Sugoi Zap Bike jacket

Reflective beads have become all the rage in the past couple of winters – integrated into winter and dark-weather jackets, they reflect light shined upon them, effectively turning you into a source of light yourself as vehicles approach. Sugoi's Zap is one good quality example, and it's ideal for steady commuters this winter.

Some manufacturers go with panels and features that integrate this technology, others go for the full coverage. Sugoi has opted to integrate small spots across the entire jacket – the effect being to bring the garment closer to the black colour of the host fabric underneath, while retaining much of the reflectivity you get where the beads are used more liberally (for example, the Reflect 360 from Proviz). 

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

The benefit for fluoro-haters, of course, is that the jacket appears normal under daylight conditions in the black, red, white and blue colourways available. However, if you like standing out wherever you go, there is a bright green option too.

So, does it work? In a word: yes. The picture below of the women's version demonstrates the beads in action, and while on the road – and this is totally subjective given the varying road conditions on each evening I rode with it – I found I was given ample space to get on with my commute.

Here, the black fabric of the test jacket that dominates during the daytime means the Zap isn't garish to behold, and is close to a rain mac in terms of feel. I had the great fortune while testing it of being able to sample a true mix of English autumn/winter weather – and can safely report an impressive level of water resistance. On a 20-minute commute through a constant downpour, I arrived at my destination dry and warm, no doubt helped by the taped seams.

Warm, because although the jacket is relatively thin, it is impressively windproof. I found very little air leakage through the zip, and this while only wearing a single layer underneath (a lot of my commuting involves cycling up one of Bath's many surrounding hills).

However, because of the hilly parcours, I'm also able to report that breathability is not one of the Zap's strong suits. It's fine for a gentle or steady commute where your heart rate stays relatively low, but if you do have to work hard to arrive at your destination, then you're going to work up a sweat inside this garment. My arms were usually damp with sweat on arrival, even in cold conditions, and unless the temperature was in single digits I also found my torso beginning to sweat through too. Bottom line: for this reason this is not a jacket I'd wear out on a club or increased tempo ride.

In terms of fit, the medium I tested matched up to generic sizing; you can generally trust your usual when ordering a Zap jacket. That said, the jacket is really cut for the road cyclist, with a high front hem and a long back to catch road spray, while fitting slimly but not tightly. If you have a wider chest measurement you might find the arms ride up when you're on the bike, despite ample back length and partly elasticated cuffs – there's no stretch in the fabric, so if you have long arms you may want to go a size up avoid this.

> Find more reflective cycle clothing and kit here

As well as good protection for your rear, that long back also offers a sizeable pocket, fastenable with a tab of Velcro and handy for carrying a bike pump or spare lights for example.

At its rrp of £99.99, the Zap doesn't necessarily represent the best value – although if what you're after is a cycling jacket that isn't garish in the daytime, yet ticks the high-visibility box at night, with good water resistance and windproofing thrown in, it's certainly worth considering.

Verdict

Recommended for anyone who wants to be dry in the wet and seen in the dark, without racing home