Showers Pass Pro Tech ST jacket

The Showers Pass Pro Tech ST is a light weight, clear race cape, so that when the heavens open you can stay dry and your club or team kit can still shine through on race day or just on a training ride.

Showers Pass are from Portland, Oregan so they're well versed with the sort of wet weather we get here in the UK.

For 2014 the jacket has been redesigned offering better venting on the rear and it has fully taped seams, which should stop leaky shoulders and sleeves. the length of the cut is good, covering the base of a jersey and down to wheel spray level with a sensibly high waist. The collar is lined with a soft fleece material and stands up to a good height, inside the collar there is a handy loop for hanging the jacket up once race day is done.

At 156g the Pro-Tech jacket is light enough as pure rain jackets go, less than some other rain jackets, but it is not a forget-about-it-in-a-jersey-pocket shower or windproof jacket, which can be sub 100g. It does pack easily into its own rear pocket, this has an internal zip and a long pull loop once packed inside. However easy of packing comes at a bit of a cost, the size of the packed jacket seems large. I found that it filled most of a rear jersey pocket, though it then squashes down to allow pump, puncture repair kit and multitool alongside, perhaps even some arm warmers. The packed jacket is a tall loose envelope about 19cm by 12 cm by 7cm thick, though this compresses on the shorter two dimensions by about half. This makes it easy to tug out of a pocket, especially if you get the pull loop at the top.

A 3M Scotchlite Reflective reflective strip on the rear does a good job of catching the light and adding some extra visibility. A mesh internal pocket is really only good for very light duties, a gel or bar perhaps, anything heavier makes it sag.

Another useful feature is the two way zip which is easy to adjust. So getting to a gel or your phone in the rain mid-ride is easy enough to achieve. Pulling up the base of the zip to sternum level allows you to get a hand into a rear jersey pocket.

The jacket fits well across the chest, I have a medium and it fits my body well. My main criticism of the jacket is the sleeves which flap in the wind, they do not taper towards the wrist as much as they might and the velcro adjustment to take them in does not reduce the flapping. Even if you have bigger biceps (than me) the jacket sleeves will still flap, due to their cut. This is a pity in an otherwise good jacket.

I wore or carried the jacket for commuting and on training rides in May, getting blown about in it and rained on several times. It is an effective windproof and the jacket does shed the rain effectively. You do get warm if you are riding hard, the membrane is breathable up to a point, the venting on the back of the jacket helps too. The seam taping counters the breathability a little, seams are a good place for internal moisture to escape too. I found the jacket comfortable to ride in and the lining seems to keep you warmer on cooler days than a simple wind jacket.

This is primarily a jacket to pull on when a sudden shower arrives and then to take off again almost as quickly, rather than a winter rain jacket that you might wear for the entire ride. Unexpectedly it is also a good jacket to wear while marshalling at a race on a breezy day. It fits best with spring or early autumn weather, too warm to wear a winter rain jacket, but too much chance of a proper soaking to bring a flimsy windproof jacket. It has worked well in the more showery conditions we have had in the UK recently.

One thing to note is that the Pro Tech jacket is hand wash only, so over time it will get grubby, especially if you ride off road in the wet wearing it. So far it is holding up well.

Verdict

Well thought out emergency training or race day waterproof jacket, if you can put up with the flappy sleeves.