Richa Rain Flare 2 jacket in silver

It was some years ago that we decided to de-list every other rain garment except the Scott waterproofs. These have now been replaced by the new & improved Held Hydro waterproofs. They are in a different league to most waterproofs. They are incredibly tough, totally waterproof and highly breathable. And because they have a lot of stretch, they can be worn tight so as to avoid all that irritating and noisy flapping that you get with most waterproofs at speed. 

But then we saw the Richa Rain Flare jacket and now this updated version of it. It’s quite different to the Helds. It is heavier, not as stretchy and doesn’t pack up into anywhere near as small a package. There’s also no bottom half. As a waterproof garment it works well. It’s made with a laminated membrane that is bonded to the inner side of the jacket’s stretchy outer shell. So it’s going to be both very waterproof and very breathable. In terms of the differences between version 1 and version 2 of the Flare, this second version is a softer material, 'less crinkly'.

But the USP of this jacket is the way it reflects the light at night when a light is shone upon it. It’s like one of those road signs that light up in a car’s headlights. And that’s the difference between the Rain Flare 2 and other waterproofs. It’s just so darned visible. This is a jacket for those who ride early in the morning or in the evening when the light is low. Or for those who need to ride at night. A rain jacket this may be. But really it’s all about visibility. If you want to get seen when it’s dark, particularly when it’s raining too, this is the jacket for you.

This is not a waterproof in the traditional sense. It’s a highly visible over jacket that just happens to be extremely waterproof too. You get two external zip pockets. You also get a drawstring adjuster at the waist.

So who is this jacket aimed at? Well certainly if you commute all year round, this is a jacket you need to add to your wardrobe. If you’re a Blood Runner or a courier who delivers packages in the wee hours, our advice would be the same. Frankly, if you’re a weekend rider who tries not to go out in the rain this is not for you. It’s OTT. But for a certain kind of rider this jacket could literally be a life saver.