As we transfer in the direction of winter I’ve traditionally caught to testing the most effective waterproof biking jackets. It rains quite a bit the place I dwell, so it is sensible. My colleagues have taken the job of testing the most effective winter biking jackets, these which are there to maintain you cosy and heat, however not dry if it rains. That doesn’t imply I don’t typically get despatched winter jackets too, and as I don’t solely trip within the rain I do typically put winter jackets to good use too.
One such jacket that I’ve been utilizing for a few seasons now however by no means obtained round to reviewing is the Velocio Alpha Merino Air Jacket. It’s a excessive finish, wool-lined marvel that I’ve come to utterly love for frosty, crisp winter driving. Sadly it’s getting discontinued, at the least from what I can inform primarily based on the Velocio web site, however there may be loads of inventory left of it and it’s at present marked down by a really wholesome 30%. At this worth it’s a correct cut price, and whereas I’m not going to spend time writing a full evaluate of a soon-to-be-extinct garment, I can at the least level you in its course.
What makes this such a agency favorite is the heat to breathability ratio that it has on provide. From the skin it doesn’t look a lot totally different to many jackets, however the chest, collar, and sleeves are lined with excessive pile merino wool. It’s superbly delicate, fairly absurdly heat – particularly when used with a midlayer just like the Velocio Alpha Lengthy Sleeve – however permits warmth to flee very simply. For single determine temperatures (or beneath 40 in freedom models) it’s unimaginable, and at this worth it outperforms most choices I’ve come throughout.
The excessive loft inside is much like many jackets that utilise Polartech Alpha, however on this case it’s a however extra pure, and in my subjective testing it’s a bit extra cosy and heat too. Paired with the most effective biking base layers, and a mid layer just like the Alpha as talked about above it’d be sufficiently heat sufficient to get you to freezing level, beneath which you will not wish to be driving outdoors anyway for ice danger. When the temperature rises it may be thrown over a typical lengthy sleeve jersey and stay helpful into the low double figures.
To counteract it getting too sizzling there’s a double zip, so you may vent warmth with out it getting flappy, and the again is only a easy brushed fleece fairly than merino pile. A full merino lined jacket can be a bit a lot for all however the very coldest riders.
Whereas it’s nonetheless round and at this worth it rivals something from our information to the most effective winter biking jackets. It’s possibly not essentially the most race-cut, but when your winter driving is extra about getting the miles in fairly than KOM searching then it’s good.
