Jackets

This understated lightweight windbreaker from Swrve is the ideal garment to have stowed away in your saddle pack for when the weather inevitably changes or you decide to stop off at the pub on the return leg of extended bike ride.

Madison's new clothing range has been well received at road.cc towers: we liked the Tempest jacket very much, and we like this one too. It's not quite the top performer that the Tempest is but then it's only about half the price, and if you're commuting through winter you could do a lot worse.

The original Night Vision was an instant commuter favourite, combining massive reflectivity with Altura's proven ability to knock out good quality kit at sensible prices. This latest version turns the knob up to 11, this is one seriously bright jacket with more reflective surfaces than a glitter ball.

Sugio’s new jacket is part of their H.O.V. (Human Operated Vehicle) range designed for the fashion conscious commuter certainly fulfils what they set out to do: design a top with “technical performance with casual city style, a more leisurely, every-day look that easily switches from cycling trail to street cafe”

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 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!