The Troy Lee Designs Descent jacket is handcrafted to keep you dry in the harshest conditions. With its stealthy, low-profile design, it does an effective job of keeping even the harshest of weather at bay but a lack of ventilation limits its versatility and it’s not without fit issues either. Do these issues impact its standing among the best mountain bike jackets? Read on to find out.
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Troy Lee Designs Descent jacket – Technical details
Designed to keep the rider comfortable in the wettest and muckiest of conditions, the Descent is equipped with a three-layer membrane with a 10k/10k waterproofness and breathability rating. That very same fabric is built with a bit of stretch with a softer inner layer for comfort against the skin.
In terms of features, this jacket ticks a lot of boxes while remaining simple. There’s a dropped rear hem, an adjustable hood that can fit over a helmet and there are two zipped pockets at the front. The jacket is also sorted with three drawcords to keep it in place while pulling shapes.
As for the jacket’s aesthetic, it’s as simple as its build. It comes with a black colourway with small gloss logos on the chest and at the back – it’s one smart-looking jacket.
Troy Lee Designs Descent jacket – Performance
In many ways, less is more and, for the most part, that’s the very case with the Descent. It’s uncomplicated and it does its job incredibly effectively but it’s not without a couple of niggles one of which is its fit.
I opted for my usual medium but the size wasn’t quite there for me. The sleeves are the perfect length, running right up to the wrist with some baggy fabric left for proper rearward shifts on the bike but the torso isn’t long enough. It’s slight but it’s too short which knocks the effectiveness of the dropped rear hem and allows for some spray to work its way into the jacket from the front. It’s also a little on the tight side so it can rise when moving around on the bike.
But those are the only sizing issues, with the chest area being roomy, as are the shoulders. The hood is pretty vast, too, and easily worn over a helmet which seriously comes in handy during heavier downpours. Although there’s no adjustment in the circumference of the hood, it’s stable when the zip’s up, so it stays in place even with a bit of wind finding its way in. Some may be offended by the fact there’s nowhere to store the hood or cinch it down, so it can become a bit of a parachute when at speed but I found no issue.
Where the Descent really excels is in harsh weather as even though its 10k/10k rating isn’t the highest out there, it does an exceptional job of keeping rain and spray out of the jacket, especially with the hood up, where the collar extends to provide coverage around the neck. It’s only where the jacket’s shorter length affects all-out waterproofing. A little more length would offer much better protection against the elements.
I can commend this jacket for its simple design but it does harm its versatility because there’s no venting present. I’ll admit, for those who are seriously conscious about water ingress, this is a good move but for anyone who spends any time earning their turns (even on an e-MTB), things get pretty sweaty under this jacket. Despite its 10k breathability rating, it doesn’t actually breathe that effectively, unless you’re seriously hauling down a fire road descent. However, if your rides mainly revolve around an uplift, this isn’t much of an issue.
Troy Lee Designs Descent jacket – Verdict
In terms of value, the TLD Descent isn’t bad, but it is beaten by a number of jackets that offer more for less money. One of which is Leatt’s HydraDri 4.0 jacket (we tested the old DBX 5.0 here with similar features). This jacket gets loads of zipped vents at the front and rear and a 20k/20k membrane, so you’re getting more waterproofing and better breathability. Leatt’s jacket will set you back £170 and it’s a very worthy option.
The Descent does beat Race Face’s Conspiracy jacket, however. It also costs £200 but the Descent is built better and is just as, if not more effective at keeping moisture at bay. The Conspiracy does get venting gills under the arm, but it suffers the same fit issues as found on the Descent.
With its lack of ventilation in mind, the Troy Lee Designs Descent jacket makes for an excellent option if you’re looking for serious weather protection during uplift-assisted days. Although it’s not without its fit issues, it’s comfortable and looks great but there are more versatile jackets on the market for less money.
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Optimal 2 Zippered Hand Pockets
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