As a brand that hails from Scotland, it comes as no surprise that Endura has cemented itself as a key player in the foul-weather clothing market and its new MT500 Polartech Jacket only builds upon that reputation. It’s very well designed as it works brilliantly to fend off the cold all while remaining impressively breathable. It’s comfortable, fits well and it’s become a go-to for when the mercury drops beneath 10 degrees. It’s more than earned its place as one of the best mountain bike jackets.
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Endura MT500 Polartech Jacket – Technical details
By employing Polartech’s insulating fleece, Endura has nearly all of the winter riding bases covered. Importantly, the brand has put a lot of thought into the top’s panelling, providing a wind-stopping fabric towards the front while leaving the rear panels open for breathability. Additionally, specific areas of the jacket benefit from spray protection, although there’s no mention of DWR coatings, which is great for the environmentally conscious.
It is a product that’s designed specifically for mountain biking, so it’s cut as such. There’s a dropped rear hem and there are lengthy sleeves that are complete with extended upper cuffs to eliminate any glove/jacket gap.
On top of that, there’s a snug-fitting under-the-helmet hood to provide insulation for those properly chilly rides and the jacket is equipped with all of the pockets you could ask for. There are two hand pockets and a chest pocket, so there’s plenty of storage on offer.
Coming in six sizes, it’s also available in three colours, Black, Barra Blue and the Yellow Mustard that we’ve got on test.
Endura MT500 Polartech Jacket – Performance
Off the bike, the MT500 Polartech Jacket’s fit can feel a little baggy but as soon as I’ve been hunched over the bar, it makes perfect sense. Generally, it fits well but on the bike, there’s plenty of length in the sleeves to provide protection against wind chill to the wrists, thanks to those extended upper cuffs.
I’ve found myself reaching for this jacket whenever the temperature has dropped under 10 degrees and even moreso as it gets colder. And with proper thought behind layering, it’s more than sorted me out in the insulation department. When it’s colder, I’ll pair it with a base layer and merino jersey, and i’ve been perfectly happy. When it’s a little warmer but I still want that cold-weather protection, going for a thinner jersey underneath fits the bill.
The real star of the show is Endura’s use of Polartech and its arrangement of stretch woven panels. The polartech fleece is found everywhere around the jacket but at the front, there’s the wind and spray-resistant soft shell fabric. The combination of the two create a thermoregulation powerhouse where it stays warm and comfortable, while exhausting excess heat when necessary.
As such, it rarely overheats when climbing, but when the air starts to flow on the descents, it just doesn’t get cold. That’s where Endura’s clever panelling arrangement makes so much sense. The front provides protection against the usual wind chill you’ll experience when going forward, but the lack of that soft shell material towards the back keeps the breathability coming.
Now, there is no kind of water repellency built-in but Endura does claim a level of spray protection and as long as it is just minor spray, it works. However, it’s by no means waterproof, and nor is it meant to be.
Endura MT500 Polartech Jacket – Verdict
Now, £150 is a wedge of cash to be spending but if you’re after a versatile mid/outer layer for cold weather, the MT500 Polartech Jacket is rather difficult to beat. Another favourite of mine is POC’s Mantle Hoodie. It’s £160 and you don’t get as much in the way of pockets, but it does blend a level of insulation and breathability. Granted, not so much with the latter but it’s by no means bad. There is a water-resistant coating however, so it’ll better fend off low-level rain.
With its ability to thermoregulate and breathe, the Endura jacket treads well into 7Mesh WTV territory in which is wins out in terms of value. The Mens’ Chilco Anorak will set you back £170. It works in a similar way but the Chilco Anorak is wrapped with 7Mesh’s WTV insulation. It does work very well, but it asks an additional £20 compared to Endura’s offering.
There’s also Fox Racing’s Defend Fire Alpha jacket at £260 which is warm and great for winter riding but it’s far pricier. Another Fox Racing offering is the Defend Thermal MTB hoodie at £140, which will be worth considering.
With the MT500 Polartech Jacket, Endura further establishes itself as a go-to winter clothing brand. It’s well designed and achieves its goals effortlessly, providing top-level thermoregulation in a package that’s ideal for all kinds of winter MTB. If I were really to moan, it would be great to see a water-repellant, but the MT500 Polartech Jacket does its job with hardly a niggle.
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