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review

Madison RoadRace Apex Mens Softshell Jacket

10
£114.99

VERDICT:

10
10
Warm, windproof and superb fit – worth every penny
Weight: 
351g

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Madison's RoadRace Apex men's softshell is a technically superb jacket with great fit, warmth and styling. At £114.99, it's Madison's top of the range softshell, but you get good value compared with the likes of Castelli and Rapha. The windproofing is excellent and it's slim enough to go under a rain shell when the heavens open.

The RoadRace Apex is designed to keep you warm on "the harshest of British winter days", according to Madison. To test that rather bold claim, off I ventured for four hours in 6°C, with heavy rain forecast an hour in...

> Find your nearest dealer here

With a 40mph gusty headwind, the windproofing was instantly put to the test as I'd stashed my rain shell in my back pocket. It coped perfectly, allowing me to warm up quickly. The windproof panels are also water resistant, although not for more than the odd light shower. They're located on the front, shoulders and sides and they saw off the wind very well, leaving the back to vent some of my body heat.

Madison RoadRace Apex Mens Softshell Jacket - shoulder detail.jpg

The RoadRace Apex has, according to Madison, been custom built from the ground up for the demands of pro cyclists. While this can sometimes mean a super skinny fit and panels that have been shaped for the most aggressive riding positions, this isn't the case here. I found it snug but not restricting. The panels have been shaped for riding, but in a normal – stem unslammed – position.

Madison RoadRace Apex Mens Softshell Jacket - collar.jpg

The three standard rear pockets are spacious and secure, with a separate zippered pocket for your phone and other important bits. It's surprisingly waterproof, from inside as much as outside. When the rain fell, I faced three hours with an unbreathable rain shell and intervals to complete. This generated a lot of moisture internally, yet my phone and tenner were bone dry when I returned home.

Madison RoadRace Apex Mens Softshell Jacket - pocket.jpg

This was also a great sign of the Apex's warmth. The rain dropped the temperature ever closer to freezing, yet I was always toasty warm. I found that the extended collar helped here. There's also very good length in the sleeves, with the jersey extending under the cuff of my gloves without issue.

Madison RoadRace Apex Mens Softshell Jacket - cuff.jpg

The front of the jersey is shorter than the rear, but not massively so. There's good coverage of the lower back but I never felt that I was sitting on the tail of my jacket, an annoying feature of some jackets. The fabric has been cut so that the chest is narrower than the back. This means that when on the bike, there's no annoying excess material bunched up on your chest. Off the bike, it feels a little strange, but it's perfect for riding.

Madison RoadRace Apex Mens Softshell Jacket - back.jpg

Down at the rear hem of the jacket, there is a silicone gripper and a small amount of reflective detailing. The silicone works well, keeping the jacket in place when climbing out of the saddle.

Durability has been very good. I took this both road and mountain bike riding, with plenty of mud to potentially ruin that nice blue fabric. I chucked it in the wash at 40°C and then tumble dried on a cool setting. I've had no problem with shrinking and it seems to have retained its water resistance. As a mark of how much Madison stands by its jacket, it offers a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

> Buyer's Guide: The best winter jackets for cycling

As softshell jackets are commonplace, there's an option in every price bracket. I was really impressed by the performance and fit of the Apex, and I'd say it's good value for money. You can spend less – the dhb Classic Windproof jacket is a great option at £70 – or the Pearl Izumi Pro Escape at £169.99 represents a very good but pricier option.

The RoadRace Apex packs warmth and brilliant windproofing into a well fitted and stylish softshell jacket. At £115, it's right on the money.

Verdict

Warm, windproof and superb fit – worth every penny

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Madison RoadRace Apex Men's Softshell Jacket

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the jacket 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?

From Madison:

"The heavyweight Apex thermal softshell jacket is designed to keep you warm on the harshest of British winter days".

Well, it's not very heavy. The jacket kept me warm even down to 0.

