Boardman Mens Waterproof Jacket

The Boardman Mens Waterproof Jacket is designed for use both on and off the bike and, typically for the British bike brand, it is extremely well priced. It has a detachable hood and excellent reflectives – and it lives up to the ‘waterproof’ part of the name very well. But I didn’t find it that breathable, which makes it more one for commuter riding than all-out efforts, and it has a less luxurious feel than some of the brand’s other cycling kit.

First off, this isn’t a dedicated road jacket with a skin-tight aero construction, but one Boardman says is designed ‘for use on and off the bike’. This makes it an option for the daily commute on the bike that you can also wear for walks to the shops or pub. And if it’s not raining, you can pack up the jacket and stick it in your bag – it’s a little too bulky to fit in a jersey pocket.

The construction doesn’t have the feel of a high-end road jacket either, but then again it does have an entry-level price. The outer material is shiny and hard on the reflective sections, with a slightly softer feel elsewhere.

Inside the outer shell is a mesh net layer, which reminds me a of a tent’s fly net, which is designed to let air circulate.

The front has a full-length zip with poppers at the top and bottom, and just as with a regular civvie jacket there’s a zipped pocket either side.

The rear zipped drop-in pocket more akin to that of a regular cycling jacket.

There’s also a rear vent, presumably to let some heat out when you’re working up a sweat.

A small fleeced section around the neck that feels nice against your skin, and there’s a detachable hood, which is secured with a zip.

When the hood’s off the zip is covered by a Velcro flap, which helps to make it look like a regular non-hooded jacket.

I found the fit reasonable when I was riding, though there was a little flapping, which I’m not used to in a road-going jacket. The medium-size jacket came up true to size and there was room for a few layers underneath, handy when things turn cold.

This is also true of the Velcro cuffs, but again these make it feel less of a cycling-specific option than an all-round jacket that you can use on the bike.

I didn’t find the jacket that breathable, and you will get quite sweaty if you’re working hard – but nothing like one of those super-plasticky ponchos, which can feel very unpleasant against your skin.

The highlight of the jacket is that it is genuinely waterproof. While a lot of the summer has been dry, this has been interspersed with some seriously heavy downpours – and after a few hours riding in some quite serious rain, almost no moisture made its way through. This is very good for a jacket costing just £45.

If you tend to ride without a bag, you will struggle to fit this in a pocket if it’s not raining, as it’s a big jacket even when it’s rolled up.

This isn’t an issue, of course, if you ride with a backpack, pannier or other bag.

It also scores well for reflectives, which is exactly what you want from an urban jacket.

The chest and shoulders are extremely reflective, there’s a reflective strip down the front, on the zip flap, the tail, and on the outside of the arms too, which is a very good location for reflective materials.

The two side pockets are a decent size, but they aren’t map pockets so they don’t go up that high. The rear pocket isn’t that large either, but it is roomy enough for a bunch of snacks and an inner tube. Its zip does a good job keeping the rain out, but that added water-resistance can make it more of a faff to undo.

The hood is a good call for a commuting jacket, but doesn’t fit over a helmet – which seems to me to be a bit of an oversight. However, it is at least removable, which means you can take it off so it doesn’t annoy you when you’re turning your head.

If you’re after something that can work on and off the bike, but aren’t too fussy about breathability, packability or snug fit, then the Boardman jacket is a reasonable option. If you’re just after a rain jacket for on the bike though, you may find better options elsewhere.

Value

The Boardman’s £45 price puts it very much in entry-level territory, and at this sort of price I think it does a good job at covering all the basics.

The Madison Roam Jacket Madison Roam Jacket has some similar properties to the Boardman, as it also majors on waterproofing at the expense of breathability. But it does have a more premium feel to it, so its £119.99 price tag feels reasonable.

The Chapeau City jacket is also impressively waterproof and windproof and like the Boardman and Madison it also get a little sweaty. But it’s less than half the weight of the Boardman and its lack of bulk means it’s packable too – though it’s now a much pricier £149.99.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a genuinely weatherproof outer layer for commuting and casual riding, and for use off the bike, the Boardman Mens Waterproof Jacket is well worth taking a look at. It doesn’t have the premium feel of some its competitors – but then again they don’t have the Boardman’s £45 price tag. It’s not one for packing into a jersey pocket, but if you ride with a bag of some sort, you’re sorted, and it’s great to see such large reflectives too.

Verdict

Good commuter-friendly option that scores very heavily when it comes to waterproofing – and the price is right

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