If you're riding a short distance (especially in a sensible, Dutch-style cycling culture) then the notion of "winter cycling clothes" is an oxymoron. You just wear winter clothes. Coat, trousers, gloves, hat – all very easy.

However, if you're heading out for a longer ride, or even a mid-distance commute amid the sometimes unfriendly UK road conditions, then there's all sorts of weird and wonderful cold weather options for cycle gear. There's far too many to allow on exhaustive list, so here's a potted selection of women's and men's possibilities. It might be too late for the start of winter, but it's (just) in time for a late addition to a Christma list.

The usual caveats apply here. Some of these items are expensive, some less so. You might feel a wrapping of Tesco value clingfilm topped with a bin liner is all the winter-proofing any cyclist feels. Fair enough. But not everyone agrees.

Kate McCann

I am a northerner, which is vital knowledge when it comes to understanding my attitude to winter cycling. I approach riding at this time of year with a matter-of-fact stoicism. I become obsessed by the weather and check the BBC weather app before I go to bed and first thing in the morning. I have a box labelled 'winter cycling gear' which contains waterproof overshoes, clear-lens glasses and hair grips - lots of them (try riding in the rain with a fringe and then trying to look presentable at work…).

The Vulpine women's rain jacket

Given this never-say-die attitude, I have amassed a collection of winter weather kit, some of it that fits like a glove and some of it that lets water in in all the wrong places. My top picks for the season include a snuggly neck warmer, waterproof jacket, winter tights and a bag that stops my clothes from getting soggy.

The item I'd struggle to live without in winter is my waterproof jacket. There's nothing worse than heading out into the night in a jacket that lets the wind up your sleeves and the rain in around your neck. The Vulpine Women's Original Rain Jacket has reflective strips, magnetic pockets that don't flap about and a detachable rain stopper so your bum won't get wet. It also fits well and the indigo version I tried looks good enough to wear off the bike.

The Rapha women's rain jacket

It's made out of something called epic cotton, which feels slightly stiff at first but it moulds to your shape after a few rides. It's great at keeping the rain out and the vent at the back stops you getting too sweaty. One tiny niggle for me, if you've got longer arms you might find you end up with chilly wrists. A combination of riding low down on my handlebars and buying a size XS to fit my upper body meant I wanted for a few extra centimeters in the sleeve, but aside from that I really can't fault this one.

If you're after an alternative choice, longer-armed ladies might want to opt for Rapha's rain jacket, which has tight sleeves to keep out the wind and allows extra length in the sleeve for those riding race bikes (or those with unnaturally long arms…)

If my jacket wins top award, the neck warmer comes a close second. I've been looking for something I could snuggle into that keeps me warm but doesn't get wet and cold when I breathe into it for a while now.

There's always a revolt when we review Rapha kit, but trust me on this one - there's nothing better. Even my Rapha-cynical friends who rode in the deep winter collar had to agree that it is the best out there. Made of merino wool it does the perfect job - keeps your face toasty and wind-burn free without getting damp and looks good at the same time. Unbeatable.

The dhb tights and Rapha winter collar



The winter bib tights I tested were made by DHB and having ridden most of the summer in their shorter version I had high hopes.

As I mentioned in a previous blogpost on clothing, a few minor details like the exposed zipper and some itchy stitching meant the DHB tights were a just off perfect, but for the money they're certainly worth buying. I tested the red version, which were pretty bright - not for those looking to blend in. The tights fit well and there was just enough padding on the seat to be comfortable without feeling cumbersome and the reflective detailing was a bonus too.

The addition of a strap to go under the foot to hold the tights down would have meant extra points from me, but as they are they're a solid winter choice with cosy fleece lining and a lighter top to stop you getting too warm.

Michaux Club Lightening rucksack

Last on my list of winter greats is a bag that keeps everything inside it dry - harder to find than you might think. Lots of cyclists opt for the Ortleib version that Peter road-tested, but I went for a different take.

I tried a bag from the Michaux Club range of handbags made for cyclists, something that could be worn on or off the bike and look just as good either way. I have to admit the Lightening rucksack I tested is more expensive than your average cycling bag, but this is something special. Beautifully made in leather and canvas, it was so comfy I didn't want to take it off. It had plenty of room, with adjustable straps to accommodate more or less luggage. It kept my clothes dry and looked great - making it easier to blend in when walking around off the bike.

