The Agu Takeaway fulfils my personal specification for a jacket that can be used for round town utility riding, wet mountain biking and the occasional rainy running session. It's a reasonably priced all-rounder top with well taped seams, a generously dropped back, good long sleeves plus a hood and waist pockets.
If you're anything like me you'll find it tough trying to decide on priorities when you need a new waterproof top.
First, you need to face up to the fact that very few of them achieve a level of breathability that comes anywhere near dealing with the outpourings of anyone who sweats a lot, however much you're willing to shell out on fancy materials and clever venting.
Even if you're one of the spoilt few who simply glow gently, there's no escaping the fact that waterproofs that are properly waterproof tend to get very hot inside if you ride hard.
This is before you even start thinking about whether you want something that doubles up as casual wear, in which case you probably don't want to go for the fluoro yellow uniform look that some will say makes you blend into the background much more than shiny reflective strips and decent lights.
If buying a waterproof is a minefield of conflicts, a £45 price tag makes things a tad easier in that you'll feel more willing to use and abuse a jacket like this.
It's generously sized, so wouldn't be an obvious choice for longer, faster road rides when it'll end up flapping annoyingly in the wind, but it packs up into its own little stuff sack that comes in one of the two pockets.
The draw-cord hood moves with your head so keeps visibility good when riding, and when not in use it rolls away using a Velcro collar tab.
The pockets are shielded by storm flaps but don't have zips so are not ideal for wallets and phones.
The high collared front is zipped with a storm flap plus Velcro and there's a single reflective strip running down the front, but nothing reflective on the back.
Our sample jacket was black, so not best for being seen, but there's a light blue option too.
The Poray 5000 material is what I'd describe as slightly breathable, in that the microporous coated material is less sweaty than most other sub £50 jackets I have tried.
The care instructions recommend against machine washes which is a big downside for those who want to do much more than local utility rides. Experience says that machine washing will soon compromise both the breathability and water resistance. So far I've just been rinsing it clean after mountain bike rides and runs and letting it drip.
For those who don't mind avoiding machine washes it's a good choice, well priced and generously cut as a slightly breathable but properly waterproof all-rounder.
Verdict
For the price, a decent option for casual riding provided you don't mind hand washing and you're not looking for fluoro visibility.
road.cc test report
Make and model: AGU Takeaway Jacket
Size tested: Medium 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?
It's a generously cut all-rounder top that uses Poray 5000 material to make it slightly breathable and properly waterproof, but both will be compromised if you machine wash it
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Poray 5000 coating helps with breathability, taped seams help with proofing.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
7/10
Sound construction, generous fit, a little too generous for longer rides.
Rate the product for performance:
7/10
For the price, excellent, but I'd personally prefer less water resistance but more breathability. A reflective strip on the back would have made it more viable as a cycling jacket. As it is, it's more of a casual all-rounder.
Rate the product for durability:
6/10
Should last well if you obey the washing and drying instructions. Otherwise it'll be quickly compromised.
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
8/10
Very light, easy to pack down small.
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
8/10
Generous comfortable fit for casual rides, not snug enough for more competitive or longer rides.
Rate the product for value:
8/10
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Does the job.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Price is good. Doubles up for more than just bike use.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
I always prefer jackets to be machine washable, because I'm inherently lazy and sweat a lot.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? No.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
A good choice for rainy short rides, walks and runs.
Age: 58 Height: 181 Weight: 78kg
I usually ride: Merlin Ti My best bike is: Ibis Silk SL
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
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