The Best Men's MTB Jackets
We tested jackets from well-known companies and picked them according to their brand reputation, price, fabric, weight, and compressibility. The jackets ranged between $100 to $300 although price did not necessarily dictate an overall difference in quality. Fabric was either polyester or nylon and four of the five jackets had hoods. A premium was placed on comfort and effectiveness as it related to doing its job. All five in the test excelled in different areas, and any one of them would be a welcome addition on a cool, blustery, and possibly wet ride.
The Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody, though not necessarily known as a cycling-centric brand, edged out the Pearl Izumi MTB WRX by a mere point due to it testing better on breathability. The Specialized Deflect H20 Mountain Jacket, while certainly a solid piece, scored a touch lower in all categories despite being the most expensive. The Louis Garneau—our one hoodless jacket—while more broadly known as a road biking brand was a standout on comfort, while the Gore Element was a disappointment considering the price and brand reputation.
90 
