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review
Jackets
Ride Protector JacketRide Protector jacket

Ride Protector Jacket

7
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jun 11, 2012

0
£39.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Bright, light and competitively priced but as with similar rain capes a bit hot under the collar
Weight: 
85g
Contact: 
www.ridebosh.com
How we test

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The Protector Jacket is Ride's take on the race cape, an ideal garment for stuffing in your jersey pocket just in case of a shower or two.

Handmade from 100% polyester the construction and material is good quality. You get elasticated cuffs and waistband keeping the draughts out and a neat opening in the back to allow access to your jersey pockets underneath. A full zip makes getting it on an off a breeze and it easily scrunches down to jersey pocket size.

What's it like in the wet? Well, it's water resistant as opposed to waterproof so it'll see you through a quick cloudburst or drizzle but isn't man enough to keep out heavy or consistent rain. The lining is waterproof but without taped seams and zips water is always going to get through – it does make for good windproofing though. To be fair though the main concern is whether you're going to get wetter from the inside out rather than from what is falling out of the sky. Breathability, or lack of it is always an issue with this style of jacket and the Ride Protector is no different. Push on a bit and your torso begins to feel like it is in a steamer. I've always found the best option is to ride with tops liks this unzipped, that way you're protecting your shoulders and back from the worst of the rain while keeping some airflow moving over your body.

Rather than the usual transparent, to allow for race numbers or club kit to be seen through while racing, the Protector comes in either a see through black or 'very' hi viz yellow.

The yellow that we've got here on test is certainly an attention grabber which makes it ideal if conditions deteriorate quickly mid ride like a heavy thunder shower or if its foggy. Both the black and yellow versions carry reflective strips on the rear for use in the dark, ideal for year round use.

Overall its a handy jacket to keep in your bag or pocket on inclement days to keep the worst of the rain off. The yellow option is great as a visibility aid and a price of 40 quid is competitive too, but don't expect to stay sweat free if the temperature is in double figures.

Verdict

Bright, light and competitively priced but as with similar rain capes a bit hot under the collar.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Ride Protector Jacket

Size tested: Yellow, Medium

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 Protector is more of an emergency jacket for when you're caught out in the rain. It fits the bill well and works as well as many others on the market.

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

Italian designed and hand-made

*Available in neon yellow for higher visability

*Elasticated waist band for extra protection from wind and rain

*Through-jacket jersey pocket access and vent

*Large reflective logo and strips on back and sides

*Waterproof lining

*Full Zip

*Material:

*100% Polyester

*Wind and showerproof

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Looks tidy and well made.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

The windproof qualities are good and it'll keep a shower off you. Overheating is an issue but no worse than other jackets like it.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Should hold up well if you're careful but the material, while tough, can tear quite easily.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Very light when it is in your jersey pocket.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
6/10

It runs hot and the polyester feels weird against the skin.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

There are other products on the market with the same qualities and faults that are twice the cost.

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

Okay, better in colder temperatures though. For the occasional storm it's ideal. The yellow version is a good safety net if you're caught out in decreasing light conditions.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The brightness and the slot on the rear to allow access to your jersey pockets.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The lack of breathability.

Did you enjoy using the product? It's a handy pocket filler.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Its only failing is the overheating which is a common problem with nearly all race capes.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 34  Height: 180cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Genesis Flyer  My best bike is: Ribble Gran Fondo

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

Ride Protector Jacket
ride
race cape
protector jacket
Jacket
commuter jacket
Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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