during the journey. On many models, the entire jacket disappears into a small pocket or an integrated pouch, so it doesn't get in the way in your rucksack or flutter halfway out of your jersey pocket. At up to 130 grams, the better-equipped models in the test are not always real featherweights, but in most cases their waterproofing is still quite good at repelling light drizzle. However, only the Cube will keep you reasonably dry in small showers. Their fabric remains waterproof for a surprisingly long time. As a rule, only models that are no longer true wind jackets and are significantly heavier and packable offer more protection.

All models in the test

We have linked the detailed test reports on the wind jackets behind the respective model.

• Cube Teamline Wind Jacket (M/W) >> available here
• Dynamics Vento windbreaker (unisex)
• Endura Pakajak (M/F) >> available here
• Gonso Road Jacket Wind (M/W)
• Gorewear Lupra jacket (M/W) >> available here
• Ion Shelter Lite 2.5L (Unisex) >> available here
• Maloja SeisM. Jacket (W) / MaxM. Jacket (M)
• Norrona Fjora Dri1 (M)
• Poc Essential Splash Jacket (W) / Pure Lite Splash Jacket (M) >> available here
• Scott RC Team WB Jacket (M/W) >> available here
• Van Rysel windbreaker Racer ultralight (M/W) >> available here
• Vaude Me Kuro Air Jacket (M/W) >> available here

Alternative to a windbreaker: a lightweight rain jacket

Gorewear tailors a kind of hybrid, with waterproof material on the chest, shoulders and upper arms. The Lupra wind jacket is a great alternative for trail bikers with a very well-fitting hood. Norrona offers a real all-rounder: the Fjora is absolutely waterproof, well ventilated and, at 204 grams, still easy to stow away. However, the 329 euro jacket is a long way from being an emergency solution for a summit rest. The bright green Pakajak will therefore probably be back in your touring rucksack again this season.

The size of a fist and barely heavier than a bar of chocolate - a lightweight windbreaker is the perfect protection for any occasion. - Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor

12 wind jackets in the test: details & results at a glance

In this overview, we have summarised the most important details you should look out for when buying a windbreaker.

Test results at a glance