Endura Hummvee Convertible Jacket

Endura's Hummvee Convertible Jacket is aimed more at the off-road market, but its waterproof and breathable properties make it also very good for the road if you're touring or commuting at a relaxed pace in cold and wet weather.

This jacket's name suggests a high degree of protection, and the Hummvee will definitely ward off rain, though it lacks in the breathability department when weather conditions get warm or exertion levels go up.

On my first test ride, I rode for 45 minutes at a steady pace in a very heavy downpour with air temperature around 7 °C. There was no sign of water ingress and no build-up of dampness inside the jacket. On the second test ride, the temperature was around 16 degrees and, after 10 miles stiff going into the wind with a couple of climbs, I was soaked in sweat, despite undoing some studs for ventilation (more on that later). This is definitely a jacket for colder conditions, and not for when you're doing anything close to a fast pace.

It's called a 'convertible' because the sleeves are detachable, meaning you can turn this jacket into a gilet. This makes the Hummvee a very versatile garment. The sleeves are joined to a panel which forms the back of the jacket, and the whole thing is connected to the main jacket with zips and press-studs. This allows you to set off for your ride in the rain wearing the full jacket then, when conditions get warm, you unzip the sleeves and back panel and stuff them in the large rear pocket on the jacket, leaving you with a gilet boasting a windproof nylon front and fully-ventilated mesh back.

Conversely, you could wear the gilet for most of your ride in dry conditions, then zip on the sleeves and back panel if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Either way, the zips and studs are not ideal for a quick roadside refit, but if the rain's setting in it's well worth spending a little time to ensure your windproof layer turns into fully functioning waterproof garment. If you're feeling too warm on the inside with the sleeves on, you can undo some of the studs around mesh back panel to increase ventilation.

The medium size proved ideal for my 175cm height. The cut is not body-tight, but it's not too baggy either. There's plenty of room for a base layer and winter jersey underneath. The Hummvee is aimed at men or at cyclists of both genders, and is not available in a female specific cut.

As with many cycling jackets, the hem is diagonal, so shorter at the front and longer at the back. Another inch or two on the back would stop spray from the back wheel hitting your rear end if you were riding without mudguards.

The sleeves are a good length, so no bare skin around the wrists, with matching colour Velcro adjusters to tighten to keep out the wind (or loosen for ventilation if required). The collar is the perfect height, and has an adjuster in the back, so you can have it close-fitting for warmth or loose for more comfort or ventilation.

Our test sample comes comes in a pleasing two-tone red, which is fairly visible to drivers in daylight. Other colour options are black and day-glo green (or 'kelly' green according to the Endura website). For night riding, there are reflective strips and decals on the back and sleeves, plus reflective decals on the front. There's also a very well-made plastic loop on the back to take a rear light.

For carrying stuff, there's plenty of room in the large rear pocket of the jacket, although you might want to leave it empty so you've got somewhere to put the sleeves when they're not required. On the front there are two zipped pockets with side access, one with a security pocket and a key hook. These pockets are quite low, though, so anything more than a tenner in there and your front door key might bang on the tops of your thighs when pedalling. These pockets also contain hem adjusters, which is neat, but this means if you want to adjust the hem you have to unzip the pockets.

The separate pocket linings under the nylon at the front of the jacket effectively means two other roomy inside pockets; these could be useful for stowing things when wandering around off the bike, or just heading into the café halfway through a club run.

All zips are the excellent YKK with useful loop pullers on the pockets. The main zip has a neat cover at the top and a good storm flap.

On size and weight, the Hummvee Convertible is not the sort of jacket you can take off and fit in the back pocket of your jersey, although you can stuff the sleeves into the jacket's own rear pocket, as mentioned above. If you are going to take off the whole thing, you'll need a backpack or good-sized saddlebag to carry it. To keep it compact when not being worn, the whole jacket can be stuffed into its own rear pocket, when turned inside out, although this did not work well as the zip has a puller on only one side.

On cost, the jacket's full retail price is a penny under £85, but you can find it for less at some bike shops and the usual on-line stores. This puts it on par with comparable jackets from brands such as Polaris, and cheaper than similar stuff from Gore, Sportful, Assos or Castelli, although on some of these brands the breathability is better. But most jackets don't have the ability to turn into a gilet, which is this Hummvee's key feature, so it's not comparing like with like.

Overall, the Hummvee is a very good jacket, with a flexibility that makes it two garments in one, and it's highly recommended for leisure riding, relaxed commuting or touring at a steady pace in a mix of weather conditions.

Verdict

Switches from waterproof, breathable jacket into windproof gilet; ideal for steady commuting or general riding