MAAP Block Out Pro Jacket

The MAAP Block Out Pro Jacket is one for those days when you perhaps wouldn't normally go out on the bike but you have no choice – a big event, race, or even commute forces you out into the relentless rain and wind. It's a super-lightweight, highly weatherproof jacket with an aero cut and reflective elements.

• Pros: Highly effective waterproofing and windproofing, very breathable, excellent race cut, reflective elements
• Cons: Not the most packable, pricey

The Block Out Pro Jacket is packed with technical features, notably the DryTech fabric with a ClimateControl membrane. It's waterproof and windproof while also being stretchy and supple; it's also very breathable, preventing that 'boil in the bag' feeling you get with some rain jackets.

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The weatherproofing is remarkably effective. I was 'lucky' enough to test it out in a couple of late-May flash downpours at the Tour of Wessex sportive, and the water beads and runs off very well. The cuffs have elasticated wristbands to form a seal around your arm, and the neck line is high, preventing any water ingress here.

What's more, the neck has a fine fleece lining which both soaks up any water if any does make it in, and prevents your neck coming into contact with the lightweight material, which can feel cool against the skin.

Given how light the jacket is, it does an excellent job at blocking out wind and keeping you warm, with the fabric's breathability preventing you from overheating.

A lightweight garment, this is not one for the deepest of winters, unless as a final over-layer. It is designed more as a race cape, something for when you're riding hard and generating body heat, perhaps with just a jersey and arm warmers on beneath it. While it keeps you 'warm' by keeping the wind off your body, don't expect it to actually warm you – there's no 'weight' or insulation in the jacket, except around the neckline, as mentioned above.

To go with the foul weather protection, MAAP has focused quite heavily on reflectivity, with large logos on either flank and a large reflective dot on the right of the back, which is a good location for catching car headlights (quite fortunate for us in the UK that MAAP is from Australia, where they also drive on the left).

As far as I can tell, these reflective elements work well; they show up as a muted charcoal grey when not reflecting light, which is relatively subtle. Having MAAP in massive writing down the sides of the jacket won't appeal to all, but it's quite stylish lettering.

The cut is slim and close fitting, not like some rain jackets that can end up turning into a parachute with billowing material around the shoulders and arms. There's just enough space around the back to be able to get your hand up the tail of the jacket and into your jersey pockets beneath should you need to, though it's not the easiest of tasks.

I'd say the jacket is perhaps more of a 'put it on and leave it on' garment for those days of constant filthy weather, rather than a 'stow it in the pocket just in case' item, largely because it doesn't pack down all that small. Sure, you can cram it into a jersey pocket but it's a real squeeze, and it totally takes up that pocket (compare this to Castelli's Idro, for example, which folds down as small as a gilet). This is perhaps my only real quibble with the jacket.

> Survival tips for cycling in the rain

That and the fact that all this quality and technology doesn't come cheap; at £226 it's an eye-watering level of investment. However, direct rivals are in much the same ballpark, with the Gore Shakedry, Sportful Stelvio and Castelli Idro all costing £250 or more. These do seem to be more packable, though, so that extra £25 or so could be worth it for the added flexibility.

Verdict

An excellent foul weather jacket, just a jersey pocket away from being outstanding