Howies Herald Waterproof Jacket

The Howies Herald is a fantastic waterproof jacket that's ideal for commuters. A little more reflectivity for night riding would make it nigh-on faultless.

• Pros: Fab styling and practicality, excellent wet weather capabilities, great breathability
• Cons: Could do with more reflectivity, fit just a little tight in the shoulders

Howies makes some really great, practical cycling kit that has the added advantage of not being overtly cycling-styled. I recently tested the rather fun Drizzler blazer and was impressed by its surprisingly impressive performance on the bike.

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The Herald is a more obviously jacket for active wear, even if it's not clearly cycling-specific. It's made from a two-layer, matt waterproof and breathable nylon shell, with a mesh polyester lining. Seams are double taped for added water protection while the lightweight fleece collar is there for a spot of comfort.

Perhaps more exciting than the Herald's fabric is its practical design. There are two typical zipped hand pockets, a subtle zipped chest pocket, a zipped internal pocket and – my personal fave – a zipped forearm pocket with fitted bungee cord and clip for secure holding of your front door key. (I'm going back a bit with my references here, but I'm pretty sure Frank Spencer or Mr Bean had something similar.)

The Herald also has a really good hood with plenty of coverage, which can be rolled and stored in the collar with a poppered retaining strap. Velcro'd storm cuffs and full-length front zip storm flap go a step further to keep the elements at bay.

But one of its best features is the drop-down rear flap, with an added section of material at the lower back. This can be poppered up when you want to look casual but easily unpopped when you need some fundamental coverage on the bike.

How does all that translate to performance in action? The answer is: very well. The Herald's material doesn't feel like typical waterproof fabric – it's a little softer and less plasticky – but sure enough, rain beads and collects on the surface with absolutely nothing getting through. From constant drizzle to downpour, it does a fantastic job of keeping you dry.

Possibly even more impressive is windproofing. I was taken aback by how good the very lightweight Drizzler was at keeping out the breeze, but with Velcro cuffs and a generally thicker build, the Herald is even better. Despite all this weatherproofing, breathability is also ace. Combined with a good underlayer and technical T-shirt, I've experienced no moisture build-up at all.

> Buyer's Guide: 29 of the best waterproof cycling jackets

In comparison to those excellent technical abilities, fit is 'only' pretty good. I went for a size XXL as I have a 46in chest and it fits nicely off the bike. With some thicker layers underneath, though, it can become a tad snug, especially across the back and under the armpits, most noticeably with arms outstretched to the handlebar. This slight constriction never really annoyed me too much, but it's there and you'd be best trying on before buying, especially if you're a bit on the broad side.

Also, while you will be happy to be seen in the Herald thanks to its quite stylish design, another slight imperfection means that being seen in it might not always be that easy. If you're going to use this as a smart and subtle commuting jacket, you're probably going to be wearing it in the hours of darkness at some point. To that end, the Herald falls down because the only reflective elements are the small Howies logo on the front, a two-inch stripe low down on the back, and the retaining strap that holds the rolled hood (which won't be seen if the hood is unrolled and sitting back naturally).

That seems a shame because I think Howies has missed its own trick here. That clever pop-down rear flap that so helpfully helps add a little extra coverage over your backside would be the perfect place to load up with reflectivity. And because it folds up, the jacket still wouldn't have to scream 'cyclist' if you didn't want it to.

Value and conclusion

In terms of effective cycle commuting jackets that also offer great off-the-bike performance and style, the Resolute Bay is probably the nearest rival to the Herald. That comes with far better reflectivity than the Howies, but it also costs £200. The Rapha Hooded Rain Jacket II is another good option, but again it's a fair bit more than the Herald at £230. Rapha also does the more affordable Commuter Jacket at £100, but its abilities and performance are no match for the Herald. In this context, then, Howies has a pretty good value proposition on its hand.

> Buyer's guide: The best casual cycling kit for commuting

Despite its couple of small imperfections – the lack of reflectivity is a far bigger issue than the slightly tight back and shoulders – this is an absolutely fabulous commuting jacket, at a fair price. It also has more than enough features and considerations to be just as useful and suitable when not cycling. In fact, you'll never need to swap between cycling and non-cycling jackets again. To paraphrase the old shampoo advert: 'Buy two jackets for on and off the bike? Not me, I just wear a Howies Herald and go.'

Verdict

Superbly practical commuting jacket with fantastic performance and a soupçon of style