Madison Freewheel Mens Windproof Packable Jacket

The Madison Freewheel windproof packable jacket might look very familiar to regular readers, and that’s because it’s a variation on the Madison Freewheel waterproof packable jacket Shaun Audane reviewed last year. It’s almost identical, and looks like it’s even pieced together from the same fabric panels, but the crucial difference is that it loses the waterproofing, which reduces the weight and trims the price tag.

Design

As with its waterproof forebear, there’s nothing wrong with the cut here: it’s not sporty, but it’s long enough to cover this gangly writer’s torso. It has just enough stretch to accommodate various shapes and sizes without bagginess or tightness anywhere, and you can wear it off the bike without attracting any more funny looks than usual. Its chest and rear pockets are big enough to carry your phone and a few gels.

Substituting the word “windproof” for “waterproof” gives Madison a lot of free rein here. It’s far lighter than the waterproof variant, but the crinkly material doesn’t feel cheap. This also means it packs down to a very small size (about that of an apple, probably a ripe Braeburn) and stuffs into its own rear pocket.

Our sample came in ‘Mango Orange’ – a subtle off-orange colour that’s eye-catching without making you look like a construction worker – but it’s also available in black and inky blue. The only problem with this particular hue is that it inevitably attracted an oil stain, which is something that always happens when you get a brand new jacket, and thanks to the more porous material it sank in and doesn’t want to go anywhere, despite a wash.

Performance

That’s not to say the jacket is going to fall apart as soon as it rains — Madison rates it as water resistant, with a DWR treatment. In practice, this meant that it shrugged off a surprise downpour on one of my test rides. A more comprehensive test (in the shower!) showed that it did let water through eventually, but it took longer than I expected. (I’d washed and conditioned by the time I got wet.) It’s perfect for warmer days with sporadic downpours.

At this price point, moisture from the inside is often as big a problem as rain from the outside. Madison boasts that the jacket includes ‘AC technology,’ which is disappointingly not a miniature air conditioning unit, but simply consists of a flap at the back that opens at higher temperatures to vent hot air. I can’t say I ever noticed it in operation, but even on big climbs I never experienced any clamminess or sweatiness.

It’s warm when it needs to be, though. I took it out for an early morning April ride where a cold wind dropped the temperature to 3°C. Some initial shivers disappeared once I got going. It’s arguable that a packable jacket like this is preferable to arm warmers on cooler days: there’s less faff, it’s easier to remove, and there are fewer gaps for cold air to get in.

Value

The Madison Freewheel windproof variant carries an RRP of £40, which is pretty impressive in and of itself, but a few sites are selling it for less than £25, which is frankly astonishing for such a decent and useful piece of kit.

The closest competitor we’ve reviewed recently is the Boardman Men’s Windproof Jacket (£35), but it’s about as waterproof as a teabag.

Galibier’s GrandTour Jacket is pricier at £76, but it’s more of a deep winter option, while the company’s Trail Wind Jacket (£63.25) takes a more Liam Gallagher-style approach to windproofing and sacrifices packability.

Conclusion

The Madison Freewheel windproof packable jacket is perfect for cold starts, showery summer days, or just as a spare to stick in your saddlebag – and the price is astonishing