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

From Madison:

"Custom built from the ground up for the demands of pro cyclists

The pre-curved shape gives ultra comfort when in the riding position

Three rear hand pockets offer enough space for spare tubes, tools, food and a race cape, and the secure zipper pocket keeps your phone and keys safe

Windproof and water resistant panels on the front, sides and over the shoulders ensure the bitterest of winds won't keep you from getting some winter miles in

Thermal Roubaix panel on the rear keeps you warm enough without over heating

Reflective detailing on the lower back and forearms make your presence known to passing traffic

Elasticated rear hem with silicone gripper keeps the jacket firmly in place

Limited lifetime warranty"

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
10/10

Excellent quality, and obviously designed for the riding position. Good zipper and well stitched. This should stand up to a few winters.

Rate the jacket for performance:
 
10/10

Windproof and super-warm with great fit.

Rate the jacket for durability:
 
8/10

I got this covered in mud and the blue has come back perfectly.

Rate the jacket for waterproofing, based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
7/10

It does as advertised. It'll fend off a shower but no more.

Rate the jacket for breathability, based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
9/10

Even during hard efforts, I felt warm but not overly sweaty.

Rate the jacket for fit:
 
10/10

The chest is a key point here. It's shaped very well for the riding position. Feels weird off the bike but perfect on.

Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
9/10

There's good length in the arms and not too much in the body.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
5/10

It says heavyweight but it's not particularly heavy. About what I'd expect.

Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
10/10

Soft fabric and brilliant on-the-bike fit.

Rate the jacket for value:
 
9/10

It fits and performs so well that it's hard to see the difference between this and a £200+ jacket.

How easy is the jacket to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Very easy to wash. I even tumble dried it, on cool, with no issue.

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

Kept me warm when it got super-cold, and resisted a light shower too.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

The warmth is brilliant. In fact I was good all the way down to freezing. Very impressive for the relative lack of bulk.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

Nothing.

Did you enjoy using the jacket? It kept me so warm. I loved it.

Would you consider buying the jacket? Yes

Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Absolutely

Use this box to explain your score

Perfect fit, super warmth and it does everything it advertises. It washes well and looks great.

Overall rating: 10/10

About the tester

Age: 22  Height: 177cm  Weight: 64kg

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Di2  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, I specialise in the Cafe Ride!

Add new comment

11 comments

Avatar
English Bumpkin | 6 years ago
1 like

Just to add my tuppence worth about my experience of this jacket.

First, the good things. Once you have the right size (and this means "Italian sizing", so an XL for me with a 41" chest and 32" waist), the fit is really excellent: a race-like snugness, ergonomically fitted for you hunched over the bars, with good length in body and sleeves and a tall collar. The fabric has a pleasingly soft touch and the plum/orange colour combo, which I was a bit apprehensive about, turned out to be refreshingly bright but not garish, ideal for dull winter lighting.

The jacket proved to be warm and fairly breathable. It was also robust. I had a slide on some slushy tram lines and the jacket came off significantly better than my hip, with only a little rubbing on the fabric visible.

Now, the reservations. While the jacket is warm - warm enough for a sub-zero ride with only a long sleeve baselayer (the excellent B'Twin Aerofit 920 from Decathlon) - I'd say the insulation is misjudged. I sleeves are fleecy and I felt my arms were too warm (if you can imagine that), while I would have appreciated more windproofing across the chest, though this was mitigated in part by the choice of aforementioned baselayer. After a couple of bouts of pneumonia from being on the motorbike throughout the Eastern European winter, I'm particular sensitive to cold wind on the chest, and I was disappointed here compared to Gore Windstopper or similar fabrics.

Sadly, QC let this jacket down. After six weeks of occasional use in the winter and one gentle wash with Nikwax, the stitching connecting collar to jacket started to come loose; that around one of the sleeves was also beginning to stretch. This clearly was unacceptable, and to their credit, Denis Winter in Leven offered a no-quibble refund. Shame really. Hope others have better experiences of this jacket. 

