The Altura All Roads Women’s Cycling Fleece is a versatile jacket option for both road and off-road riding with a relaxed fit. Boasting a high-loft fleece upper, it delivers impressive warmth and comfort and is easy to layer. For those wanting a cycling jacket that doubles up as casual wear, this one is worth a look.
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Altura All Roads Women’s Cycling Fleece jacket – Technical details
This fleece jacket is intended to be a mid-layer and has a softshell main body, equipped with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating, and the fleece upper. The fleece part is naturally hydroponic which means the jacket should deal well with a little drizzle, too. The fleece extends from the shoulders to the elbows, while the rest of the jacket is made with softshell material.
There are two zipped pockets; one on the chest and one large one at the lower back. Both come with zippers with reflective pulls and neat zip garages. There’s also reflective detailing on the chest and lower back, adding visibility for low-light situations.
There are six sizes ranging from eight to 18 to choose from, and there are three colour options available: Navy Mix (tested), Pink, and Grey. I was testing a size 12, which, for me, was a little loose but not as loose as I’d expected (this corresponds to a size M in other brands). Based on my test size, I’d definitely say the jacket comes a little small, but at the same time getting your size right depends on what fit you prefer from this top – if you aim to also use it casually I think sizing up (like I have done) works well.
Altura All Roads Women’s Cycling Fleece jacket – Performance
This fleece has a casual look to it and as much as I like my skin-tight lycra apparel, I appreciate well-made, more casual cycling clothing for those easier social rides. Altura has done well with this jacket, creating a versatile, warm and great-looking garment – although the sizing might need a little trial before you get it right.
With the fleece upper and softshell body, this jacket has been part of my autumn and early winter wardrobe and it’s been very appropriate for the close to and below-zero temperatures and damp rides. Riding off-road is often considered a little more relaxed than road riding, and this jacket – or jersey, whichever you call it – with its relaxed fit is ideal for plentiful layering on colder days, especially when paired with fleece-lined trousers. It could be made more waterproof with an outer layer and warmer with a thick base layer.
As I mentioned earlier, the jacket is a little larger than I usually wear. I would say that the sizing runs a little small, as the size 12 top didn’t feel excessively large on me – rather I enjoyed the fact I could easily wear even two layers underneath it. With plenty of layers, this top does not do super well in terms of breathability, though, and the only way to ventilate is to open the front zip.
The way Altura has combined fleece and softshell is quite clever, and with both materials being somewhat water-repellent, the jacket suits winter weather. The materials are soft and stretchy, but I found that the softshell doesn’t necessarily wash off from odours (around the armpits, mostly) very well. This is something I think most DWR-coated garments do — and they’re not meant to be washed super often to preserve the coating.
In my couple of months of testing and quite a few wash cycles later, I still found the DWR to be effective. Interestingly, Altura says this jacket could be tumble-dried in cool temperatures, as well. I did not test that, as I avoid tumble-drying any of my cycling kit even in cool temperatures. But the option is there if you perhaps need a little quicker drying time.
I found the sleeves to be quite long length, which on a winter jacket is good as they didn’t leave a gap on the wrists when worn with gloves but are not too long to bundle around the arms. Adding to the warmth is also the higher collar, with a good zip garage that means the zip is not rubbing on the neck. The collar is a little tight, I’d say, but it’s better that way so that the cold air doesn’t get in as easily.
Despite the casual look and Altura saying that this fleece could double up as an outer layer for hikes or walks, I would say this jersey/jacket still has a cycling emphasis to it. That is perhaps most evident on the dropped rear hem, which is great at protecting the backside from road spray, but also not necessarily as pleasant a look off the bike.
The two pockets – one on the chest and one on the back, are enough to carry a few things with you, and I’ve managed to fit my ride essentials (mini pump, tube, multitool and tyre levers) in the back pocket, while the chest pocket has stored my phone. The chest pocket opening is a little small, and I assume that larger smartphones might be a little cumbersome to fit in (my phone is an iPhone mini), but of course in that case you could use the back pocket. The rear pocket also has a smaller, internal mesh pocket that is great for keys or smaller items that might get a bit lost in the depths of the deeper pocket space.
Altura All Roads Women’s Cycling Fleece jacket – Verdict
The Altura All Roads Women’s Cycling Fleece is a top that is kind of a jersey and softshell jacket in one. Whichever way you categorise it, the performance it offers for £90 price is great. In the winter,
From the jackets that we’ve tested, I think the 7Mesh Men’s Chilco Anorak (which comes in women’s fit, too) is somewhat similar in that it’s relaxed but also offers some water and wind repellency – but it costs £170. Similarly, the Endura MT500 Freezing Point Jacket retails for £160 but does offer more technical insulation and better thought-out ventilation under the arms.
It’s hard to fault the Altura All Roads Women’s Cycling Fleece’s performance for the price it comes in at. This is a great warm garment for autumn and winter riding and will serve you also off the bike. It offers enough waterproofness for chilly but a little damp days, and once you get your size right, you can layer up easily.
You might also like:
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- Specialized Women’s Trail Wind Jacket review
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