All Arround MTB

Scott consistently offer good waterproof jackets with the sort of bike-specific details that make a difference. All of the Dryo 20’s features are well executed. The chest pockets are generously deep and one has an additional zipped inner pocket. Vents are extra-long and work so much better for it. The hood fits over a helmet easily and, with a stretch inner plus drawcord for tweaking the volume, it’s barely noticeable when in place and causes no loss of peripheral vision. Scott’s ‘DRYOsphere’ three-layer fabric is smooth with a durable feel and, combined with a relatively relaxed cut, allows for easy layering up. In terms of durability and functionality, if your budget allows it, the Dryo 20 should be a contender – it’s a highly-specified jacket with very good protection for long days out. Weight 407g Price $330

This is the lightest jacket on test, thanks to its minimal design and lightweight fabric. Don’t be fooled by the slim fit – well-placed stretch inserts plus a good cut through the shoulders mean there’s plenty of room to move and the MTR doesn’t feel restrictive in any way. ‘Minimal’ means no pockets, but if you’re wearing a pack that won’t worry you (plus there are silicone wear/grip patches on the shoulders for that) and the advantage is a no-fuss style that just works. The hood can be removed but won’t fit over all helmets. There’s an elastic loop at the back of the collar that allows the jacket to be rolled small and secured fast (it even fits into a jersey pocket). This is a waterproof to take with you on every ride, but it’s much better than just an emergency shell. The price isn’t bad too. Weight 205g Price $210

The Arc is a multi-purpose outdoor jacket rather than designed purely for mountain biking. That’s apparent in the boxy cut. But, with long arms and a generous back length that keeps you covered in the saddle, it makes a good option if you’re looking for one jacket to fulfil a number of needs. The fabric is three-layer ripstop with a high-quality and durable feel. It goes on easily over base and midlayers, and its strengths are definitely in cold-weather conditions, where it holds up well on typically wet and filthy UK winter trails. Features include large front pockets and a hood that fits comfortably over a helmet. The heavier fabric does make this jacket reassuringly substantial, but the downside of that increased durability is extra weight and warmth, which are both noticeable on milder days. Weight 422g Price $300

The easy cut of the Guardian means there’s plenty of room underneath to layer up against the very worst conditions. That signature pared-back 7Mesh styling is still here, in the jacket’s clean lines, but it’s paired with all the practical details you could need. These include an excellent over-helmet hood, which adjusts both front and back with single-pull cords to provide a custom fit and unrestricted view, and a drawcord hem. The fabric is Gore-Tex Active, which is both light and highly breathable – the one we reach for when we know we’ll be pedalling hard but absolutely need a waterproof layer. We’re a sucker for the simplicity of the Guardian, but more so because of the performance of the fabric. If you like to ride whatever the weather, it could be worth the quite hefty investment. Weight 267g Price $487

Madison’s Flux Super Light stands out for feeling more like your favourite hoody than a full-on winter waterproof. This makes it a great spring/autumn transition jacket, because it allows you to kid yourself that you’re still only in a summer jersey. The key to its comfort is the combination of lightweight stretch fabric and a good cut. This goes long at the back and stays in place thanks to a drawcord hem, but isn’t oversized through the body. Handily, it scrunches up small enough that you can carry it as a back-up layer. The hood goes over a helmet easily and stays right in place, moving with you without impeding your field of vision. We tended to use this like a wet-weather jersey on damp but warmer rides, and for that you do need the extra ventilation that the pit perforations and vents provide. Weight 243g Price $195

We liked Vaude’s original Tremalzo jacket when we tested it last year, because it had some impressive features for the money. This second-generation version continues the theme of good all-round performance at an affordable price. If the environmental footprint of your bike wear is important to you, the Tremalzo II gets off to a good start, because its fabric is bluesign certified. The fit treads that fine line between allowing enough room for layers without being too oversized for riding. Features include mesh-lined pockets, water-resistant zips, a drawcord hem and an over-thehelmet hood. The two-layer fabric has a rubbery feel against bare skin though (mild and wet autumn weather dictated testing it mostly this way), and you need to use the pit zips once things start to warm up. Weight 271g Price $210

