At a glance This is a brilliant jacket that increases your visibility and safety while protecting you from the elements and keeping you comfortable
Tested by
Matt Swaine
Performance
Most of my working day is spent testing waterproof jackets for
the walking magazine that I edit and a lot of them get enlisted for
work on my morning bike commute. Some of them roll up small and
stay in my pack in case of summer down pours (like my brilliant
Haglofs Oz) while others are warm and protective in winter (like
the excellent Paramo Velez Adventure), but none of them can match
this cycle-specific jacket for sheer on-road
visibility. Ditching my collection of waterproof jackets for
this high-visibility number has made a huge difference on my
morning ride in. There are a handful of sharp junctions where I am
never that sure that cars have seen me approaching, but with this
coat on I watch their brakes go on earlier and I can see them
commit to waiting for me to pass until they pull out, which is
hugely reassuring. And then at night as I pedal home there are
extra reflective 
areas on the sleeves and a loop at the back to
hang another light, when I'm not carrying a backpack: all of which
makes me feel more confident on the road.
When I first pulled this jacket on I was surprised just how heavy it was. This isn't a waterproof to carry around all summer in case rain hits, but it does fit the bill for autumn, winter and early spring when the weather is colder and the lack of morning and evening light benefits from a little extra luminosity. And despite its weight, this is an extremely comfortable jacket. It's mesh inner helps to wick sweat away and there are extra venting areas at the back and under the arm. It's breathable and waterproof and comes fully seam-sealed so even relatively heavy showers aren't an issue. And if the rain and wind is too much, you can zip right up and hide your nose behind the soft fleecy collar. There's a useful chest pocket and rear stowage pocket, both of which are relatively easy to operate without taking your gloves off, making this an excellent choice for any bike commuter.
Buy from www.chainreactioncycles.com
Endura says:
- Mid-weight 2-layer waterproof breathable ripstop fabric; fully seam-sealed
- Fast wicking mesh liner, rear shoulder vents and underarm zip vents
- Excellent road visibility with reflective on sleeves, front and rear
- Waterproof snap-down puller zip chest pocket
- Rear stowage pocket
- Neck/hem drawcords and cuff adjusters
- Waterproofness: 10,000mm
- Breathability: 10,000gms
Available In Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
Find out more www.endura.co.uk
