Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Shadow Jacket

The Rapha Pro Team Light weight Shadow Jacket is a very impressive piece of kit for wind protection, waterproofing, packability and breathability, and though it comes at a hefty price it's still cheaper than some rivals.

• Pros: Very impressive weatherproofing, packable, great breathability
• Cons: Expensive, two-way zip can be a little fiddly

I tested out the last iteration of the Rapha Shadow kit and I was really impressed with how it held up, but one slight negative was that the material was very thick and meant it tended to crease to strange shapes. I was really interested in seeing how Rapha had fared using the fabric to create a lightweight jacket.

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Well, what was fairly thick is now paper thin. I was initially a little worried about its ruggedness, but after dozens of rides and stuffing it in pockets it still looks as good as when I first took it out of the packet.

Luckily Rapha has managed to reduce the thickness of the material without reducing its effectiveness, and the jacket took everything that the weather could throw at it.

Waterproofing comes from using yarns that have already been given a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment, before the entire jacket is treated again once it has been made. Rapha doesn't claim that it's completely waterproof, and only strategic seams have been taped, but I found that it kept everything out regardless of the intensity of the rain. I even used it during a thunderstorm and although the rest of me was drenched, my top half stayed perfectly dry.

Obviously a key element of a packable jacket is the windproofing, and the jacket is similarly impressive in this area. On several days when the mercury was refusing to rise I used the jacket to keep the bite off and it did it very effectively. Similarly, it was great to pull out of a jersey pocket and put on as I reached the top of a climb to protect me on the descent.

Talking of packability, the jacket folds down small enough to fit into a jersey pocket easily, and there were several rides where it was off and on more than Nigel Farage's political career. It was simple to get on, although the zip is slightly fiddly as it's a two-way design so you have to align the two zip pulls first, making it a little more tricky to do while riding than others.

Breathability is superb, helped by how thin the material is, and I would go as far as saying that this is the most breathable jacket I have ever tested – and I've owned or reviewed 40 or more similar products. (Ashia found the women's version less so in her testing – she thought the breathability was good, but not as impressive as a Sportful windproof).

Rapha has included some nice features on the jacket too, such as reflective elements on the back and front – something that the previous Shadow kit missed.

There is also a wind guard/baffle behind the zip, in addition to a zip garage, which kept out wind and rain. On the collar a softer cotton material helps prevent any discomfort on the neck.

With an RRP of £200, it's an expensive jacket. However, when you consider how light but also how waterproof and windproof it is, it goes some way to justifying it. It compares favourably to the 7mesh Rebellion Jacket, for example, which comes in a full £80 more. That is made with Gore-Tex Active, but there's barely anything in it when it comes to waterproofing.

You could also compared it to the Endura Pro SL Shell Jacket II that Jack looked at a couple of months ago. The Endura is £35 cheaper, but the Rapha is as waterproof and trumps it for both packability and breathability.

> Buyer's Guide: 21 of the best waterproof cycling jackets

Overall, the Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Shadow Jacket is a great garment; there is no getting around the price, but it's easily one of the best lightweight jackets I have tested. Its breathability combined with weatherproofing is a real indication of the thought put in by Rapha's designers. The price will be higher than many will be prepared to pay, and the zip can be a bit fiddly, but these are minor gripes considering how good this jacket is.

Verdict

A fantastic lightweight jacket with impressive breathability