Made from Gore Windstopper Active Shell, the Deflect doesn’t claim to be fully waterproof – even though it has taped seams – but it is highly water resistant. The benefit of this material is improved breathability, so this jacket will suit fast-paced riders who know they’re never going to stay out all day if the heavens open but want some degree of weatherproofing. It follows that the Deflect is comfortable to wear in milder temperatures, and despite subjecting it to some sustained Highland rain, we didn’t get wet. It’s well featured, with some nice details, including a slightly offset front zip and three internal rear pockets that are reached via a single side-access opening. We were dubious, but they’re just like jersey pockets to use. Other features include handwarmer pockets and an under-helmet hood. Weight 393g Price $240

If you’re looking for a substantial waterproof that can take a lot of punishment, then look no further. The All Mountain 2 draws on Alpinestars’ moto heritage and, out of the box, can almost stand up by itself. Once on the bike, though, it’s very wearable, with room in the shoulders for both movement and winter layers. The hood fits easily over a helmet and, along with the high-fastening neck, means that even in heavy rain you feel protected. Quality construction and design details add to the solid feel, including an easy-to-use drawcord, long zip pulls and a good drop at the back hem, which, once cinched, keeps the damp and dirt out. It’s a warm jacket but the diagonal vents are effective at creating airflow and the mesh on the front collar helps when zipped right up. The price is quite high though. Weight 572g Price $345

Race Face are good at the sort of details that you don’t realise you want until you get them. The inside of the collar has a soft lining, which not only feels more comfortable but also absorbs stray drips when it’s torrential out. There’s a zip garage, waterproof zips and extra-long zip pulls. The two-layer fabric has a slightly rubbery feel but is smooth against bare skin and we were happy wearing it over short-sleeve jerseys on warmer wet days. As you’d expect at this price, the fabric isn’t the most breathable, but vents on the front and a full-width floating yoke across the back promote good airflow. It’s not the lightest jacket on paper either, but it doesn’t feel heavy when you’re wearing it. The Agent is rounded off with a peaked hood (which fits over a helmet), hand pockets and adjustable cuffs. Weight 398g Price $225

The Stretch Ozonic is billed as a backpacking jacket, so it has a relaxed cut instead of skinny bike styling. As a result, it shifts up and down more than a riding-specific style when you’re moving around on the bike. If you’ve got long arms, the sleeves will feel short when riding too. It’s a decent length at the rear, unless you wear the peaked hood over your helmet – it’ll sneak over, but with not quite enough material to spare, so it pulls the back of the jacket up. The ‘Dry.Q Active’ fabric that gives this waterproof the four-way stretch referenced in its name ensures it’s comfortable on and off the bike. It’s also breathable enough that the lack of pit zips isn’t an issue. The quality of the material, along with its good construction and versatility, make this a jacket that we’d wear again, but more for general use than riding. Weight 277g Price $240

This was the heaviest jacket on test and noticeably so, but in a superprotective way rather than being restrictive. The fit is really very good – when you move your arms, even over your head, the body of the jacket doesn’t shift around. This, combined with a good length through the back, means no cold patches and makes it a solid cold-weather choice, especially as there’s room to layer up underneath. It’s warm during sustained pedalling efforts though, and the lack of vents means you need to wear a decent-wicking baselayer. The hood fits over a helmet, but it’s a snug fit, so has a tendency to pull. Overall, the fit of the body is so good that it’s a shame that the fabric isn’t more breathable or there aren’t some vents, but it’s a decent price for the durability and protection that it affords. Weight 590g Price $165

