Northwave Acqua Pro Rainshield Jacket

On those cooler days when the weather just can't make up its mind to rain or shine, you need a lightweight, packable waterproof jacket, and the Northwave Acqua Pro Rainshield is one of the best on offer. It comes at a price, though.

The Acqua Pro is part of Northwave's Rainshield Hi Plus range, which uses a membrane bonded to the fabric to keep the wind and rain out, well, to a degree anyway. Waterproofing is rated by how much water the fabric can deal with before it gets overwhelmed, and the Northwave can withstand up to 5,000mm in a hydrostatic head test. In the real world that means drizzle and light to average rainfall, the sort of conditions that the Acqua copes admirably in, helped by the fully taped seams. That membrane also keeps a chilly wind out.

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Making something waterproof often has a negative effect on breathability, and this type of 100% polyester race cape often suffers quite badly. The Northwave can still get clammy, but it is definitely one of the better ones.

Around the 10°C mark, with a mesh baselayer and short-sleeved jersey on, I noticed the jacket starting to stick to my bare arms due to perspiration. That was at a reasonably brisk training pace, and while my jersey was also starting to get the same clammy feeling, it wasn't something I noticed while riding, only when I stopped.

Bearing in mind Northwave pitches this jacket for winter riding, I'd say it's acceptable because at, say, 3-5°C everything is fine, plus you can always undo the zip to let air flow in the front and out of the rear shoulder mesh vent. You soon learn how to regulate your body temperature.

The jacket's easy to get on and off while in the saddle, and folds down small enough to fit in a rear pocket so you don't have to keep it on for the entire ride.

It has a very race-orientated fit with a slender body that prevents any flapping in the wind and a very long dropped tail that's great for keeping road spray off your rear. A reasonably high neck stops draughts, and the arms are long enough when in a racing tuck to stop gaps between the elasticated cuffs and your gloves. (They have thumb loops too, if you want to hold them in place.)

You get a large pocket around the back and it's zipped for security. I wasn't really a fan of carrying too much in it, though, because the extra weight can make the jacket sag a bit and cause stuff to bounce around.

Colour-wise you have a couple of options: clear for that pro look, allowing your kit to show through, or the one we have here, part of Northwave's Be Visible range of fluoro gear. The material used means it isn't the brightest jacket out there, though.

> Check out our guide to the best rain jackets

Overall, the Northwave Acqua Pro is a great ambassador for the race cape genre, but you have to pay for that. At £99.99 it's one of the most expensive I've tested, and it's a little difficult to justify at full price, especially with the breathability being a slight issue.

Verdict

One of the best of the bunch for showery days, but shop around for a discount