After I take a look at waterproof jackets – and I’ve tried 40 or 50 of them at this level so as to distil the market down into my information to the most effective waterproof biking jackets – all of them get examined in parallel initially, after which I can hone in on them individually after that. Following testing and reviewing most have a tendency to stay in a field mentally labelled ‘for reference’ until they carry out very poorly.
Some are ok to remain in fixed use as a result of they work so nicely as efficiency clothes, just like the Maap Atmos and the Rapha Professional Staff Gore-Tex, and a few keep in fixed use as a result of they transcend the biking jacket a part of the Venn diagram and bleed into common use. The POC Movement may be very a lot on this second camp.
I’ve been utilizing it each time the necessity arises for nicely over a yr now and I believe it’s the most suitable choice for these of you after a commuter jacket. There are a lot more choices in my sister information to the most effective commuter biking jackets if this doesn’t match the invoice for you, however I’m going to try to persuade you that it most likely does.
Now, simply to be clear, should you’re commuting on a highway bike then this isn’t for you. Purchase a highway jacket, however make it a sturdy one. The Endura Professional SL Waterproof Shell is a superb possibility for these after a highway match, however for these not bombing to work within the drops the Movement is my decide.
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You would be onerous pressed to say this was a biking jacket by the look of it. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
The rear does not have an enormous drop, so it is not one for racy positions.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Design and aesthetics
Of all of the jackets I’ve reviewed lately the POC Movement is the one that’s the most ‘regular’. On the face of it, you’d be hard-pressed to choose it out as a biking jacket in a lineup of extra general-use waterproofs. The tail is simply marginally dropped, and save for a few little reflective patches on the rear it’s very a lot commonplace fare. Properly executed for certain, however no humorous enterprise.
After I examine it to one thing just like the Albion Zoa Rain Shell, one other jacket I typically attain for after I must pop to Lidl to purchase milk within the rain, it’s fairly totally different. No voluminous hood, no closely vented pockets, no adjustable cuffs. Only a small hood that may match below a helmet, two moderate-sized facet pockets and a chest one for valuables.
Look below the arms and also you see perforated pits, very like you get on the Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket I reviewed lately. A double zip additionally helps when issues get toasty, and may be very a lot a prerequisite for any outer layer for me these days. The cuffs are formed so that they cowl extra of the again of your fingers. The arms are a bit of shorter than some jackets I’ve tried, however for using extra upright bikes that is no unhealthy factor. I even have very gangly arms, so It’s not the fairest take a look at.
The hood has no peak, however the brim is elasticated, which means it sits shut across the face when in use, and doesn’t act as a wind sock when not deployed. Usually I’m a fan of a hood that goes over the helmet, however on this case, I believe this makes extra sense.
Underneath the hood, so to talk, you get a really sturdy feeling outer cloth protected by a PFC-Free DWR remedy, and itself defending a 20,000mm rated waterproof membrane. That is lots for even heavy rain, and whereas it isn’t going to problem the likes of the Rapha Professional Staff Gore-Tex on paper, it’s actually greater than enough for non-performance using.
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The cuffs are a bit of brief for using in an extended place, however for flat bars they’re good. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
The hood is unquestionably one to go below a helmet, however the elastic across the brim retains it from turning into a wind sock when not in use. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
The little hanging tag is a bit of fragile, the one factor on the jacket not constructed to final. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Efficiency
On paper, the Movement is a little bit of an odd jacket to present the nod to for finest general for a class. No adjustment to talk of, no mega air flow, and a comparatively commonplace minimize. Why, then, do I believe it’s the most effective?
First up is sturdiness. It’s a very stable jacket, and the dearth of tabs, toggles, added zips and velcro is definitely advantageous in a commuter jacket. I’ll get a little bit of flack for this however I believe commuting is tougher on waterproof jackets than every other type of using. Most individuals shall be rocking a biking backpack of some kind which provides put on to the again and shoulders, they get stuffed into luggage with reckless abandon, and left moist on the again of workplace chairs – I’ve misplaced rely of the variety of occasions I’ve appeared down to seek out I’ve been operating my jacket over with my workplace chair – roasted in drying cupboards, and crashed in with higher regularity. Zips and toggles virtually all the time hand over in some unspecified time in the future, so doing with out them is useful.