We love a good lightweight windproof for our unpredictable British summertime, and this offering from Scott delivers the goods. Made from a 100 per cent Polyamide fabric, with Scott’s own DRYOzone water-repellent coating, the WB 40 does a sterling job of keeping you dry in lighter showers, although water does seep through at the shoulders in heavier rain when wearing a pack. The athletic cut still allows room underneath for layering and movement feels unrestricted. Sleeve and body length are good too, keeping you well covered at all times. The WB 40 is pretty minimalist in terms of features, with just one zipped rear pocket. You can fold the jacket into this for stowage and it’s handy for carrying small, light items, but anything weighty soon pulls the jacket out of shape. The cuffs are elasticated, as is the hood, which has a pull cord for adjustment, but isn’t big enough to wear over your helmet. Styling is on-trend and we love the subtle logo and reflective details. It’s costly,

This fully taped, easily packable, featureheavy jacket won’t break the bank and isn’t afraid of a bit of bad weather. It’s adjustable just about everywhere, so you can really batten down the hatches. The adjusters at the hem slowly release over time, but our jacket has never ridden up on the trail. There are two zipped hand pockets, which are useful. Long zip pulls make all the pockets and vents easy to access on the move. Get working hard and you’ll be thankful of the two zipped, mesh-backed vents on the front, which are coupled with a bar-tacked vent across the back. Still, overall breathability isn’t too bad and we often found ourselves leaving the jacket on when the weather changed. During downpours, the Agent’s soft exterior does an admirable job of keeping you dry, but stay put in the wet for a couple of hours and it’ll wet out. Price $180

Underarm cutaways and extensive mesh sections make this the coolest armour on test. The chest protection is nicely contoured to protect the ribs.The backplate is removable and has routing for a hydration bladder (you can run both if you want). Detach some of the padding and stuff some spares in the two rear pockets and you're ready for a pack-free enduro or big ride, so it's effectively two garments in one. There's no long-sleeve version, but you can always add a set of elbow pads for extra protection. Price 195$

There’s a lot of clever stuff going on here. Much of the padding is impact-gobbling D3O, the comfy chest guard extends round to protect your ribs, and SixSixOne's PADLOCK system lets you snap additional armour into place as required. Underarm cut-aways make it one of the coolest jackets on test too.You can even remove the backplate and replace it with a bladder – genius! There's a long-sleeve version with elbow pads too. It’s cut fairly short so, as with all armour, it’s worth trying before you buy to get a perfect fit. Price 195$

Total coverage (minus a chest pad) doesn’t get much comfier. Large, slim, malleable pads allow unrestricted movement, are less likely to slip upon impact and don't snag your jersey.With no chest pad your core stays cooler and there's one thing less to rub. The 3/4-length sleeves were tight on our forearms, causing a trace of arm pump on longer runs. The zip irritated our necks slightly too. The backplate is non-removable so things can get warm when riding with a pack. Price 210$

The armour is attached to a comfy wicking baselayer. Along with the lack of backplate, this makes it one of the cooler suits on test.Add the low price and this jacket is ideal for your first uplift day or week in the Alps – though we'd add a separate back protector. The bulky padding is obvious off the bike. The stretchy fabric and the large size and relatively flat shape of the pads mean they move around a bit too. It’s also a shame that the padding can’t be removed for washing. Price 75$

The 7iDP suit has a comfy fit and fairly lightweight feel (with the back protector removed). The elbow and shoulder pads cup the joints nicely and stay in place well. All pads are removable for washing. It’s neck brace compatible. We removed the backplate because it moves around and weighs a ton.We didn’t like the bulky foam chest protection either – it shifts around and rubs when hot. Considering this is the most expensive suit on test, the comfort, fit and details just aren’t there. Price 255$

UPPER DOWNS ARE a new rider-owned company based in the South Downs who’ve used the Kickstarter crowdfunding website to finance their first product, the Neo jacket.

DESPITE BEING A commuter jacket, this was the softshell we reached for every day this spring. The urban camo print and neon highlights make it stand out, but it’s the functionality that comes with those design details that really appeals.