Jackets

We’re big fans of this soft shell from Madison and reckon it’ll get a serious amount of use over the coming months, especially for commuting. Here’s why…

This lightweight (149g) jacket packs down small enough to fit into a jersey’s rear pocket and, when called into service, it keeps the rain out well.

This neat, highly packable shell is a great option for slinging in a jersey pocket on summer rides ready to be pressed into service if the rain starts hoofing down.

When is a jacket not a jacket? When it’s a rucksack. Confused? Well, Ruckjack is designed as a competent general use jacket that converts into a bag a matter of a minutes and performs both roles admirably but choice of materials and cut mean it’s best for utility and shorter commutes, and obviously it can only be one or the other at any one time.

A micro-jacket by another name, packing into its own fist-sized stuff-sack, Polaris’ Ride-Lite is a useful training companion. Made from lightweight, brushed polyester, it enjoys all the hallmarks of a good cycling garment, cut low at the back, protecting the vital organs whilst close fit and elasticated sleeves mean it won’t billow in a gale. Cut is 'classic' Polaris, with a medium fitting me perfectly (I’m a large in most jackets and jerseys).

Available in a choice of red or black, dhb’s Wickham eVent jacket is likely to prove a hit whatever your style of riding. Made from eVent, a three-layer breathable nylon waterproof fabric, it is designed to keep the rider completely dry and it delivers excelent performance in all weathers.

As you would expect the Altura Night Vision is a jacket that will get you noticed in the dark: if anyone can't see you in this then they haven't been paying attention.

What the name doesn't tell you is that the Night Vision is also a very weatherproof jacket too.  I wore the Night Vision every day for two weeks and riding with good guards never got wet in the rain at all. The Night Vision's reflective stripes illuminate brilliantly and from a great distance – on one clear night, I’m sure they were reflecting moonlight! 

Cannondale’s new men’s Metro jacket provides an all year round outer layer for the avid short to mid distance commuter keen on battling through the elements come what may. If commuting in uniform or civvies is your bag, then this may just be the bag for you.

Innovative features and sleek design help Cannondale's Morphis Shell jacket stand out from the rest. Its versatility ensures a great investment.

This jacket has rather cool magnetic poppers which enable super ‘quick release’ from jacket to gilet, and back again. The sleeves detach as a whole; making it so quick and easy, you won’t even have to stop moving. You can act out any ‘Full Monty’ aspirations you may harbour, at the same time as keeping thermo-regulated! What more could you ask for?

The Neutron is a comfortable and lightweight waterproof that's a good outer layer for year-round riding. The 2.5 layer breathable fabric is very lightweight but shrugs off the rain well, and it's pretty breathable too – normally I'd keep my outer layer in my bag for the commute home (2 miles, all uphill) but the Neutron doesn't cook you on the climbs.