Avatar
bendip | 6 years ago
0 likes
Avatar
billymansell | 7 years ago
1 like

What size chest and waist are you Liam?

Would be useful to have such additional info in the "About The Tester" section so people can gauge against their own size and fit.

 

Avatar
Liam Cahill replied to billymansell | 7 years ago
0 likes

billymansell wrote:

What size chest and waist are you Liam?

Would be useful to have such additional info in the "About The Tester" section so people can gauge against their own size and fit.

 

30inch waist, 38inch cest

Avatar
Doper | 7 years ago
0 likes

It certainly doesn't look like  a "superb fit" around the neck. 

Avatar
Liam Cahill replied to Doper | 7 years ago
0 likes

Doper wrote:

It certainly doesn't look like  a "superb fit" around the neck. 

On the bike it fit me perfectly. You can zip it up fully and it doesn't strangle you. 

Avatar
Grahamd | 7 years ago
0 likes

Would be interested to know how many times it was washed, as I have a pair of Madison bib tights. They were great to start with but lost their shape after a few washes and are now consigned to the garment of last resort.

Avatar
Liam Cahill replied to Grahamd | 7 years ago
0 likes

Grahamd wrote:

Would be interested to know how many times it was washed, as I have a pair of Madison bib tights. They were great to start with but lost their shape after a few washes and are now consigned to the garment of last resort.

It's had well over 10. As I said, only at or below 40º and tumbled on cool. What did you wash your tights at? If you stuck to the washing instructions, then get in touch with them.

 

Avatar
Grahamd replied to Liam Cahill | 7 years ago
0 likes
Liam Cahill wrote:
Grahamd wrote:

Would be interested to know how many times it was washed, as I have a pair of Madison bib tights. They were great to start with but lost their shape after a few washes and are now consigned to the garment of last resort.

It's had well over 10. As I said, only at or below 40º and tumbled on cool. What did you wash your tights at? If you stuck to the washing instructions, then get in touch with them.

 

Thanks for the reply. I wash everything at 30/40 degrees and none of my other items have suffered. I put it down as a bad purchase and simply moved to other brands. As such I didn't contact them but feel I now should given your endorsement of their latest product.

Avatar
s_lim replied to Grahamd | 7 years ago
0 likes
Grahamd wrote:
Liam Cahill wrote:
Grahamd wrote:

Would be interested to know how many times it was washed, as I have a pair of Madison bib tights. They were great to start with but lost their shape after a few washes and are now consigned to the garment of last resort.

It's had well over 10. As I said, only at or below 40º and tumbled on cool. What did you wash your tights at? If you stuck to the washing instructions, then get in touch with them.

 

Thanks for the reply. I wash everything at 30/40 degrees and none of my other items have suffered. I put it down as a bad purchase and simply moved to other brands. As such I didn't contact them but feel I now should given your endorsement of their latest product.

 

I have the older version of this, In fact, I have 2 of them (my Mum bought me one as a Christmas present),  and they've done me 2 winters. Apart from the logo washing off, still as good as new. 

 

Size-wize, I'm 5'10", 40" chest, 33" waist, and the L fits perfectly.

Avatar
Grahamd replied to Liam Cahill | 6 years ago
0 likes
Liam Cahill wrote:
Grahamd wrote:

Would be interested to know how many times it was washed, as I have a pair of Madison bib tights. They were great to start with but lost their shape after a few washes and are now consigned to the garment of last resort.

It's had well over 10. As I said, only at or below 40º and tumbled on cool. What did you wash your tights at? If you stuck to the washing instructions, then get in touch with them.

 

Just wanted to say thanks. Followed your suggestion and returned item through retailer Tredz, who have duly arranged a full refund. 

Great customer service from Tredz and faith in Madison restored.

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