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review

BBB Rainshield Women's Jacket

7
£69.95

VERDICT:

7
10
Great little pack-away jacket for the price tag; like Marmite, people will either love it or hate it
Weight: 
157g

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The BBB Rainshield women's jacket is a little like Marmite when it comes to looks, but its performance pretty much fits the bill. Designed to stow away easily, it's a handy lightweight bit of kit.

BBB have made the jacket from GhostSkin which is either aesthetically pleasing or not, depending on personal taste. The material is very thin to touch making it extremely light. It's breathable, which is a must for any rain jacket.

I put it to the test on some local hilly routes. The armpits and back have very breathable panels that do allow sweat vapour out. I did build up a sweat but found I dried out quickly because it wasn't trapped in.

The jacket is designed to have an anatomic fit and I did find it very close, but left enough room for an extra layer should you need it. I feel it was good in the temperatures I was riding in (twelve degrees) but as it's so thin, it might not be your first choice over winter. It's much more suited to autumn/spring.

The drop tail is a decent length and stays put. With a smooth, fleece-lined collar, it's very warm and stops unwanted drafts. The zip is a YKK, so very sleek and smooth with a zipper flap to stop any irritation. It has a rear pouch that can be used for your phone etc when wearing, but also doubles as a pack away store for the jacket itself. It also has a decent amount of reflective detail which helps visibility on those darker days.

The downsides to the jacket are the noise and feel. The fabric makes it rustle with every movement, which is more an annoyance than a performance issue. The GhostSkin feels a bit like plastic which isn't necessarily what you want.

Verdict

Great little pack-away jacket for the price tag; like Marmite, people will either love it or hate it

road.cc test report

Make and model: BBB Rainshield Womens Jacket

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The jacket is designed as a lightweight rain jacket and aimed at road cyclists. The manufacturers say it's "Lightweight wind- and waterproof". I have to agree that it lives up to it's claims and it's a good emergency rain layer.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Lightweight wind- and waterproof womens jacket made of GhostSkin material.

Soft and warm fleece collar lining.

Fine mesh fabric underneath the arms for optimum breath ability.

Full-length lockable YKK-zipper with inner front zipper flap to reduce drafts and neck irritation.

Silicone gripper in the hem.

Back pocket/pouch system with YKK-zipper: can be folded into a small package.

Anatomic panel designed for women for a comfortable fit.

Reflective accents on the front and the back for extra visibility.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

The jacket is well made but noisy fabric.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

It is breathable.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

A very lightweight jacket.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The jacket kept me warm and dry when it was supposed to.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

I liked the breathability of the jacket. It has some well placed vents.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I disliked the noise factor and feel of the fabric.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

The jacket really is down to personal taste. It works very well for its purpose, but design and feel make it very individual.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 34  Height: 158cms  Weight: 61kg

I usually ride: Giant defy  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb,

 

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