Rapha Women's Classic Soft Shell Jacket

Soft shell jackets are, on the whole, pricier than more traditional ‘hard shell’ or fleece/Roubaix style non-waterproof jackets. They offer a compromise between the warmth and breathability of a non-waterproof training top and the out and out weather protection but potential sweatiness of a waterproof.

That said, there’s no way of escaping the staggering price of the Rapha Classic Soft Shell, which although not the MOST expensive of its kind on the market, is right there in the upper echelons. So, the burning question has to be ‘what do you get in a jacket that costs almost as much as a cheap bike, that you don’t get in one that costs considerably less?’

The answer is – all the bells and whistles you could possibly want in a jacket, and then some you didn’t even know you wanted, but now you’ve got them you couldn’t possibly live without. Suffice it to say, the Classic Soft Shell has more features than you could shake a pump at. There are integral stretch hand gaiters to interface with winter gloves, reflective accents at the shoulders, a rubberised bite patch to assist with single handed zip fiddling, a large rubberized patch on the left shoulder to help secure a bag strap (although less useful if you are a lefty) pit zips to enhance temperature control, and a warm fleece backed collar. The three rear pockets are roomy and usefully deep, the middle one housing a pump sleeve and the right hand one an MP3 player cable slot, which then carries into the interior of the jacket to be met with cable guide loops right up to the collar. Neat. There’s also a reasonable sized zip security pocket, easily big enough for a mobile phone or compact camera.

The cut of the jacket shows as much attention to detail as the features. The body is a good length and should suit all but the tallest of women, whilst also catering to a curvier shape than many jackets on the market. The sleek fit and stretch fabric mean it should flatter most body types whilst remaining effective. The tail is shaped to give good coverage of the backside, but if this isn’t enough, or the weather turns just too disgusting, there’s an even longer flap hidden away inside, with well engineered Velcro that won’t snag on anything, whether dropped or tucked away, and with its own ‘saddle grip’. This extra flap is huge and does seem a little like overkill, but to be honest the whole jacket is so crammed with features and detailing that this is just one more thing to add to the list. It’s also embellished with a reflective logo. Sleeve length is impressive, with no skimping on fabric and easy comfort no matter what the reach or riding position. For those not keen on integral gaiters, these easily slide away inside the cuff without hassle. Sizing is friendly, with a size Medium equating to a good UK12, and sizes available from XXS-XL (UK6-16)

Made from soft pliable soft shell fabric, the jacket is designed to be the ultimate winter riding garment, and actually, it’s one of the most comfortable jackets I’ve ridden in. Even in very cold conditions, the combination of wind resistance and some thermal properties with excellent breathability meant that even with a light base layer I remained a comfortable temperature and, most importantly, dry. The water resistance of the jacket was easily enough to see off some pretty persistent rain, with no soaking in and no chilling effect at all. Zips were easy to manage while moving, but the breathability meant that the requirement for this was minimal anyway. The jacket stayed put with no creeping up the back either.

The cut almost certainly contributes to the efficacy of the jacket, helping to keep a layer of warm air trapped next to the body, but allowing moisture to escape quickly. The addition of the pit zips means that this jacket is useful far beyond just its intended winter status as well, making that price tag just that bit more palatable. It looks incredibly stylish too, although to be really picky, I’d have liked a colour alternative to non-winter friendly black.

Ultimately, this offers far more features than you would possibly ever want in a winter riding jacket, but they are well considered, carefully implemented features that enhance the end result rather than being a case of over-egging the pudding. You may not want to spend £240 on a soft shell jacket that does everything except tell you your heart rate, but really, you don’t have to do you? Just choose another one. If you want a well made, high quality jacket with all the trimmings, or are due a generous gift from a certain someone, you could certainly do worse than Rapha’s Soft Shell.

Verdict

The Rolls Royce of winter cycling jackets. Stick it on your Wish List.