At a glance A stylish, light waterproof layer that offers protection from the elements when you need it most.
Tested by
Oliver Laverack, tester for The Bike List
Performance
The sun is shining on your back as you blast over trails in a remote part of Wales. Your mind free from all your worries, you just enjoy the simple pleasures of nailing a piece of technical singletrack you’ve never ridden before. Half way through the weather takes a turn for the worse as it starts to drizzle and then from drizzle it turns to rain (this is Wales we’re talking about).
I think this is the scene the designer of The North Face’s Muddy Tracks jacket conjured up when they sat at the drawing board. And when faced with such circumstances the Muddy Tracks jacket is the ideal kit to have with you. It’s nice and light weighing at just 290g for a Medium and the 100% Nylon fabric is so thin that it can scrunch up or roll down to easily fit in the rear pocket of a cycling jersey or in a rucksack. This means it makes sense to carry this jacket with you on virtually every ride except for those blue sky days when it couldn’t possibly rain…
Although aimed at mountain bikers, this jacket also doubles as a great commuting or road cycling jacket ideal for wet grey days. This is partly because the vibrant ‘Island Grass’ green is so brightly coloured that it helps alert motorists to your presence and partly because it’s just a very versatile jacket. There are also well placed reflective lines on the back and rear of the sleeves which help get you noticed at night. The signature The North Face logo on the rear right shoulder is also made from the same reflective material which is a nice touch. You’ll probably also get a few compliments from your colleagues and friends in this jacket as I’ve had several comments from people saying they liked the vibrant colour.
Moving on to the hard facts, I’m pleased to report that the Muddy Tracks jacket is indeed fully waterproof. The DWR (durable water repellency to me and you) means any rain or spray water droplets will run off your back as if you were a duck. Having tested this jacket throughout the winter it has stayed on more than off and so it’s been tested in almost every possible type of weather. On really cold but heart pumping rides this jacket has been great at keeping out any rain or spray, however the perspiration I’ve generated has really struggled to pass through the 2.5 layer waterproof fabric. This is The North Face’s own HyVent fabric, which is breathable, but as with any 2.5 layer jacket, it’s more of a lightweight emergency layer for the odd torrential downpour than an all-day jacket. Having said that, there’s no reason you couldn’t wear this jacket all day on a slow paced ride but if you plan on giving it some beans then sweat will struggle to pass through the fabric and you’ll quickly overheat and get soaked from your own sweat. As long as you wear quick-drying, wicking base layers, you should dry off as soon as the rain stops.
The North Face clearly has a great deal of experience in making jackets and all of this knowledge hasn’t been wasted. The attention to detail is quite impressive with subtle features such as the Napoleon chest pocket which is perfect for storing easily accessible energy gels and the like. The brushed collar lining is another nice touch that helps the jacket feel more comfortable. Velcro cuff straps keep cold air or water out, and a cinch cord around the hem creates a snug fit around your waist. The longer back hem offers extra coverage to help keep your bum dry, but I found this to be a fraction on the short side. A small fold-out drop tail would be a great addition to this jacket and would be more useful than the rear pocket which I haven’t used much as I usually wear a backpack on mountain bike rides. Other than the droptail issue I’ve found the fit to be spot on, allowing for plenty of movement while also not having any spare material flapping around.
What’s surprised me the most is how tough the very thin, lightweight HyVent fabric has been. I’ve scraped past branches and through thorn bushes on a few occasions, half expecting to find a tear, but so far so good. Impressively the jacket has also gone into the wash splattered in mud and come out looking like new every time. Like with any technical jacket the trick is to wash using soap flakes or a dedicated waterproof cleaning product from Nikwax or Granger’s to help the fabric retain its water repellency.
On the whole this jacket has been an impressive bit of kit, and thanks to its stylish looks, I’ve wanted to wear it even on occasions when I probably didn’t need it. It performs best as emergency rainwear but is versatile enough to use on any type of ride, be it road or mountain biking. If you’re planning an intense training ride though, then this jacket is best kept as an emergency layer, otherwise you’ll overheat or get wet from your own sweat.
Buy from www.wiggle.co.uk
The North Face says:
The Men’s Muddy Tracks Jacket is built in rugged HyVent™ 2.5L to shield riders from the elements on big bike days out. The longer back hem provides additional protection. Articulated elbows combined with the performance fit means that the jacket works with you and won’t hold you back. The waterproof, breathable HyVent™ fabric manages moisture inside and out. A back storage pocket keeps gels or energy bars close to hand for essential energy top ups. A brushed collar lining and non abrasive molded cuff tabs add additional comfort.
Product Features
- Performance fit
- Waterproof, breathable, seam sealed HyVent fabric to block the rain
- Brushed collar lining
- Napoleon chest pocket
- Articulated elbow
- Longer back hem for extra coverage when biking
- Non abrasive molded cuff tab
- Shaped reflective prints
- Hem cinchcord
- Back storage pocket
- Fabric: 100% Nylon 2Way Mechanical Stretch 2.5L HyVent with DWR
- Reflective logo and prints
Sizes - S, M, L, XL
Weight - 290g (Medium)
Find out more uk.thenorthface.com
