Vulpine Softshell Harrington Jacket

Vulpine's Softshell Harrington Jacket is a supremely classy addition to any commuter's wardrobe. It's well made and beautifully fitted. Only a slight predisposition towards warmth rather than breathability stops it from being perfect for hard riding on dry days.

• Pros: Looks and feels fantastic, really well made, great fit on the bike
• Cons: Gets soggy on outside in wet conditions, gets soggy on inside in warm conditions, could do with more reflectivity

Ah, the old Harrington jacket. As worn by mods, James Dean, Steve MacQueen, and my grandad in the 1980s. In fact, because of that association with a fashion-challenged forebear I've always tried to steer clear of these waist-rubbing outer layers. But the Softshell Harrington from Vulpine is something a little different.

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First of all, it's built for cycling. So instead of the traditional Harrington's elasticated waistband, this little beauty comes with a subtly dropped tail. Meanwhile, the original Harrington's rear yoke has been replaced with a stylistically-similar but far more athletically-practical subtle upper vent for breathability.

In fact, 'subtle' is the watchword for this jacket – everything is done so well. There are a couple of zipped hand pockets – one with an integrated carabiner for keys – plus a zipped chest pocket, all of which are also almost hidden away in the design of the jacket.

The soft-touch collar is closed with a couple of secreted magnets; there's a small rear pocket also with magnet closure; and the front storm guard hides the waterproof zip.

In terms of cut, the outer sections of the arms are extended to cover the back of the hands. And, in a nod to the original Baracuta G4 Harrington, there are even a couple of buttoned back adjusters with reflective lining. Strangely enough, the one part of the Vulpine Harrington you can't see is the most flamboyant: there's fun lime green piping inside.

Performance

Off the bike, the Harrington looks and feels superb. On the bike, this opinion only intensifies. The length in the back and the arms is perfect, offering just a little welcome extra protection to the lower back and hands. Meanwhile, the stretchy fabric is fantastically cosseting, allowing perfect movement in the saddle, yet also acting and feeling like a definite protective layer.

That's another thing about this jacket – it offers a really functional layer of warmth and very effective windproofing. I've been wearing it on days where ambient temperatures have been only a degree or two above freezing and – combined with a long-sleeve underlayer and jersey – heat retention has been faultless.

The one major downside is that it's not entirely weatherproof. Vulpine does have its famous Harrington Rain jacket, which is very similar but not quite identical and offers rain protection (Oli tested it back in 2015). With this softshell version, though, almost as soon as the heaven's open, you're going to get damp.

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

There's also a slight issue with breathability. While the Harrington has been great on cold days, when I've been riding harder and longer I have noticed the inside of the back gets a little moist. If we assume this is a commuter garment first and foremost, though, the effect of that should be mitigated slightly by shorter, less intense rides.

More problematic for all riders, the reflective piping on the back adjusters and inside the rear pocket are the sum total of visibility aids on board.

Value and conclusion

We've been lucky to get our hands on some excellent commuting jackets recently, so the Vulpine has stiff competition. There's the Howies Drizzler blazer, which curiously offers some of the same benefits as the Vulpine, albeit in a very different style and price range at £69. Then there's the Howies Herald, which mixes a little bit of style with really fulsome practical excellence for £139.

Compared to those two rivals and perhaps on paper, the Vulpine looks a little pricey. In use, though, it's in a different league to most rivals with an overall fit, style and attention to detail that is supremely impressive. In fact, I like the Harrington so much, I use it every day whether on the bike or not.

It might not be the last word in all-weather technical performance, but in terms of smart bike-friendly style, I'm not sure you could find anything better.

Verdict

With excellent fit, comfort and build quality, this is one of the most stylish commuting jackets on the market