Elemental Rain women's jacket: Hincapie Brand

With this jacket, Hincapie manages to avoid two of the pitfalls common to cycling outerwear—scratchy fabric and noisy flapping in high winds. But the E5 2L Barrier Rainshell material has a soft finish and stays relatively quiet, even on the swiftest of descents. It did a great job of shielding me from cold winds while still allowing my body heat to escape, avoiding the swampy condensation that occurs inside some rain jackets. It provides good coverage both in the sleeves and the lower back—two areas where jackets tend to ride up.

While I didn't encounter any downpours during my testing, Hincapie says the jacket is "highly water resistant." To test this, I gave my Elemental a thorough dousing under the faucet. While it didn't completely block moisture, the amount of water that seeped through was minimal. It's a tradeoff I'm completely willing to make, given the garment's excellent breathability. The large rear pocket has a protective flap over the zipper to help keep your cargo dry. Other examples of Hincapie's attention to detail include the soft lining on the collar and wrist openings, as well as a zipper garage, which prevents the cold metal zipper from coming into contact with your chin.