I was given a soft shell cycling hoodie jacket to use and write a review of by Fraser, the UK distributor of Showers Pass clothing who are based in Portland Oregon USA.
The jacket is a multi use design and i have hardly had it off my back for the last 6 weeks...
I do not own a cycling specific Gore Tex jacket as they all seem to still get wet inside with sweat after a few hours cycling and then you get a chill in your back if you stop. I find this happens with a North Face Pac lite multi purpose jacket i have.
I like soft shell tops and already have a North Face APEX multi purpose top.
Until now i was looking for a hoodie soft shell - one cut for cycling but i also wanted a jacket to be multi purpose. The Rogue Hoodie fits the bill perfectly.
Soft shell tops are still warm when wet, inevitable after a few hours out in heavy rain, and you get little wind chill and i find they are ideal for here on the East coast of Scotland.
The coldest i wore the jacket was in those bitter cold easterly winds with a -3 Celsius wind chill and i was snug with just a merino wool t shirt underneath, last few rides i have worn just the jacket on its own like a regular top, but it is getting a bit too warm for any type of Jacket as we get into summer, there will still be many cool days in a UK summer for a jacket and it will still see a lot of use on the bike.
I like the fit of the jacket, it is just really comfy to wear on or off a bike. Dave from Law Cycles and Si from UK Fatbikes both have them and say they wear them all the time too, and comment on the fit and comfort.
The sleeves i like as they do not flap cycling into the wind, the tail is slightly dropped, but not too much, and there is a rear pocket with a light loop like road tops for snack bars etc.
My only negative comment which to be fair is to almost all jackets for cycling is that they should have vent zips under the arm pits. Pit vents would allow better temperature control for climbing or when your riding in woods out of the wind...
That and a rear toggle tensioner on the rear of the hood would keep the hood tight too as the front can drop down a bit over your eyes. These are things that may get added in the future anyway...
I like the cuffs with the option of using the inner cuff with a thumb loop hole...
The material has a DWR coating so like all coats will need re treated a couple of times a year if used and washed regularly, it still takes a while to get wet wearing it and then as already mentioned it is still warm next to your skin....
The jacket is great for Fatbikes, why? because often i am stopped and off the bike looking at stuff and taking pictures etc when i am out on my own. It does not feel like a cycling jacket and with out your helmet and gloves on your just a member of the public when in a cafe or pub...
I wear the Rogue Hoodie out metal detecting and walking, also wore it at work under an overcoat when mowing in really bitter cold winds. I wore it when up Allermuir in the Pentlands recently for Ians Everest of Allermuir charity run, it was perfect, and the hood was esp use full up top in the gale...
For cold days cycling on the coast this will be great when next Autumn and winter arrives. with a Merino long sleeve top under neath it will be the most comfy set up i have had for winter cycling...
It was good when at Carnoustie on a cool day last month...
Its been Pub tested too!, worn at FORTH FAT and it survived loads of beer going everywhere...
On the fat bikes is where i will use the jacket the most, that and also commuting most of the year...
I give the Showers Pass 8 out of 10 as it is a great on/off the bike hoodie that you just end up wearing all the time. A genuine multi purpose soft shell that is cut for cycling yet also comfortable off the bike.
I give it 8 as it is a jacket for UK temperatures 3/4 of the year and with the bonus that would be some pit zip vents and a rear hood tensioner toggle.
It excels in cooler weather and unlike most cycling specific looks good off of the bike.
Jacket retails at £120
There is going to be a small discount available to UK FatBike Forum members who wish to purchase a Rogue Hoodie and i will update this review when i get the details from Fraser at Showers Pass UK
If this top is anything to go by the rest of the Showers Pass stuff must be real comfy and practical to own.
Checkout the Showers Pass website for the Rogue Hoodie
And all other products at showerspass.com
