Kit guide · Rain
How much rain kit you need depends mostly on the temperature. Cold rain is the most dangerous weather for a road cyclist: wet hands and feet go numb fast, and a soaked jersey keeps cooling you down. Warm rain is mostly a nuisance. So the question isn't just "will it rain?" but "how cold will it be when I'm wet?"
Updated
Rain at a glance
Kit table
Rain likely (60% chance or more), moderate pace, light wind. Generated from the same logic as the calculator.
| Feels like | Head | Upper body | Hands | Legs | Feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0°C32°F | Cycling cap | Thermal base layerWinter jersey or softshellRain jacket (waterproof) | Waterproof winter gloves | Thermal bib tights | Waterproof winter overshoesThermal socks |
| 5°C41°F | Cycling cap | Thermal base layerWinter jersey or softshellRain jacket (waterproof) | Waterproof winter gloves | Bib tights | Waterproof winter overshoesThermal socks |
| 10°C50°F | Light cap (optional) | Long-sleeve jerseyBase layer (optional)Rain jacket (waterproof) | Light cycling gloves | Bib shortsLeg warmers | Waterproof overshoes |
| 15°C59°F | Helmet only | JerseyArm warmers (optional)Packable rain jacket | Fingerless gloves or no glovesLight full-finger gloves (optional) | Bib shortsKnee warmers (optional) | Regular cycling socksLight rain overshoes (optional) |
| 20°C68°F | Helmet only | Summer jerseyPackable rain jacket | No gloves or fingerless gloves | Bib shorts | Regular cycling socksLight rain overshoes (optional) |
| 25°C77°F | Helmet only | Lightweight summer jerseyPackable rain jacket (optional) | No gloves or fingerless gloves | Bib shorts | Regular cycling socks |
What to know
When it is cold and rain is likely, you want a proper waterproof jacket, waterproof winter gloves and waterproof overshoes. Keeping your hands and feet dry matters most: once they are wet and cold, they stay that way for the rest of the ride.
Mudguards (fenders) do as much for your comfort as any piece of clothing: they keep the spray off your back and feet, and your riding partners will thank you.
In the mild range, a packable rain jacket is enough. It is lighter and breathes better than a winter rain jacket, and fits in a jersey pocket when the rain stops. Thin rain overshoes keep your shoes and socks dry.
When it is warm, many riders skip the jacket entirely and accept getting wet: you warm up quickly and a wet summer jersey dries fast. Take a packable jacket in your pocket anyway for descents or if the temperature drops.
When the forecast gives a moderate chance of rain (40–59%), kitcheck.cc lists a packable rain jacket as optional. From a 60% chance, it treats rain as likely and adds the full rain kit for the temperature. With a GPX route, the calculator also tells you if the rain arrives or stops during your ride.
FAQ
What riders ask about cycling in the rain.
A waterproof jacket when it is cold, a packable rain jacket when it is mild, and optional when it is warm. The table on this page shows the switch points for a moderate pace.
Waterproof overshoes over your shoes, and mudguards on the bike. In mild rain, thin rain overshoes are enough; in warm rain most riders accept wet feet. Nothing keeps feet dry for hours in heavy rain, so in the cold add thermal socks: warm and wet is better than cold and wet.
In warm rain, there is little reason not to. In cold rain, keep the ride shorter and closer to home, and be careful on painted lines, metal covers and the first wet minutes after a dry spell, when roads are slippery.
Kit for these conditions
Other conditions
Check the forecast for your ride
The calculator uses the hourly forecast for your location and ride window, including wind, rain and how hard you're going.