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review

Velocity Women's Softshell Jacket

9
£125.00

VERDICT:

9
10
A good looking, well-featured, versatile softshell jacket that's made in England
Weight: 
493g

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The changeable British weather conditions ask a lot of rider gear, particularly jackets. The Velocity Women's Softshell Jacket uses softshell fabric to address the need for breathability and weather protection, and styles itself as a jacket to 'keep you riding all year round'. I'd probably not argue with that claim.

Made from a mid-weight jersey-lined softshell fabric, this jacket is primarily aimed at commuters and 'lifestyle' cyclists. That said, it wouldn't look particularly out of place on a road bike or mountain bike either. The style is casual and easy to wear on or off the bike without looking too 'bikey'.

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Features include reflective accents, underarm eyelets for ventilation, a zip guard to stop chafing, hem drawcord, two rear button-fastening pouch pockets, two generous zipped side pockets and an internal zipped chest pocket. There's also a loop between the rear lumbar pockets for attachment of a small LED light if you fancy.

In use, the jacket performed very well and proved extremely comfortable. On warmer days it was prone to overheating, so I'd probably set it aside for chillier days throughout the year, and it's spot on for spring, autumn and winter conditions.

The underarm eyelets did help with the overheating, but not sufficiently to make sportier rides or hills less sweat-inducing in very warm weather. The softshell fabric was pleasantly pliable and comfortable to wear.

>> Check out our guide to the best casual cycling commuter wear here 

I tested the variant without the hood, so have no views on how the hood behaved, but the neck was a nice neat but not overtight fit and the fabric kept even fairly heavy showers out successfully.

The reflective piping was reassuring and well positioned to be usefully visible. The pockets were a good size and caused no problems for phone storage and the like. The fit and cut of the jacket were pretty much spot on as far as stated size goes.

All in all, it's a really smart and functionally versatile jacket, made in England, and price wise not outrageous in comparison with similarly featured softshell cycling jackets.

Verdict

A good looking, well-featured, versatile softshell jacket that's made in England

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Velocity Woman's Softshell Jacket

Size tested: 14

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?

Aimed at urban and lifestyle cyclists wanting a versatile jacket for year round use.

Stylish and effective and ideal for commuting and indeed all types of cycling

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

YKK zips throughout

Highly water and wind resistant jersey lined softshell fabric (100% polyester)

Underarm eyelets

Light loop

Phone sized handwarmer, chest and rear pockets

Reflective trim

Washable at 30 degrees

Available in sizes 8-14

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very well made from high quality fabric and components.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Performed really well but a bit overwarm for 'proper' summer use.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Well made and good quality.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

Not particularly light but not supposed to be.

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

Extremely comfortable for all but genuinely warm weather wear.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Considering it's made in England in small numbers and is of exceptional quality, it marks very good value. Especially given that it is versatile enough to get a lot of wear.

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

Very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Fabric, plenty of decent sized pockets, style was nice and casual, reflective accents, underarm eyelets, made in England.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing really. Slightly too warm for full summer use.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, very much.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

A high quality jacket, made in England and delivering versatile and casual performance for all types of cyclist

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 73kg

I usually ride: Boardman Hybrid Fi  My best bike is: Specialized Ruby Elite

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mountain biking

 

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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