Alé PRR Camo Winter Jacket

Alé's PRR kit has proved itself high quality and comfortable in the past, and the Winter jacket scores on both those counts, but it's not without a flaw. To my mind, a jacket designed for cycling should at least be capable of protecting you from a light shower, and the PRR Camo Winter Jacket really can't.

Instead of repelling water – any amount of it – it readily absorbs it into the fabric, with a quick transition into the interior where it wets any jersey or baselayer you happen to be wearing. My first ride in the jacket (teamed with the matching PRR bib tights I was also testing) included a shower or two, bringing the lack of water resistance clearly to the fore.

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Now, let's be clear: Alé doesn't actually claim any water resistance – which makes my water resistance rating, measured against the manufacturer's rating – of which there isn't one at all – a little tricky (I've gone for a neutral 'average'), but it does beg the question: why couldn't there be at least a DWR treatment of some kind, especially considering the £180 asking price?

It's not exactly lightweight, either – although this does have significant benefits in the way it shuts out the wind on the front and the arms – the density of fabric in tandem with the Roubaix lining takes care of everything. Breathability is also decent, as long as you use it in genuinely cold weather, with an anatomical cut teamed with lighter rear-facing arm and back panels to allow heat to escape.

That anatomical cut extends to the elasticated hem and asymmetrical cuffs that overlap just enough when teamed with gloves. In fact, it's so anatomical that you'd be forgiven for thinking it was, in fact, a long-sleeve winter jersey.

The chief aim of the garment seems to be its thermal capabilities. At this, it's genuinely hard to fault – the quality zips don't let draughts through, with the aforementioned cut taking care of the rest to insulate you in its Roubaix fleece-lined bubble. From this point of view, it's great.

The finer points are reasonably well taken care of too: three medium sized pockets on the rear (though no zipped compartment) swallow most of your spares and food, and the zip features an extra wind guard that doubles as a chin guard at the top of the neckline – ideal for the slim fit when the zip is pulled all the way up.

Also, the jacket's quality – as with all Alé kit I've used of late – is impressive. It's continued to last and feel like a decent cold weather top layer for the past four weeks, and has maintained its anatomical fit despite a couple of warmer washes.

As a result, the Alé PRR jacket has me in two minds. On the one hand – and fundamentally – it's a great-fitting, warm, thermal jacket that can deal with cold, dry conditions and works brilliantly with the matching PRR bib tights. They make a great, if expensive, pairing in those conditions. On the other, it's really too warm to wear in mild winter weather, and not even slightly water resistant – disappointing in my view for what claims to be a 'jacket', especially a Winter one.

> Buyer's Guide: The best winter cycling jackets

I know this will polarise opinion, but what I conclude is this: if what you want is a pure thermal outer layer, you can do much, much worse than this. If you expect a jacket to be truly weather resistant, then you'd be better served looking at a garment that isn't flummoxed by water.

Verdict

A winter jacket without any sort of water resistance, but it has its uses