One of the first thing I noticed about Rapha’s all-new Classic Winter Gore-Tex Jacket is that the simplified design of the new cold & wet weather jacket seems to be missing Rapha logos. Just like the new Pro Team Training Jerseys, it seems Rapha is taking their understated styling up a notch, once again letting their latest offerings stand on their own with new technical performance fabrics, refined fits & updated detailing.
Rapha Classic Winter Gore-Tex Jacket for cold & wet weather
Sure, there is still the signature contrasting arm band that already means Rapha to many cyclists. And a close look at the white arm strip appears to actually include a subtle, maybe embossed logo that can be seen when it reflects light. But logos take a back stage to a new 3-layer Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabric that promises the best in protection from rain and wind, while maintaining breathability.
Classic Winter Gore-Tex upgrades
Designed for the harshest cold & wet weather, the new Classic Winter Gore jacket is said to be Rapha’s most durable & most versatile – keeping you warm without overheating. It’s the second Rapha x Gore-Tex collaboration project after last year’s Insulated, Shakedry & Explore jackets – again taking advantage of Gore’s latest weatherproof fabrics.
This new one evolves Rapha’s popular Classic Winter Jacket once more – superseding the most recent hardshell update to what started as a cold weather softshell. The new midweight membrane fabric with a brushed inner surface keeps water & wind out, and is meant to be part of a layering system so you add or subtract insulation underneath to suit a wide range of conditions.
The new jacket also packs in a bunch of new features & refinements. Visibility is a big one. The new winter jacket comes in three colors for men – black, a medium ochre brown & vibrant orange – and two colors for women – navy blue or that bright orange. The only other accents added are highly reflective stripes over your backside and arm band, plus more reflective details around the front pocket zippers and across the shoulders.
The new Classic Winter Gore-Tex has long, asymmetric stretchy storm cuffs at the wrists to seal against your gloves keeping wind and rain at bay. Then, there’s a drawcord at the bottom and raised, lined collar at the top to keep cold air out.
Men get a pair of mesh chest pockets that double as extra vents, and a regular one-way zip. Women get just a single lower side pocket, but a two-way main zip to make it easier to vent during the ride. Out back the new Winter jacket has a simplified large two-pocket layout (with drain holes) to make it easier to manage what you are carrying with bulky winter gloves.
Surprisingly with a bunch of improved features, at £270 / $370 / 320€ it’s essentially the same price as the previous generation, even with the Gore-Tex Infinium upgrade! The new Rapha Classic Winter Gore-Tex Jacket is available for early RCC member access today, with sale opening to everyone on Oct 15.
Rapha Long Sleeve Pro Team Training Jersey
As for that updated Pro Team Training Jersey without logos, it seems they snuck a bit of Rapha in there too that I didn’t notice at first either – just one Pro Team block logo on the rear pocket. Much like the 100€ short sleeve Pro Team Training Jersey before it, this new 115€ Long Sleeve Pro Team Training Jersey features more subdued styling and a few colorful options fitting for autumn and winter riding.
It is meant to be a pro-level jersey for building fitness outside of racing, so apparently even their EF-Education First, Canyon//SRAM & Legion of LA professionals appreciate the ability to ditch the big sponsor logos and go a bit more incognito.
The synthetic long sleeve Pro Team Training jersey features a slightly heavier non-perforated fabric across the front to offer a bit of cool wind protection, then the same breathable fabric across the back as the short-sleeve variant to move heat & moisture away from your body.
The 95 / $130 / 115€ training jersey comes in four colors for men – dark green, off-white, purple/navy & black/gray – and two colors for women – purple/navy & black/gray. All are available now.
