Surface Hydrophobic Wool Jacket

Nice jacket, this. I'm just not sure it's a great cycling jacket. Everything positive I want to say about it I have to qualify with a niggle.

Anyway. Let's start with the good bits. It's a smart bit of kit, and definitely doesn't appear too technical. It wouldn't look out of place in casual - nay, social - situations. You won't be ostracised by non-bikers if you turn up to the pub in one. The 'wool' is a smart, soft, textured herringbone-pattern that gives a nod to more gentlemanly outdoor wear - and the elbow patches are a nice touch. I must, however, put the 'wool' in inverted commas because, erm, it's not wool. According to the label, it's polyester. A bit of a problem for trading standards there...

But back to the nice stuff: it does look good, and the polyester is definitely aquaphobic. Water sits on the surface, beads and rolls off. I wore the jacket through some good old showers when commuting and it never leaked once. They were showers, mind, and Surface don't claim the jacket's waterproof, but it will get you through less extreme weather. Taped seams and a storm flap over the zip will keep you protected, though

It's not a light jacket, and not particularly breathable, but it's good and warm. Layered over cycling or work clothes this has seen me through our mild winter in comfort. Except, unfortunately, it leaves the lower back and the wrists exposed. The cut just didn't seem right to me. Problem one: the fabric doesn't stretch. Problem two: the shoulders are very narrow. I usually take an 'S' in cycling clothes, but the supplied 'M' (which, to be fair, was the right one for me according to the online size chart) was too narrow for my shoulders. And because there was no stretch, when I bent to hold the handlebars the tight upper back pulled the jacket up. The scooped back isn't that low, and the drawcord adjusting the waist was no help. The sleeves, too, seemed very, very tightly cut. So much so, the rather voluminous lining is prone to carrying through with your arm and poking out of the cuff. Consequently, it was difficult to wear any bulky clothes underneath and, again, the tightness and lack of stretch left my wrists exposed when leaning over on the bike. (Incidentally, Surface's other jackets are better fitted.)

It goes without saying that the cut of a jacket will work for some and not for others. I checked customer reviews at some of the online shops, and the majority tipped towards my opinion. A few people found the jacket great, but most found it weirdly proportioned. And someone pointed out something I didn't spot - the Napoleon pocket doesn't have the advertised i-Port (Presumably, this would let you run headphone cables inside the jacket. If it existed.) Perplexing that there can be so many good points to the jacket, but also gripes to balance them out.

Verdict

Overall, I'd say go and try this jacket. If it fits, it'll be a smart, durable commuting companion; I wish I could be more enthusiastic, but for a number of reasons I can't.