When stretching the riding season to include spring through fall, a waterproof jacket is a must-buy. MSR’s Voyager jacket manages to tick this box and a few others, with a relatively low price point.

There are few quality options when it comes to durable, waterproof dual-sport over-jackets (you’ll read why I say “over-jacket” farther down). The exterior’s material on this jacket is weighty enough to avoid flapping even at road speeds, or tearing when you crash through overhanging trail branches, but it’s light enough to put it solidly in the three-season category unless you pair it with a heavy under-layer.

At this price point, you’re looking for an absolutely waterproof shell. Thorough testing in rainy conditions, including quite a few water crossings and mud sprays, proved this jacket held up. Its tall collar design also helped to prevent water entering down the back of my neck in all but the worst downpours. When the sideways rain does blow into town you can always unleash the built-in hood and really hold in that body heat while keeping out the rain. The large vents ensured that when conditions got slippery and my core temperature rose, I wasn’t overheating.

But this jacket was more than the sum of its taped seams and watertight shell. The fit and the high quality feel of the material made me reach for it even when no motorcycle was involved. The reflective taping and high-viz color option mean plenty of visibility when on road, and the rear “rabbit pouch” pocket carried all I could need over the course of a day-long ride.

The Voyager jacket doesn’t come with armor—I paired it with my compression body suit and it fit well over the chest/back protector and shoulder/elbow padding. If you’d rather keep your armor in the jacket there are built-in pockets to add your choice of padded protection.

This jacket is a solid purchase if you’re looking for a durable waterproof jacket that will last you many seasons of rainy weather, and it actually looks good around town on a rainy day, too. MSRP: $299 | Colors: Black or Black/High Viz MSRacing.com

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