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review

Vulpine Women's Ultralight Quilted Thermal Jacket

9
£169.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Wear-it-every-day jacket that's also great to cycle in when it's cold
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 

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Being one of nature's cold people, I was unprepared for the level of warmth provided by the Vulpine Ultralight Quilted Thermal Jacket. This jacket managed to stave off -3 °C mornings and left me opening the zip.

In surveys safety is singled out as one of the main reasons women cycle less than men. For me it's not that, it's comfort. I hate being cold, wet or generally uncomfortable when riding. Therefore, any clothing that gets me out for longer on my bike is A Good Thing.

Everything about this jacket has been designed for comfort. From the fleece lined pockets (mmm) and collar which both approximate a moleskin level of fine fleece comfort, to the eminently strokable outer layer. The where-you'd-find-them-on-a-non-cycling-jacket pockets have little leather pull tags, and there are additional pockets inside the chest and on the rear. The cuffs are soft and stretchy, though they're not at all water-resistant so you will need to pop some long gloves on over them if it is chucking it down outside.

The main material is silky smooth and I have been very worried about snagging it, though that worry has been unfounded as yet. Some of the threads on the quilting have snagged, but nothing that is noticable unless you are looking for them. The tougher shoulder material goes some way to offset any delicateness, as this gives additional protection from bag straps and the like.

It is an expensive jacket, but I've been wearing mine daily so the cost per wear is on the decrease. It's the gold standard Primaloft filling which really bumps up the price, but the trade off is a light as a feather slim jacket, as warm as anything you will find in the Ski section of Sports R Us.

You are also paying for the cut. I was pretty concerned about the Michelin Man effect with what is effectively a bike-specific quilted bomber jacket. I worried needlessly. The cut is excellent - figure-skimming and flattering, so even the XL jacket pulled off tasteful not tyre-like.

It has a slightly lower cut back, but this is not a jacket for speeding along in the drops: you'd overheat in seconds. This is a jacket for cycling to work in, then the pub, and then taking the dog for a once round the park in. Normal life, in fact, including being on a bike.

When dirty, the Ultralight can be thrown in the machine, unlike the down equivalents, and the quilting keeps all the Primaloft filling exactly where it is supposed to be. While it's not billed as a waterproof coat, taking it out of the wash shows just how quickly this jacket dries out again after a "30 degree, wash with similar colours" downpour. The cuffs stay wet longest; a quicker-drying fabric here would be nice.

The Ultralight comes in Charcoal grey (tested) and Dutch orange for those who prefer their clothing cheerier. Regular readers will know I love the grey. I would have expected a discreet reflective along the hem or zip, especially as this is a jacket for riding in poor conditions.

Verdict

Wear-it-everyday jacket that's also great to cycle in when it's cold

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Vulpine Women's Ultralight Quilted Thermal Jacket

Size tested: XL

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Ultralight Quilted Thermal Jacket is a high performance cool weather solution that insulates you from the elements. We've built it around Primaloft Gold, a filling that is extremely light weight for the degree of insulation it offers and is very breathable. The outer layer is water resistant against snow, showers and drizzle, but if you get caught in torrential rain, it dries extremely quickly.

Details include two zipped hand pockets, an internal zipped chest pocket to store valuables in, and an easily accessible smart phone rear pocket. The neck is cut high and cosy against snow and wind. The shoulders are cut from tough water resistant fabric to take the abuse of backpack straps.

This is a heavy use garment that we have been using for everything from lounging outside the pub on chilly days, getting blasted with Autumn leaves, to freezing fog mountain descents.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Extremely lightweight thermal protection

Primaloft Gold (highest quality) grade fill

Water resistant against light rain, drizzle and road spray

Windproof

Front zip hand pockets

Front zip internal chest pocket

Rear open smartphone/food pocket

Tough shoulder panel for use with backpack

Embroidered logos

Soft cotton ribbed cuffs

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Well designed and cut. Usual Vulpine attention to detail.

Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10

I couldn't have been warmer if you'd tied an arctic fox to each arm and toasted me like a marshmallow.

Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10

A little worried about the propensity for the stitching to catch.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10

Very light for the degree of warmth.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
10/10

10/10 says it all. Sometimes I don't take this jacket off all day.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Cost per wear, ladies!

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It kept me very warm.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The comfort factor.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Lack of any reflective features.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes (if they could afford it).

