At a glance Excellent value for money top that offers enough protection for cold mornings and sufficient breathability to last as the sun comes up
Tested by
Matt Swaine, tester for The Bike List
Performance
There are two bicycle related things that make me shudder. The first is that initial half hour on cold morning commutes when fingers turn to ice and my kidneys start to freeze. The second is the feeling of dread when confronted by sky-high prices for kit that I'd love to add to my biking wardrobe, but just can't afford.
The Altura Airstream potentially answers both those worries. It's a high wicking thermal jersey that cuts in at just under £40, putting it well within my budget range. It's well thought through with three rear pockets, all easily accessible and suitably voluminous and reflective trim for extra visibility at night.
Previous incarnations of the Airstream featured a shorter zip but this redesigned model has a full-length fastening that's easy to undo on the move, even with full finger gloves on. And the multi-panel design features more breathable materials around the body and more durable fabrics on areas like the shoulders, which is great news for cyclists like me who tend to use rucksacks.
The cuffs are comfortably elasticated, ensuring no unpleasant cold drafts, but they offer enough give to allow you to hoist them up if you need to cool down. The waist is both elasticated and lined with an extra sticky strip to make sure it doesn't ride up your back as you pedal. And on top of all that the material used stretches perfectly where you need it to so that it never feels restrictive, which all makes for a brilliantly comfortable, and highly functional top.
And there's great scope with this jacket - it has seen me through winter, into frosty spring mornings and well into summer. It's comfortable, hard wearing and thoroughly practical, although I'd appreciate even more reflective areas for late night riding.
There are more fashionable jackets out there, better windproof tops and coats that can zip down to gillet size, making them far more multi-functional. But it's hard to beat Altura's offering in terms of sheer value for money.
One area of importance though: I kitted myself out with a large, because so much cycling kit tends to come up small on me, but found this surprisingly baggy. So if you're in the market for this kind of jacket you'd be well advised to get it from your local bike shop where you can try it on, rather than purchasing from the internet.
If you're looking for a jacket that will operate right through the year and promises excellent value for money, you really won't go wrong here. It won't meet the demands of more exacting road racers and it's not as fashionably sleek as some might require, but for the majority of cyclists you really won't go wrong with this.
Buy from: www.wiggle.co.uk
Manufacturer's summary:
Thermal mid layer jersey providing comfortable insulation, the Airstream now features a full length zip and a new improved panel design.
- Multi panel cut
- Soft touch, high wicking thermal fabric
- Full length front zip
- 3 rear pockets
- Reflective trim
- Sizes Available: L, M, S, X, XX
- Colours Available: Blue / Black, Yellow
Find out more: www.zyro.co.uk
