This Hello Yello commuter jacket from Ana Nichoola may look like a stylish off-bike jacket, but don’t be fooled – it’s packed with technical cycling features that had our reviewer waxing lyrical.

Cast a quick glance at the Hello Yello and it looks like any other casual jacket, admittedly an incredibly stylish one based on the compliments I received while wearing it. No surprises then that I’ve fallen in love with this commuter jacket that’s kept me warm, dry and looking suitably professional over hundreds of miles to and from work.

I’m pleased to say that the jacket does not suffer style over substance, you can tell Anna Glowinski – founder of Ana Nichoola – is a cyclist, she’s thought of everything. Although the discerning eye may not notice the technical giveaways of the jacket’s cycling use, it’s positively teeming with thoughtful details.

First stop, fit. With a larger than average bust for my frame, I always worry that jackets are going to be tight over the chest, but this fear was allayed when I zipped the Hello Yello up. Even though I’m a UK size 10, the small was a great fit, no pulling across the chest, shoulders or arm pit area. An incredibly well cut jacket, that was comfortable and unrestrictive when cycling along.

The most noticeable feature on the jacket is the dropped peplum. A chic, nifty solution to keep your derriere dry. It’s long enough to sit just below the saddle when seated and as I rode through the puddles in Hyde Park on the way to work I didn’t notice a splash. The dropped peplum has an added benefit, it manages to slim your silhouette, with the jacket going in at the waist and gently out at the peplum. Just a note, the peplum does not have the option to stash away.

For comfort, the zipper has had a great deal of attention paid to it. Not only is it sealed to keep the water out, it’s slightly off centre, so when it’s zipped up it sits to the side and doesn’t tickle your chin. When the jacket is unzipped, I liked that I could create a lapel with the popper on the collar bone. I get supremely irritated when a jacket collar flaps in my face as I’m riding along, but this stayed firmly in place.

Other great features include the arm length, long enough to cover the backs of my hands while reaching for the handlebars, but not overly cumbersome that I was trying to push them back. The velcro on the adjustable cuffs was perfect, with relatively skinny wrists, it was nice to see I wasn’t left with a huge excess of material flapping on the tab.

The fabric was able to keep out a heavy downpour over 40 minutes on the way to work, I arrived warm and dry underneath the jacket, so thumbs up on that account. I can’t comment on long-term exposure to water, however, as this is dubbed a commuter jacket, it’s unlikely the jacket will be exposed to over an hours worth of rain.

Combined, the subtle reflective detailing and bright, (but not too bright) yellow colour, kept me visible in dreary, low-light misty conditions. My only grumble – I wish this beautifully designed jacket was available in every colour of the rainbow, rather than just yellow and there was a material loop on the back to clip a light on.

Lastly, I have to admit that I am a racer when it comes to commuting, so I do get quite hot and sweaty, meaning that breathability is an important factor for me. The body of the Hello Yello is fantastic, kept me warm and not too sweaty, however the arms and in particularly the arm pit area could benefit from more venting than just the three small circular vents.

VERDICT

This isn’t a jacket for an all day smash-fest, but if you want to be comfortable and warm on your cycle to work, arriving at the office looking smart, then the Hello Yello is just the ticket. Be prepared to be complimented on your choice of outerwear too.

PROS

– Great cut, no restriction in movement
– Kept me warm and dry on commute, even in torrential downpour
– Stylish and professional looking

CONS

– Could potentially benefit from zipped openings in armpits
– No light loop to attach a light to on rear of jacket

Price: £110.00
Sizes available: XS – XL (check sizing chart on website)
Colours available: Yellow
More information: AnaNichoola

What AnaNichoola say about the Hello Yello commuter jacket

Be safe, be seen, be dry but don’t sacrifice style. Our smart yellow biker jacket with dropped peplum is the perfect jacket for urban commuters. It is made from a breathable, waterproof soft shell fabric with taped seams to prevent leaking.

With lashings of reflective and the bright yellow colour will keep you visible day and night, and it’s stylish design will allow you to just straight off your bike into the office with confidence.

Thoughtful features:

– Waterproof fabric with double backed seams
– Bright yellow visibility colour
– Lashings of reflective for night time visibility
– Dropped peplum splash tail
– Waterproof biker zip
– Popper clasp collar
– Adjustable cuffs