One thing for me, the straps are fairly wide, so if you're slim in the upper body you might find this tricky - other than that it was faultless. I loved the different fastenings on the top, and extra pockets on the sides to keep my keys and phone in. And I had two compliments the first day I wore it, which isn't bad going!

Peter Walker

For me, the key to (British) winter cycling is adaptability. As the old joke goes, the great thing about the weather on these isles is that if you don't like what's currently on offer it's never long before you get a new option. That can mean the outfit in which you set out on a ride is, within the hour, either stickily hot or chillingly under-insulated.

Rapha merino arm warmers (L) and leg warmers (R)

That's why I'm a fan of arm and leg warmers. You can head off all toasty, and if the sun comes out just peel them off and jam them in a pocket or bag.

For this test I tried out the merino wool variants made by Rapha. As with so much Rapha gear they were both scarily expensive (£40 and £50 respectively), portrayed on the website in tasteful black-and-white photos that teeter on the edge of parody… and so brilliant you can almost forgive them everything. Both are made from ultra-fine merino that somehow manages to keep you just the right level of warm in temperatures ranging from the barely bracing to the downright nippy. It's quite amazing.

The leg warmers fit right up to the top of the thigh for extra snugness. Be aware, gentlemen: these are, in effect, merino stockings, and an accidental glance in the mirror before the shorts go over the top can cause quite a start, unless you're the relatively rare type of cyclist like Grayson Perry more used to such things.

Vulpine (L) and Rapha (R) merino base layers

The other merino stalwart of the winter cyclists' wardrobe is, of course, the base layer, and here can I sing the praises of the offering from up-and-coming company Vulpine? Yes, their short-sleeved merino V-neck is £55 while at, say, Decathlon you'll pay less than half that. But if you're like me and find some merino base layers a bit scratchy there's a good argument for paying more for something that spends half the winter next to your skin.

The Vulpine top is wonderfully smooth and comfy, so much so that I prefer it even to the yet-more-expensive Rapha merino base layer. This is marginal and personal, however, and the Rapha version is still extremely good.

One final bit of merino: I also tried out Vulpine's almost absurdly comforting knee-length merino socks. Incorporating these into a look that says "commuter" rather than "Alpine fancy dress" takes some doing, but it's worth the effort.

Vulpine merino socks and dhb Windslam jacket

Moving away from natural fabrics we come to another winter staple: the windproof jacket. The Windslam from dhb, the in-house brand of online cycling giant Wiggle, has an almost crinkly feel at the front and seems like the sort of fabric blend you'd do well to keep away from direct heat sources. But it's very comfy to wear, and while stupidly light (a shade over 200g) has a magical ability to shield you from the chilly winds. A warning note on sizing: it's a very compact fit, and my small size (the norm for me) did make me feel like a turquoise-hued, vacuum-packed pork chop.

And now to an item without which I'd find a cycling winter unbearable: overshoes. Not really needed if you wear everyday shoes for riding, but if you do go clipless, why do without them? There are few things worse than being on a long ride and feeling the winter rain trickle down to your toes, depriving them of all feeling.

In a slightly odd turn of events, the Pierre Garneau overshoes I tried out seem to have been discontinued by the retailer who sent them, so I won't give a link to the product. Suffice to say these are recommendable for their easy Velcro closure and compact size, which makes them all the easier to cram into a bag if needed.

Ortleib Airflex (L) and Velocity (R) waterproof bags

And speaking of bags… if you're riding to work with a laptop and a folder of documents, the last thing you need is a leaky bag. Ortleib, long-time purveyors of the famous roll-top waterproof pannier sent two backpack variants on the theme to try out, the compact Airflex and the considerably more voluminous Velocity.

My test-out coincided with a run of almost completely dry weather in London, but it's a fair guess the roll-top closure and sealed seams would do the trick. The Velocity, in particular, is so sturdy it could probably survive being dipped into a nuclear cooling tank.

Both are popular with commuters and are clearly well made. Personally, I was less of a fan. I like a range of interior pockets in which to stow lights, wallet, change and all the rest, and the Ortleib bags are just rubbery sacks, with a small, detachable zip pouch.

Burt that, as with all of the above, is personal choice.