At a glance Windproof and weather-resistant lightweight cycling jacket with a tiny pack size
Tested by
Jon Adams, tester for The Bike List
Performance
Whether you're riding on-road or off, there are many times when you want to keep your kit down to an absolute minimum, but know you're likely to need an extra layer. Ideally, you just want to carry the essentials - tools, tube, phone and a couple of quid - but you know the wind's going to get up, you know the temperature's going to drop, and you know the forecast has a shower heading your way. You don't want the weight and bulk of a full waterproof, but a windproof that packed small enough would fit the bill perfectly...
Enter the Featherlite Vélo Jacket from Montane. It's very
light - my Medium size tipped the scales at 133g, but the makers
claim a little less at 125g - and it comes with a tiny stuff sac
that adds another 15g to the bundle. This stuff sack is made of
breathable mesh and features a good length velcro strap, so you can
attach it to your frame or saddle rails if you don't want it taking
up space in a j
ersey pocket. It's about
the size of a coffee mug when packed down and you can squash it
into a flatter 'burger' shape if needed.
The Featherlite Vélo is mainly constructed from Pertex Microlight which is windproof, water resistant and very light, but it also features PEAQ fabric for the Enhanced Breathing Panels situated round the back. These allow air to flow and heat to escape when you're gunning it. There are 3M Scotchlight flashes and piping on the front, back and sides, so any of the 5 colour schemes on offer is fine for night riding (though the Fluoro Yellow obviously wins in the hi-vis stakes).
The fit is snug but not overly tight, and as a result the
sleeves do flap a bit when you get your speed up to 35-40 kph. The
upside of this is you can roll them up to the elbows, which is
handy if you're getting warm on a climb, but don't want to mess
about removing a layer. Though very windproof, the jacket isn't
waterproof as the seams aren't taped, but it handles light and even
medium rain exceptionally well. The treated Pertex makes water bead
up and run off, and after being caught in a few downpours and
steady light rain, I wasn't significantly wetter than I would have
been with a cheap
er waterproof layer. Over
time and with washing, the water repellent coating will wear off,
but reproofing is possible using wash-in or spray-on products. So
far I've kept mine away from soaps and detergents, though, as that
will help prolong the proofing.
The full-length zip locks at any point along its travel when you want to vent the jacket, but you need to flatten the zip puller to do this or the jacket will balloon out in the wind and undo itself. The sleeves have elasticated cuffs and are long so they don't ride up if you're in an aero position on a road bike, and the back is long too, with an elasticated bottom edge that you can sit on to keep your back warm and your chamois dry. There's no hood, as the expectation is you'll be wearing a helmet, but the collar zips up high to keep your neck protected from the elements. Inside at the back is a generous loop, so it's easy to hang it up to dry out.
For my first few rainy day rides, I took a waterproof with me as well as the Featherlite Vélo, because I didn't really believe it would give adequate protection considering the paper-thin build and tiny pack size. It's hard not to regard the jacket as 'emergency only' kit at first, because it looks that way. In reality, though, this is a remarkably robust piece of kit. I haven't suffered any crashes, but I've scraped past untrimmed hedgerows, and snagged it on brake levers and bar ends without any sign of wear, let alone tear. I'm now confident enough in its abilities to take it as a sole, foul weather option on my hour-long commute, and it's so light and small when packed that there are no negatives to ponder when deciding whether or not to take it with you.
There are similar lightweight jackets to the Featherlite Vélo, some a little cheaper and some much more expensive. But in it's low-to-mid price position, it offers a decent performance, a superbly small pack size and great value. Street price seems to go at a penny under £40, and for that money, given its year-round use and take-everywhere size and weight, it's a very sound buy.
Buy one at www.chainreactioncycles.com
Montane says:
Ultra-lightweight, weather resistant cycling jacket.
The Featherlite Vélo has been engineered to be the world's lightest and most packable cycle specific shell jacket. Designed for the cyclist who rides fast and light and demands high breathability in a pack size smaller and lighter than the average inner tube, the Featherlite Vélo is an essential part of the cyclist's kit that will never be left at home. Incorporating the vital features of 360° reflective detailing, 'Afterburner' E.B.P. venting, and a sport specific fit this is the ultimate ultra-light cycling jacket.
- Full length 3M Scotchlite trimmed zip with anti-snag baffle
- MONTANE 'Afterburner' vented Enhanced Breathing Panels (EBP)
- Self fabric elasticated cuffs and hem
- Sport specific active cut with pre-bent, extra length arms and extended drop tail
- 360° 3M Scotchlite reflective rear view strips
- Close fit, high-line collar
- Attachable stuff sac
- Weight: 125g (size M)
Colours: Electric blue/graphite, Black/graphite, Silver/graphite, Red/graphite, Fluoro yellow/graphite
Find out more www.montane.co.uk
