commuter jacket

Altura are known for producing good value kit that performs well for the money. The Night Vision Evo is just one below the company's top notch waterproof jacket (the Sirius Plus at £129.99) and as such is aimed at the more serious commuter, or rider looking for long duration protection from the elements and a comfortable ride.

It's an inoffensive looking jacket, with plenty of cycling specific features, such as huge amounts of reflective accenting, and the bright colour options (as well as good old black).

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.

Rohan certainly couldn't be considered Johnny-come-latelys in the outdoor clothing field, but cycling apparel is a new direction for them. This Elite Stormer jacket manages to be light, breathable and waterproof – normally you have to pick two – and is certainly packs in some high performance to justify the £195 price tag. It does come up slightly odd in the fit department though.

As you can see – you didn't miss the photo above? – the Madison Stellar II commuter jacket is black. It's also available in red or hi-vis yellow if you think black makes you invisible. I don't think it does. Visibility is about contrast; the worst colour for a cycling jacket would be dull grey, the colour of concrete, old tarmac or a British sky. Black is quite visible in good light. And at night, the Stellar II shines as brightly in headlights as its name suggests by virtue of its copious reflective panels.

'Ground crew to the rescue' was my initial reaction clapping eyes on LEDwear's Aurora jacket. Billed, as 'multi activity' cut and sizing are on the Aurora are more relaxed than I've come to expect from more cycling specific jackets and while it includes some genuinely nice touches (the ability to go in the washing machine once the shell starts looking and smelling bad certainly gets my vote) pit zips where you'd expect hip pockets is a missed opportunity and compromises climate control to boot.

Look at the spec and Madison's Prime waterproof jacket looks like just another decent quality entry-level technical model to add to the pile. Look at the jacket though and you've got a really versatile jacket that doesn't, as the blurb puts it, "scream cyclist" and is ideal for round-town duties and other outdoor activities too.

Polaris started life as a small outfit making mountain bike clothing about two decades ago, and since then has also branched into other cycling worlds, with the RBS range of clothing aimed at the road and commuter markets. The range includes this RBS Jacket. And a very nice piece of kit it is too.

The Madison Telegraphe doesn't really look like a cycling jacket at all, but as soon as you put it on, you know it'll work on a bike too: a high collar to keep the wind out, sleeves that are long enough to keep your wrists covered when you're stretched out on your bike and pit zips and mesh lining to keep everything well ventilated.

Having lived in Southsea, Portsmouth I can see why dhb would name a waterproof jacket after that stretch of British coastline, it was always bloody raining as I remember it! Urban style is maybe not something you'd immediately associate with Southsea though, but this jacket has plenty, it's dhb's take on the cycling jacket that works just as well off the bike too.