The outer cloth of the Movement is particularly stable, and whereas it isn’t probably the most breathable jacket it’s high quality for shorter or much less intense commutes and can stand up to all of the common put on and tear. The hood too is nice. No windsock impact when it’s down, and whereas I do like my hood to go over my helmet, for brief journeys like a commute you’re most likely going to determine at your door whether or not you want it up or down and it’ll be grand for all the journey. The sleeves actually are a bit brief for using in a highway place, however for any flat bar bike (fixie youngsters I’m you right here) they’re good, and neither too tight nor too free, so there’s room for large gloves beneath.
The opposite motive is that, on the entire, most commuter jackets look a bit naff. Off the bike, they immediately mark you out as a bike owner, and whereas there isn’t something incorrect with that I don’t wish to appear to be I’m mid-commute on the after-work drinks, or if I throw it on to go wander round city. The Movement works rather well on the bike, and I’d even say it has a spot as an MTB crossover jacket too. It’s protecting, and whereas it doesn’t have a water-resistant zip for some mad motive the inner storm flap does the job, and is even stitched over on itself to cease it snagging. Off the bike, it simply appears like a very good trying shell jacket, which I believe is why I attain for it so typically.
I’ll admit that black is probably not the most suitable choice for visibility, nevertheless it’s what I like as a result of it goes with my different garments. The opposite mineral-named color choices (dioptase blue and calcite blue) are very good-looking too in a muted Scandi means. If you would like visibility then it is best to give attention to getting the most effective bike lights first, then fear about your layers as no quantity of vivid yellow will assist should you’re operating a tea mild to be seen.
Breathability is usually the downfall of commuter jackets. They are usually cheaper than their highway or gravel oriented siblings, and that tends to return with much less breathable membranes. Once more, the movement isn’t going to match jackets designed for highway using, however until you’re completely hammering your trip to work it’s fairly good. The pit perforations I have a tendency to consider as good however not that helpful, however the backside zip does imply you possibly can dump warmth fairly successfully, and is much better than undoing the jacket from the highest should you’re carrying a chest strap in your backpack.
The looser match permits a substantial amount of airflow too, but in addition room for layering. If you happen to commute within the chilly – keep in mind POC is a Swedish model so it is aware of about correct winter – a mini down jacket can simply be accommodated beneath, retaining it useable year-round.
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The little chest pocket is good for keys, pockets, and different small objects. It may intervene with a chest strap, however you will must take that because it comes. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Oddly the zip is not waterproof, however the storm flap does appear to do the trick inside. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Worth
Very similar to the Albion Zoa the worth proposition right here is tremendously enhanced by its off-bike credentials. If yow will discover it on sale – on the time of writing I’ve seen the Dioptase Blue mannequin right down to £154 – it’s an absolute discount.
Commuter jackets basically are fairly low cost, largely as a result of individuals appear to detest spending some huge cash on one thing ‘simply’ for using to and from work. The POC Movement is dearer than many commuter jackets available on the market, however I’d wager it’s a tonne extra helpful too, and as such I believe it represents fairly nice worth.
Verdict
The POC Movement is a winner on the bike, so long as your commuting isn’t too intense or on a motorbike with a really aggressive match. It is sturdy sufficient to resist each day abuse, backpack-wearing, and bag-stuffing, nevertheless it’s the off-bike versatility that units it other than the group. Commuting doesn’t must be a alternative between being a vogue catastrophe and efficiency, and for a bit more money you possibly can have a jacket that’ll see use round city whether or not you’re on the bike or not.
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Testing scorecard and notes
Attributes
Notes
Ranking
Match
For non-performance using it’s totally nicely tailor-made. Room for maneuver, room for layering, and by no means restrictive. I believe the hem may very well be a bit of decrease on the again, and the arms a bit of longer, however that is it.
8/10
Safety
Protecting sufficient for using to work, but in addition protecting towards the added put on and tear of commuting. It will not match an old-fashioned Gore-Tex possibility although.
8/10
Options
It’s a little mild on this entrance, however that’s in a means what makes it nice – fewer issues to interrupt. The zip not being waterproof isn’t best, however the storm flap works.
8/10
Breathability
It is by no means going to be as breathable as a road-oriented jacket the place breathability is a much bigger precedence, nevertheless it’s sufficient.
7/10
Worth
On sale it is a discount, and whereas at full value it’s dearer than most I believe the truth that you need to use it daily when not using provides to the worth proposition
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