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review

Sportful Bodyfit Pro WS Jacket

9
£165.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Fantastic top quality windproof and water-resistant winter jacket that benefits from pro team partnership.
Weight: 
358g
Contact: 
www.sportful.it

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The the Sportful Bodyfit Pro WS Jacket is an extremely good-fitting jacket with excellent insulation and breathability.

Good enough for the pros and good enough for us, Sportful's BodyFit Pro collection is based on the clothing worn by the Saxo-Tinkoff professional cycling team. That means you get the same race fit, features and fabrics as is normally reserved for the pros, but without looking like an advertising hoarding. The Bodyfit Pro WS Jacket here is warm winter jacket designed to provide insulation on the coldest days.

The first thing you notice as a result of that pro connection is the fit; it really is very good. I tested a size medium. I'm reasonably slim and sometimes have trouble getting jackets that fit well. I had no problems with the Bodyfit Pro WS jacket. It's well proportioned and shaped, snug around the torso, generous in the shoulders and arms, and the back doesn't sag low when you load up the pockets. A large elasticated waist band around the back ensures the jacket stays in place. That all makes for a jacket that is extremely comfortable on all rides, and if you're a racier performance minded cyclist you'll really appreciate this.

The internal ThermoDryTexPlus cuffs have a small section of elasticated material attached to the inside of the sleeves. This forms a very snug fitting around the wrist and stops cold air seeping up the sleeves without resorting to Velcro closures. Nice and comfortable too. Gloves slip over the top easily. The arms also are a good length so they don't ride up and leave your wrists exposed, with good glove overlap too, another sign that the shape and fit of the jacket is just right.

The Bodyfit Pro WS is constructed from Gore Windstopper 4 Way Warm fabric. It's fully windproof and highly water-resistant. Head out into prolonged rain and you'll want to don a waterproof jacket, but very light rain or occasional showers don't penetrate. The inside of the jacket is soft and comfortable next to the skin, ideal when you're just wearing it over a short sleeve base layer.

The jacket provides impressive insulation with a good level of breathability. Keeping warm while avoiding overheating is the tricky challenge with cycle clothing at this time of year, and this jacket balances both demands nicely. I've been wearing it over a short sleeve base layer, adjusting the weight of the base layer depending on how cold it is, and it's been impressive, keeping my toasty but never tripping over into excessively warm.

There aren't any vents, but the main full-length zipper is an easy way to dump any excess heat that might be building up between you and the jacket. As its gets colder you can switch to a long sleeve base layer and even add a mid-layer to boost the insulation. This is a jacket that will see you through the winter without doubt.

It's available in three colours, black, white and yellow/black. The latter is a stylish option for those who want to boost their visibility on the roads. If I could change one thing on this jacket it would be a few more reflective details around the back and on the arms. Yellow is clearly a colour that shows up mud and dirt but it has so far been an easy jacket to keep clean with a standard 30 degree machine wash.

As winter looms into view, a decent jacket is an essential investment, and this is a top-notch jacket with the fit, features and functionality that the most demanding cyclists will appreciate, and be prepared to pay for. The price tag may put you off, but it's a serious investment in your cycling wardrobe and if a decent jacket can help you pluck up the motivation to get outdoors when it's it's cold and damp out, it can only be a good thing.

Verdict

Fantastic top quality windproof and water-resistant winter jacket that benefits from pro team partnership.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Sportful Bodyfit Pro WS Jacket

Size tested: medium, yellow/black

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?

This winter jacket shares the same material technology, cut and fit as the pro Team Saxo - Tinkoff. Put simply pro issue apparel, less the livery of the sponsors. Each season sees small but important refinements to improve both fit and functionality, thanks to pro rider feedback.

Grand Tour and classic victories are won in the racing season but earned in the winter months.

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

Anatomic BodyFit Pro construction.

YKK® Vislon® zipper.

Windstopper® 4 Way Warm.

Silicone gripper elastic.

Internal ThermoDrytexPlus cuff.

3 external rear pockets.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Really well made jacket that is tough and durable for the winter.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Easily justifies its price with great fit and winter insulation.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

It's got the durability to last many winters, with tough seams and a hard-wearing fabric.

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

The result of the professional cycling team partnership is a jacket that fits impressively well, and that serves to boost comfort.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

It's a lot of money, so you can easily pay way more, but a solid winter jacket should be top of your list of cycling investments this winter and this jacket deserves to be on your shortlist.

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

Provides a good level of insulation with decent breathability.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

I'd like to see some more reflective details on it for low-light and night time riding.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

There's nothing I disliked about it.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

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: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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