Brompton Oratory Jacket £250

At a glance A stylish jacket good for the office or meeting friends but still packs a raft of bike-friendly technical features.

Tested by
Tarquin Cooper, tester for the The Bike List

Value

Performance

Trying to find a jacket to wear on the bike that is also good for a meeting or an evening out is a nightmare. Normally the only option is a cycling specific Gore-Tex shell or wind-breaker but wearing one of those is not a good look if you’re off to a trendy bar. The alternative is something that may have street cred but zero protection against the elements.

Over the years, my own solution has been to lock my bike, then dive into some nearby toilets like Clark Kent into a phonebox, ditch the offending item and emerge, freshly coiffured. The trouble with that approach means carrying a bag and, in the absence of somewhere to change, stripping off in the street. I did this once in the pouring rain and it was no fun.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a jacket that’s a jack of all trades, as comfortable in the bar as it is the office? But crucially, can provide protection from the elements on the bike — and not get trashed? Step forward the clever design team at Brompton.

“The Oratory Jacket has been designed to meet the disparate needs of people who want to use a bike in daily life without having to change out of garish cycle attire or waterproofs,” says Brompton’s Head of Design, Will Carleysmith. “It’s about giving cyclists greater choice but also about normalising cycling.”

Over the years, some of the well known outdoor brands have experimented with urban ranges of clothing with often limited success. The performance is there but style all too often gets forgotten about, leaving you with a product that you wouldn’t be seen dead in.

It was unlikely Brompton would fall into that trap as style is such a key component of the brand. That part they got right. The result is a relaxed light brown cord traditional two-button style jacket that could hold its place alongside Jonny Wilkinson in a Hackett ad. On the smartness test, I wore it into a Naval mess (where jacket and tie are compulsory) and no one pulled me up. And I felt comfortable wearing it into a business meeting with media types.

But the real question, is how it performs on the bike. And it scores very nicely. The first bane of the cyclist’s commute is overheating and arriving at your destination drenched in sweat. Here, the jacket has pit zips under the arms. They’re a neat innovation that allows some modest ventilation. But in truth, the best ventilation comes from leaving the jacket undone or with only one button done up. In terms of breathability, it is, of course heavier than a traditional shell. But something I’ve found is that for all the breathability claims of even the best waterproofs, they can become horribly clammy on the inside. By contrast, the natural fabrics of cotton and bamboo that make up the Oratory feels more breathable and nicer on the skin. Cotton is nature’s most breathable fabric while the bamboo, which makes the liner — is known for its wicking ability and anti-bacterial qualities.

And what if the rain comes down? It holds up well. The jacket is extremely ‘hydrophobic’. That’s to say the rain beads off like water off a duck’s back. However, it would be interesting to see how well the water-repelling qualities stand up after a winter of downpours and a few rounds in the washing machine. Although there’s no zip, buttons all the way to the collar provide comprehensive protection. And it stood up well against the wind.

There are nice little touches to the jacket — the buttons have little Brompton bike motifs, the breast pocket is lined with the Union Jack — a reminder of the company’s very British heritage. The cuff has a pocket specially for an Oyster card. The collar and cuffs can be turned up to reveal reflective strips. There are a good range of pockets. But the best feature of all is its own high visibility rear panel. It unzips like a rucksack cover to protect the back of the jacket from those unavoidable splash marks. But if it does get dirty, at least you can throw it in the washing machine on a normal cycle.

All in, it’s an extremely versatile and practical jacket that is yet to leave my side. My only quibble is the price. At £250, it requires deep pockets but compared to the £875 required for the Brooks Criterion jacket, it’s a bargain.

Brompton says:

The design team behind the iconic, award-winning Brompton bicycle has unveiled the Brompton Oratory Jacket – an innovation in cycling apparel that can be worn throughout the day straight from bike, to boardroom, to bar.

Combining bespoke tailoring and intricate detailing with high-tech durable materials, Brompton’s innovative men’s jacket has the functionality of performance clothing but presented with classic British sartorial elegance.The Oratory Jacket has been designed with a host of concealed features and is cleverly cut to ensure it is robust enough for both city commuting and all-day use. It is made from Epic cotton, which provides total protection from the elements whilst also offering sufficient poise for more formal occasions.

Reflective panels under the lapel, a pull-out lightweight Hi-Viz rear panel and fold-down cuffs provide outstanding visibility for cyclists as the autumn nights draw in, while a pop-up storm collar (with felt trim, neck fastening and underside reflective material) and adjustable cuffs provide protection in bad weather.

Pit zips provide additional ventilation and an innovative but discreet ‘action back’, taken from traditional shooting jackets, gives freedom of movement and flexibility while riding. Alongside a quintessentially British style, Brompton has incorporated modern technology with an inbuilt Oyster®card sleeve pocket, internal zip-up valuables pockets, headphone port and cable loops. The Oratory Jacket is lined with a wicking bamboo fabric, printed with a specially-commissioned drawing of the Brompton Oratory by acclaimed Sheffield graffiti artist, Kid Acne.

Features