Madison Roam Men’s Stellar Tech 2-Layer Waterproof Jacket

The Madison Roam Men’s Stellar Tech 2-Layer Waterproof Jacket is a heavy-duty option designed for gravel and trail riding, but with its ‘camo’ hi-vis elements that show up when a light shines on them, a hood that fits over a helmet, and three zipped pockets, it’s also useful for more casual commuting. It performs well in the rain, but can get quite warm.

For more options, check out our guide to the best winter cycling jackets.

This jacket is quite a serious bit of kit, with fully taped seams, a heavy-duty two-way zip and a durable water repellent (DWR) coating all over.

Madison claims a waterproof rating of 10,000mm/H2O, which isn’t the highest, but I wore the Roam in some hideously wet conditions and was impressed with its performance. Although it did eventually get saturated, and I got wet, it took a while, and it kept me warm in the process.

In fact I found it a great option for short off-road adventures, whether gravel riding or full-blown mountain biking, and it’s held up very well to a pretty tough test period, being ridden through woods and getting snagged on plenty of small branches and thorns.

After all the abuse I’ve put this jacket through, it’s showing no signs of scratches or damage, which is testament to the hardwearing fabric Madison has used. It doesn’t feel remotely as delicate as a Gorewear Shakedry jacket; it feels like you’d have to be going some to damage it.

It’s definitely not as breathable as a Shakedry, though, and you can get quite hot and sweaty when riding in it. I’ve ended up unzipping it quite often to try to disperse sweat.

Reflective

The ‘Stellar’ part of the name comes courtesy of the dotted ‘camo’ reflective material covering the entire back, arms and part of the chest. You can barely see this during the day – it lives up to the name well! – but it lights up when caught in headlights, helping to keep you visible.

There are also two brightly reflective strips on the sleeves and the tail.

Fit

Madison describes the fit as ‘relaxed but not baggy’ – it isn’t a slim-fitting rain jacket for roadies, it’s designed for gravel and trail riding – but it does feel a bit baggier than I’d like, and quite bulky and cumbersome when riding.

It’s quite a large item of clothing, with lots of room underneath to add layers, but it can flap a fair amount, especially with it having a hood, which can get a little annoying, particularly if you’re used to skin-tight road jackets.

Packable?

I also take issue with Madison’s claim that it’s packable, as it follow this up by saying the jacket can roll up into its own hood and be stowed away into a backpack or frame bag. Most jackets or jerseys can be stowed away in a backpack or frame bag – this doesn’t really make it ‘packable’. It’s unlikely to fit in any jersey pockets, unless you have VERY big pockets.

Practical details

The jacket has two side pockets and a chest pocket, in a similar manner to a conventional civvies jacket, and it works well off the bike. The pockets all have very solid zips, with material flaps over them to help keep water and muck out.

The side pockets aren’t quite map pockets, but they’re big, and putting things like a phone in them is no trouble. The chest pocket is also sizeable, big enough for a phone.

The tail is dropped, to help keep your backside dry and clean, and it’s slightly elasticated at the bottom to stop the jacket from riding up.

The sleeves also have elasticated cuffs, and these have an asymmetrical shape, so they stick out a little further on the back of your hand; it isn’t my favourite feature but it’s hardly offensive.

Care

Madison says you can wash this jacket at 30°C, but I’d recommend doing this carefully and sparingly to preserve the DWR coating. It’ll benefit from being reproofed every so often if the water repellency deteriorates.

This jacket also comes with a limited lifetime warranty, and would be replaced if there were any material or workmanship defects.

Value

At £119.99, this jacket is reasonably priced, if not super cheap, with the inclusion of the hood and its general ruggedness adding value in my eyes.

It’s cheaper than the Chapeau! City Jacket, now £149.99. Hollis thought it was a great commuting jacket with good waterproofing – and it’s packable – though he did find it got a bit warm when riding hard, in a similar manner to the Madison.

> How to choose the right waterproof cycling jacket — stay dry and keep riding whatever the weather

The Galibier Tourmalet is a cheaper but more conventional road jacket, without the hood. Stu loved it and thought was a bargain at £83, with awesome waterproofing and breathability, but it’s definitely aimed more at pure road riding than the Madison.

Conclusion

While there are cheaper options out there, I have been generally impressed by the Madison – just be sure it’s the right kind of jacket for you. If all you do is road riding I would suggest looking elsewhere, but if you like to head off-road or you commute in fairly relaxed fashion, or simply want something quite robust, this is worth considering – as long as you don’t mind getting a little sweaty every so often.

Verdict

Heavy-duty jacket for commuting and adventuring, but it can get quite hot

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