Cycling in the rain can be an exhilarating experience – the rei women’s hiking pants swooshing on the wet pavement, the moist air flowing over your skin.
However, carrying bulky rain gear can seriously hamper your rides. Knowing how to properly fold a rain jacket lets you stash it away neatly when not in use, freeing you up to focus on the road or trail ahead.
Assess Your Rain Jacket’s Fabric and Features
The way you fold your cycling rain jacket depends greatly on what it’s made of and what features it offers.
Heavier jackets with multiple layers and zippers require more strategic folding than lightweight packable shells.
Materials Matter
Waterproof-breathable fabrics like Gore-Tex and eVent pack down well, but the inner laminate can crease if folded carelessly.
Coated nylons fold into compact shapes but may lose their durable water repellency (DWR) over time with tight creasing.
Know Your Features
Jackets with zip-off sleeves should have the sleeves removed and folded separately to minimize bulk.
For jackets with stowable hoods, fold the hood neatly into its compartment before packing the jacket.
Fold Along Natural Creases
The simplest way to fold a rain jacket with minimal creasing is to use its natural seams and openings as your guide.
Follow the Existing Lines
Hold the jacket upside down and orient any front zippers or storm flaps toward you. Begin folding both sides in along the seams, smoothing with your hands as you go.
Continue folding in the sleeves so they neatly line up. Roll or fold up from the hem, being careful not to twist the jacket.
Utilize the Hood and Pockets
For jackets with hood stowage, tuck in the hood before folding the collar. Use velcro strap closures on pockets to keep folded sections neat and secure.
Roll It Tight
Rolling your rain jacket condenses it into a cylindrical bundle that unfurls wrinkle-free. Use this technique for lightweight shells or as a second fold for puffier jackets.
Start at the Bottom
Lay the jacket flat with the inner side facing up. Begin rolling tightly from the hem to expel excess air. Continue rolling upward toward the shoulders.
Secure With Ties or Bands
Bind the rolled jacket with its own cinch cords or use gear bands, spare inner tubes, or rope to keep the bundle tight. This prevents the jacket from unrolling and creasing.
Store in a Pannier or Jersey
Slide your neatly rolled rain jacket into a spare pannier or stash in a jersey pocket. The round shape distributes pressure evenly, protecting your jacket from sharp creases.
Master the Military or Ranger Roll
This signature folding method used by soldiers and rangers allows you to quickly unfurl your jacket from your pack. With practice, it can be done with one hand!
Start With Sleeves
Lay out your jacket and tightly roll up each sleeve toward the shoulder, smoothing out air pockets as you go. Resolution any fullness at the cuffs for a slim silhouette.
Create Two Flaps
Fold both sides of the jacket in toward the zipper to create two flaps. Continue tightly rolling the jacket from the hood down toward the hem to push out excess volume.
Fold or Roll Again
For a compact bundle, roll up the jacket again from bottom to top. Or for a rectangular bundle, simply fold the rolled jacket in half lengthwise. Strings can be wrapped around to secure.
Alternate Folding and Rolling
Combining folding and rolling techniques condenses your jacket into neat sections for easy storage and unfolding.
Fold Along Sections
Fold the jacket in thirds or quarters by folding along the natural horizontal seams. Start at the shoulders and work down toward the hem to segment the jacket.
Tightly Roll Each Section
Tightly roll each folded section from sleeve to body along the vertical axis. Smooth and compress as you go to remove pockets of air.
Secure Rolled Sections
Use gear ties or bands to individually secure each rolled portion. The segmented sections will unfurl easily into a wrinkle-free jacket.
Leave It in Your Panniers
If you have roomy cycling panniers with a laptop sleeve or document section, consider neatly packing your rain jacket there rather than on your body.
Utilize Interior Pockets
Use laptop and tablet sleeves to store tightly folded sections of your jacket secured with bands or ties. This protects the jacket from unraveling.
Alternate With Other Gear
Rotate the jacket storage with extra food and layers. Letting it rest fully open after the ride allows moisture to evaporate so it stays fresh.
Add Stuffing When Needed
For added structure to keep your jacket wrinkle-free, stuff it with a partial tent footprint or cut-down yoga block wrapped in a towel.
Use On-the-Go Folding Methods
Short on prep time or need to stow your rain jacket mid-ride? Try these on-the-go folds to quickly collapse it down small.
Bunch and Stuff
When still wearing your jacket, bunch up the fabric toward your chest by grabbing at the back and pulling forward around the body. Then stuff into a jersey pocket.
Inside-Out Roll
For a super quick fold, partially zip up the jacket and pull one arm inside out through the body so the whole thing rolls up tightly. Secure with gear ties.
No-Fold Hack
If your jacket is still wet post-ride, drape it over your shoulders without folding and secure it by linking arm openings behind your neck. This allows it to fully dry out wrinkle-free.
Be Gentle Over Time
While modern technical rain jackets are durable, repeatedly packing them incorrectly can damage their waterproofing over the years.
Allow Jacket to Recover
After wet rides, hang your jacket to fully dry before your next fold or roll. Letting moisture evaporate prevents mildew buildup.
Store Properly Long-Term
When not cycling season, leave the jacket unfolded in a breathable closet rather than tightly packed so protective coatings can be restored.
Wash When Soiled
Follow the care instructions to wash your rain jacket once soiled. This revives the durable water repellency and clears dirt that can abrade the fabric.
So there you have it – 7 methods to folding your rain jacket for wrinkle-free transport on your next bike adventure.
No more pulling out a crushed mass of fabric when the skies open up again. With just a bit of prep, your jacket will unfurl neatly right when you need it.
