Shimano Evolve Wind Jacket

Shimano's Evolve Wind Jacket provides a cosy yet breathable layer with a relaxed fit that opens it up to more casual commuting as well as general road riding. The styling is very nice, but the notable feature is the Wind Shield, which looks odd but works well. It's a great jacket, but rather pricey.

• Pros: Minimal styling doesn't look out of place with normal clothes for casual riding/commuting; cosy yet breathable
• Cons: The Wind Shield bib is a bit odd; expensive

Shimano's Evolve line sits between the race-focused S-Phyre range and the casual Explorer collection. Compared with the S-Phyre kit, the Evolve range is a little roomier, made for a slightly more upright position and, in the case of this Wind Jacket, also suitable for combining with jeans for the ride to work or cafe.

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Before I noticed anything to do with fit, though, my eyes were drawn to the big silver bib that comes with the jacket: the Wind Shield. It resembles a baby's bib and clips via magnetic tabs to the inside of the jacket.

It's thin and very light, with the same kind of feel to it as a down jacket. The back is silver and designed to reflect your body heat back at your chest and core, which is key in helping to keep your extremities warm.

The rest of the jacket is made from a very light and thin fabric with a brushed inner. It has a good bit of stretch in it but I was rarely testing that thanks to the more relaxed cut. The outside of the jacket is windproof and water resistant. The windproofing is very good, doing most of the work to keep me warm. The water resistance, though, is only really good enough for wheel spray or a quick shower. Anything persistent will seep through.

Install the Wind Shield and the jacket still feels very comfortable to wear and there are no issues with the chest feeling tight. I used it on a chilly 5°C day and even in these conditions, if you hit the pedals hard, you can feel the Shield reflecting the heat back at your chest. It's easy to remove – for a climb, say – and then pop back on for the descent.

The jacket also has ventilation holes laser-cut into the upper back, and there are zippered ventilation ports down the sides under the arms. These seem to work well as I was never left feeling too sweaty in weather approaching 10°C. You'd be forgiven for missing the side ports as the zipper is really small and hidden very neatly, although despite that, they are easy to open if you do get too hot on a climb or the race to the cafe.

I found the jacket perfect for my short ride to the office. It doesn't look too much like a 'normal' cycling jacket and the relaxed fit was very welcome when wearing over a T-shirt.

Sizing is, as mentioned, a little bigger than the S-Phyre range. If you're looking for something that'll be more aero you'll need to size down or go for the S-Phyre. There is good space in the chest and shoulders but the waist still fits snugly. The hem doesn't get any grippers, but this doesn't result in the jacket swinging around.

At the back, you have three large pockets with a heat-reflective lining on the inside of the jacket.

There is also a mobile phone pouch in the middle pocket. My iPhone 6s with a case just fits in there, but it's hard to get at when wearing the jacket, especially with gloves on. If you're expecting a temperature drop, say on a night ride, the Wind Shield will roll up and fit easily in one of the pockets.

The neck area features a very soft fabric that has stayed that way after multiple washes. It extends up to my chin when riding, shutting out all the cold air. The cut is again relaxed, giving good space for a snood underneath.

The £179.99 price tag puts this in direct competition with Castelli's Perfetto (£180) and a bit higher than Gore's C5 Windstopper (£159.99). Either of these options would make a great purchase, and both the Gore and Castelli give a closer fit for fast riding. I really like the relaxed fit on the Evolve jacket, so if you're mixing riding with short/casual commuting, then I'd recommend it over the other two.

> Buyer's Guide: 18 of the best winter cycling jackets

In summary, this is a relaxed jacket that is comfortable to wear, with some clever features. You're just paying top prices for it in a very crowded market.

Verdict

Comfortable, relaxed fit with minimal styling, but the price might put you off