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 5'7  Weight: size 16

I usually ride: Trek 7.5 WSD  My best bike is: Turquoise Cruiser

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Novice

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, general fitness riding, Leisure

 

Add new comment

20 comments

Avatar
Helidoc | 9 years ago
0 likes

The biggest problem with bike clothing manufacturers producing PrimaLoft jackets is that there is stiff competition from outdoor gear makers such as Montane and Rab. I paid very little money for a Montane Prism, that also has a useful thing like a hood. These aren't jackets for giving it beans in the drops.

Avatar
Alf0nse | 9 years ago
0 likes

so understated it looks like something your nan would wear

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crikey | 9 years ago
0 likes

 3

Avatar
crikey | 9 years ago
0 likes

Hey, I didn't write that!

 3

Avatar
Caroline Dodgson replied to crikey | 9 years ago
0 likes

My complete mistake - amended. Apologies muchos!

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Okinawa | 9 years ago
0 likes

Commercial break coming up. Check the copypine website: you can now buy the jacket for 99p from the £1 shop

Avatar
Okinawa | 9 years ago
0 likes

Sorry I mean YKK

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Okinawa | 9 years ago
0 likes

if anybody's in North Eastern Japan I highly recommend a visit to the KKK factory.

Avatar
Okinawa | 9 years ago
0 likes

Road CC Lead Etymology Support Benevolant Order (LESBO for short) have asked me to point out, that DICK does not actually exist. Thank you there for LESBO clarifying that point.

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crikey | 9 years ago
0 likes

I'm taking it that comments have been disabled, so I can only see what I've written?...

Avatar
Okinawa | 9 years ago
0 likes

Sorry, I've been reported to the Road CC committee for Decency in Comments (DICKS for short) for my comments. Is slagging of the sexy Armstrong ok but not celebrating the femal form? Interesting.

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Okinawa | 9 years ago
0 likes

Interesting thought there. Like handlebars or wheels are nothing to do with cycling

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crikey | 9 years ago
0 likes

Sorry, but this is just a jacket isn't it?
It's not actually anything to do with cycling at all, is it?

Avatar
bikebot replied to crikey | 9 years ago
0 likes
crikey wrote:

Sorry, but this is just a jacket isn't it?
It's not actually anything to do with cycling at all, is it?

Pockets on the back and it looks like the cut has been given a slight cycling shape. But I think many would like the fact that it doesn't scream "cyclist", if they wear it off the bike.

There's a men's version as well, which I just looked up as I've been damn cold all week. I think for some items of clothing such as this, it's fine to review it for everyone, but with a note that it was the women's or men's version tested.

Avatar
Caroline Dodgson replied to bikebot | 9 years ago
0 likes
bikebot wrote:

There's a men's version as well, which I just looked up as I've been damn cold all week. I think for some items of clothing such as this, it's fine to review it for everyone, but with a note that it was the women's or men's version tested.

Not sure what you mean - we have tested both and with each the title says men's or women's as appropriate.

Avatar
bikebot replied to Caroline Dodgson | 9 years ago
0 likes
Caroline Dodgson wrote:
crikey wrote:

There's a men's version as well, which I just looked up as I've been damn cold all week. I think for some items of clothing such as this, it's fine to review it for everyone, but with a note that it was the women's or men's version tested.

Not sure what you mean - we have tested both and with each the title says men's or women's as appropriate.

Doh, I wasn't aware it had already been reviewed.

When you do have situations like this, maybe a "related reviews" footnote would be a good idea.

Avatar
Caroline Dodgson replied to bikebot | 9 years ago
0 likes

Hi, we do have that on the right side of the review, but it relates to other women's Jackets. Point noted, though.

Avatar
bikebot replied to crikey | 9 years ago
0 likes
crikey wrote:

Sorry, but this is just a jacket isn't it?
It's not actually anything to do with cycling at all, is it?

Pockets on the back and it looks like the cut has been given a slight cycling shape. But I think many would like the fact that it doesn't scream "cyclist", if they wear it off the bike.

There's a men's version as well, which I just looked up as I've been damn cold all week. I think for some items of clothing such as this, it's fine to review it for everyone, but with a note that it was the women's or men's version tested.

Avatar
Okinawa | 9 years ago
0 likes

Come on guys, slap my bitch up. You all have comments about the latest trillionth of a gram savings in your coat zip (KKK is the worlds leading supplier. Don't beleive me? Check any zip) but not interested in showing your support for us girls

Avatar
Okinawa | 9 years ago
0 likes

I've already ordered one in pink. To go with my pink bike. Good to see rapha, sorry I mean copypine, catering for the female market. Discussion: Road CC is male gender orientated. Nice to hear your views

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