Skip to main content

Madison Flux Super Light Packable jacket


THIS WINDPROOF SHELL is so thin that it feels a touch fragile but the fabric is surprisingly robust and the jacket has survived being screwed up and wrenched out of packs with no signs of wear.

Madison have kept things really simple here – if you’re desperate for zipped pockets or a detachable hood, look elsewhere – which helps the jacket live up to its ‘Super Light’ name and also pack down to the size of a tennis ball.

Our medium sample was a decent length in the body and long enough in the arms, but the fit was pretty baggy so it flapped around a little when riding. This was exacerbated by the non-adjustable lower hem – a drawcord here would have allowed us to cinch things down and helped prevent the jacket from riding up.

The P3DRY fabric does a decent job of keeping wind and showers out, making this a handy back-up jacket if you’re caught unprepared by bad weather while riding.

Price 97$

Popular posts from this blog

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

GT Zaskar Evolution

While some bike models last just a couple of years, others change with the times to stay at the top of riders’ wishlists. In the second part of this series looking at the evolution of bikes that enjoy enduring popularity with UK riders, we turn to the GT Zaskar – a bike that was at the forefront of our sport for a long time and still has plenty of appeal today.

COMMENCAL EL CAMINO 3

Commencal are going from strength to strength at the moment and they’ve taken their tough trail hardtail bang up to date with 650b wheels. With its skinny rims, crankset and fork, the El Camino certainly isn’t perfect and it’s the least hardcore bike here. The handling, smoothness, speed and all-round agility of the basic bike still make it a real blast for technical trail riding though, and it’s a great base for upgrading over time.

CANYON SPECTRAL AL 9.0 EX

CANYON’S COLOUR-COORDINATED Spectral AL 9.0 looks like a bike that means business. With a wishlist of components, it’s hard not to question the fantastic price of this stunning new bike from Germany.