Five things to look for

1 WEAR THEM PROPERLY

No matter how good a waterproof suit is, it will fail if you don’t wear it properly. Be sure to cover your neck with a waterproof tube to prevent rain running down the gap at the back of the collar. Similarly, wear your gloves inside the sleeves to prevent water running down the arms into your gloves, and don’t tuck the legs into your boots for the same reason.

2 SIZING

Waterproofs need to be big enough to fit over any riding gear you’re already wearing so you may need to buy a suit one size larger than expected. But don’t buy an oversized suit or it will billow and act like a parachute.

3 TAPED SEAMS

Using waterproof material to make a jacket is no use if water still finds its way through the gaps in the stitching at the seams. Most waterproof suits have ‘taped seams’ or ‘welded seams’ which means they have been sealed to stop rain from seeping through. The easiest way to check is to turn the garment inside out - the seams should look like they’ve been covered with tape.

4 PACKING AWAY

Depending on what kind of bike you ride and if you have panniers, you may need waterproofs to pack up as small as possible. Lightweight one-piece suits are usually best for this but if you have luggage attached then size is not as important. Some suits come with their own storage/ carrying bags, several of which can be worn around your waist.

5 BUILD QUALITY

While it’s possible to buy paper-thin waterproofs at your local DIY store for around a tenner, they’re not made for biking and could easily rip if you place a booted foot in them roughly. Go for ones made for biking as they really are tailored - and built - for our needs more.