Be Sure to be Seen: The Most Stylish Reflective Clothing
The Café du Cycliste Colette Rain Jacket is an extremely lightweight, waterproof, and stylish road riding jacket.
Impressions
- Extremely lightweight and super soft material
- Waterproof and quick-drying (if on the body)
- Close fitting stretch makes for easy movement
- Distinctive ‘Wonder Woman’ style elastic cuffs
- Great Café du Cycliste packaging – a large reusable zipper pouch
Features
- Reflective stripe on back
- Back zipper pocket
- Fleece lined collar and chin cover for the front zipper
- Taped seams
- Waterproof zippers
The Colette Rain Jacket is the first jacket I’ve worn that doesn’t make me feel like I’m wearing a tent. The first outing was with a t-shirt and a light wool cardigan underneath, in sunny 16 degree autumn weather. The cardigan had to come off as it was making me too warm. This jacket is not meant for layering! I later tried it over a jersey and it was perfect. It even rolls up small enough to stuff into my jersey pocket!
I rain tested in the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo. The jacket got soaking wet as I rode to the gym, but underneath I was completely dry. I hung it up to dry in the 1.5 hours I was there. It didn’t dry. The rain stopped on my way back, but it was still chilly, so I had no choice but to wear the jacket. It was cold to put on, but it wasn’t wet on the inside. In the 10 minutes it took to get home, IT DRIED. I am so impressed.
Unfortunately the Colette Rain Jacket doesn’t pass my one-handed test. I could neither unzip nor zip up the front zipper with one hand, and the back pocket could only be unzipped by one hand, but not zipped up. This is key for a clutz like me – I’m not skilled enough to take both my hands off the bars. I’d have to pull over, which is annoying.
Also, the rubber/silicone edge at the bottom side of the jacket isn’t enough for it to stay put. Even when the elastic toggles are pulled, it still slides up when I try to zip the back pocket up. I have to physically hold the jacket down to pull the zipper up.
Verdict
A savvy looking roadie jacket, which keeps the wind and rain off superbly, but the zipper issue prevents it from being The One.
4 stars out of 5
Price: £157.00, available from Cafe du Cycliste.
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