PEdAL ED Discovery Shell

The PEdAL ED Discovery Shell is a soft shell jacket to suit everyday riding and the weather conditions that are thrown at it as a result.

PEdAL ED is the brainchild of Japanese fashion designer Hideto Suzuki.

Disillusioned with the ever changing world of fashion Suzuki, in collaboration with a number of Italian designers and cyclists, looked to create a collection of 'highly functional and aesthetically pleasing' cycle clothing.

Flexibility is a key aspect of their range. They say: "We believe cycling garments should allow flexibility of use when possible to accompany a flexible cycling lifestyle. We make the garments. You decide how to live and ride with them."

The Discovery Shell certainly fits this ethos. It looks good and performs well paired with jeans and a t-shirt around town but could just as easily be worn with bib shorts and a jersey on a longer commute.

PEdAL ED products are all either manufactured in Italy or Japan. In this particular case the Discovery Shell is made in Veneto, Northern Italy, an area steeped in cycling history.

Style-wise the Discovery Shell is pretty understated; it's a plain black hooded jacket. The front is largely featureless apart from the zips and small reflective detailing on the sleeves.

The back is similarly minimal, the small rectangular logo on the pocket is the only visible branding on the jacket, and there's a thin strip of reflective running along the rear hem.

The stitching inside is lined with a contrasting yellow material, a nice bit of attention to detail.

Overall it's a simple and sophisticated look, and a nice antidote to the brash colours and logos of many other brands.

The fit of the jacket is snug, not a race fit but certainly not baggy or loose fitting. It's comfortable enough to wear with a couple of layers of everyday clothing underneath and has enough give to be comfortable when stretched out on the bike.

The sleeve length is cut slightly longer to keep wrists covered when reaching forward for the bars.

The collar zips up high around the neck and has drawstrings to tighten it giving an extra bit of protection against the wind and rain.

The hood is large and stretchy enough to go over a helmet if necessary and has a semi-rigid peak to keep the worst of the rain out of your eyes.

The hem of the jacket has a distinct cycling cut to it, lower at the back for some extra protection and higher at the front to stop it bunching up when bent forward while riding.

There's also an elasticated drawstring with toggles to tighten it to prevent it riding up as you pedal, and the double zip allows you to open it from the base for extra ventilation.

The Discovery Shell's understated look and styling means that it works just as well off the bike. The slightly longer sleeves are barely noticeable at a glance, but the cut of the hem is a bit more of a tell tale sign of it being a cycling specific jacket. The higher cut of the front means that anything worn underneath is a bit more visible than it usually would be when wearing a jacket with a more standard cut.

The main body of the jacket is constructed of two layers of soft shell material, with a waterproof membrane sandwiched between them. It's 85% polyester and 15% elastane; the extra stretch makes it perfect for riding.

The inner layer of soft shell makes for maximum comfort, even against bare arms.

The Discovery Shell is classed as being fully waterproof. It has a waterproof rating of 10,000mm, meaning it'll withstand pretty heavy rain, unless put under considerable pressure.

It's certainly withstood everything that's been thrown at it during the winter months it's been tested, with water visibly beading on the surface of the jacket.

The soft shell material offers good breathability, although the testing period was during colder months it came into its own on warmer days and during hillier rides regulating temperatures well. The jacket, combined with a couple of other layers, also offers good protection on colder days.

The detailing on the Discovery Shell is, like the jacket itself, pretty simple. The front has two side pockets and a breast pocket, and there is a large cargo pocket on the back. The pocket linings are made of a single layer of soft shell material and all have fully waterproof zips. The cuffs have Velcro fasteners to cinch them tighter around the wrist, and the waist and collar have drawstrings.

Visibility is a bit of stumbling block for the Discovery Shell. There are some handy reflective strips on the cuffs and one along the rear hem, but they seem more of a gesture rather than a obviously helpful feature. The intent is there but they're too hidden away, presumably to preserve the minimal styling of the jacket. The reflective on the cuffs is too easily obscured by wearing a pair of bulky winter gloves, or even the sleeve slightly folding over on itself.

The jacket is available in sizes from XS to XXL, or 35" to 46.5" chest.

It's available in black with yellow internal stitching, or navy blue with red internal stitching, so colours are pretty limited.

When it comes to, ahem, shelling out for the Discovery Shell the price may become a barrier for many.

The jacket is going set you back £170, the kind of price that's up there with the Raphas and Vulpines of this world, and that's understandable as it's also up there in terms of style and performance.

It's going to be an everyday jacket that should see you well for a good few years, rather than a 'one season wonder', however there's nothing groundbreaking about it and there's no escaping the fact that £170 is a lot for a black zip up hoody.

Verdict

Stylish and functional jacket that works well on and off the bike; slightly let down by lack of visibility & high price