Water off a Duck's Back Cycle Macintosh

It's a pretty innovative idea, the Water off a Duck's Back Cycle Macintosh: a traditional style mac for wear on and off the bike. It won't feature on every woman's list of essential bike kit, but for those who like a more refined ride, take a stylish, unhurried approach, and above all want the ability to blend in when off the bike, it certainly has its niche.

This British-made coat is a standard macintosh length, coming to just below the knees. It wraps over at the front and does up with a tie-belt at the waist. There are two deep slanted side pockets and a stylishly high collar. The overall effect is one of a smart 1940s' style coat, which would complement a classic cruiser or sit-up-and-beg roadster. You'd look pretty strange riding a flat bar hybrid or road bike in this.

It's an attractive mac, and it does look classy enough to wear on or off the (right) bike, provided you're wearing the right clothes with it. The vivid purple lining is a nice touch, and the wrap over fit will accommodate extra layers if you need them for colder conditions.

The initially simple design hides some interesting features, such as broad reflective strips on the back of the belt, tucked under the cuffs, and at the collar (not visible with the hood up). It's easy to display these to boost nighttime visibility or conceal them to go incognito. The hood, which is detachable, would be more useful off the bike than on but might appeal to non-helmet wearers in a downpour. There's a clip-on tag at the hem to help prevent the coat from flapping. The coat is machine washable at 40 degrees.

On the bike, the mac does indeed avoid getting tangled in the wheels, as it claims to. The sleeve length is ideal for protecting hands and wrists from the rain and wind, whether the reflective cuffs are rolled down or not. It's comfortable to wear while cycling, but a few of the features don't quite live up to their promise. The clever little hide-away clip at the hem doesn't work too well at keeping the coat from flapping open at the front. While the mac doesn't blow completely open, the gap exposed could still let rain in. The wrap-over fastening also leaves the top of the coat prone to opening as you move about on the bike. A scarf would solve this, but as this could be a year round raincoat that wouldn't always be appropriate.

The fabric is pleasant to wear, with no stiffness and less rustle than standard waterproofs. It is surprisingly breathable and comfortable, especially at the more sedate speeds that would be most in keeping with its style. It is amply waterproof, and the protection of the PU coating would be easy to maintain with specialist wash-in care products. I missed a small zipped pocket somewhere for stowing keys.

Water Off a Duck's Back aim the coat at mums and dog walkers as well as cyclists, and on foot the design's small niggles become negligible. It's just not a perfect cycling coat.

Verdict

A stylish raincoat with its own niche, but not quite as well suited to the bike as it could be