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Have I grown? asks our tester Birgit in amazement as she tries on the windbreaker from Danish label Pas Normal Studios. If she wasn't wearing a jersey underneath, her belly button would be bare. This is unusual, as the size S of most brands always fits our tester well. Obviously, the Danish manufacturer was a little sparing with the fabric in its windbreaker - even at the back: The bum is barely covered, leaving it exposed to draughts and wet conditions.
Although we don't rate cut and fit according to grades due to the individual differences in stature and posture on the road bike, it is essential for the assessment of the jacket how it sits on the body.
The cut should be orientated towards the bent racing bike position and the jacket should fit as flutter-free as possible. The jacket should be cut short enough at the front so that the fabric does not ripple in front of the chest and long enough at the back to cover the kidney area and buttocks.
Eleven windbreaker models in the test
- Essential windbreaker from Agu
- Petra from Café du Cycliste
- Aria Shell Jacket from Castelli
- Essence Wind Light / Core Light from Craft
- Bike Jacket Windshell from Löffler
- Mechanism Stow Away Jacket from Pas Normal Studios
- Zephrr Barrier Jacket from Pearl Izumi
- Nebula Puro windbreaker from Santini
- Sumire / Beaufort Light Windbreaker from Shimano
- Hot Pack Easylight from Sportful
- Air Pro from Vaude
How TOUR tests: Wind jackets
The overall score is made up of five criteria, which are weighted according to their relevance. We determined all measured values ourselves, including the spray test. (Beading behaviour of water droplets)
Weather protection (30 %)
With the spray test (DIN-EN-ISO 4920) is used to determine how water droplets roll off the (washed) material. Optimum is when they roll off on their own without leaving any residue; poor is when the fabric becomes soaked. We have devalued open-pored mesh on the back.
Wearing comfort (20 %)
Testers assessed the feel of the fabric on the skin, flapping noises, heat regulation and the sensation of moisture when temperatures rise. Different scores for men's and women's models.
Equipment (20 %)
Details such as pockets with zips, covers for zips and fabric covers for their sliders, the fit of the jacket waistband or sleeve cuffs, the number and placement of reflective elements, integrated or supplied panniers are evaluated.
Handling (20 %)
How easy it is to operate the front zips - two-handed, one-handed, on the move - and the elasticity of the cuffs, which determines how quickly the jacket can be put on and taken off.
Pack size/weight (10 %)
The lighter a jacket is, the smaller it can be stowed. Jackets that weigh less than 100 grams and fit into small jersey pockets get the best rating.
Facts about the individual windbreaker models
Agu: Essential windbreaker
- Price: 60 Euro >> available here
- Country of productionChina
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 87 gram
- Colours women's jacket: Neon yellow, Black
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 89 gram
- Colours men's jacket: Neon yellow, white, black
- Equipment extraszip garage, climate mesh, zip pocket
ConclusionBoth wind jackets are normal until wide cut, with the women's model fitting tighter and flapping less. Front protects the jacket goodwater splashes through the back Mesh material. The cheapest jacket in the test impresses with adequate features and minimal pack size.
Café du Cycliste: Petra
- Price: 150 Euro
- Country of productionRomania
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 76 gram
- Colours women's jacket: Dark red, Dark blue, Lilac, Floral
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 85 gram
- Colours men's jacketDark red, dark blue, blue-green
- Equipment extrasClimate mesh, opening for jersey pockets
Conclusion: Both jackets are on the Body The sleeves are normal to wide and nice and long. On the Skin the material feels slightly sticky it hardly flutters at all. Lots of mesh material at the back allows vapour to escape, beading at the front Drops of water very well. Extremely light.
Castelli: Aria Shell Jacket
- ModelAria Shell Jacket
- Price 100 Euro >> available here
- Country of productionBosnia
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 82 gram
- Colours women's jacketDark grey, silver grey, moss green/brown
- Weight men's jacket (size M)93 grammes
- Colours men's jacketDark grey, silver grey, moss green/brown
- Equipment extras: padded collar, back zip, climate mesh
ConclusionThe Italian tailoring is visibly scarce, the material is tight all round on, nothing flutters; a cut for slim men and women. Points were awarded for Weather protection, Vapour passage and Equipment. The tester found the material less skin-friendly than our testers.
Craft: Essence Wind Light / Core Light
- Price: 90 Euro
- Country of productionVietnam
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 94 gram
- Colours women's jacketRed, neon yellow, black
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 99 gram
- Colours men's jacketRed, neon yellow, black
- Equipment extras: padded collar, climate mesh, lots of reflective material
ConclusionThe Craft jackets don't have any weaknesses, only in the shoulder area can there be fabric flapping depending on your stature. We particularly like the high-necked and padded collarwhich does not allow draughts to pass through. Water droplets roll off well all round.
Löffler: Bike Jacket Windshell
- Price: 120 Euro >> available here
- Country of production: Austria
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 84 gram
- Colours women's jacket: White
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 98 gram
- Colours men's jacket: Neon yellow, white
- Equipment extras: padded collar, back zip, climate mesh, lots of reflective elements
Conclusion: Löffler tailors its jackets comparatively longone size smaller may be an option. Very wide collar. The material is not so water-repellent, the weather protection is average.
Pas Normal Studios: Mechanism Stow Away Jacket
- Price: 200 Euro
- Country of productionVietnam
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 101 gram
- Colours women's jacket7 colour variants
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 118 gram
- Colours men's jacket9 colour variants
- Equipment extras: padded collar, backed zip, gel waistband, wide cuffs
Facit: The most expensive Jacket in the test fits well, but is suitable for both men and women Extremely short cut and only fits very short torsos perfectly. Be sure to try them on! The collar is also short. Very good weather protectionbut no ventilation openings or mesh material.
Pearl Izumi: Zephrr Barrier Jacket
- Price: 100 Euro >> available here
- Country of productionVietnam
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 171 gram
- Colours women's jacketRed, neon yellow, olive green, white, turquoise
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 188 gram
- Colours men's jacket: Neon yellow, dark grey
- Equipment extrasGel waistband, zip pocket, lots of reflective material
Conclusion: Pearl Izumi's overcoat feels like a Multi-layer rain jacketweighs double as much as the competition and therefore does not fit into every Jersey pocket. The rather loose cut favours an upright sitting posture. The Weather protection is top, in favour sweats faster.
Santini: Nebula Puro Windbreaker
- Price: 119 Euro / 129 Euro
- Country of productionItaly
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 131 gram
- Colours women's jacketTurquoise, Red, Black
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 149 gram
- Colours men's jacketBlue, Orange, Black, Petrol
- Equipment extrasthree jersey pockets, lots of reflective material
Conclusion: Women and men alike praise the fluffy feeling of the fabric, which barely flutters; good cutcomparatively heavy, somewhatLarger pack size. The zips of the windbreaker run tightly and the Cuffs are narrowwhich makes undressing more difficult.
Topthree back pockets.
Shimano: Sumire / Beaufort Light Windbreaker
- Price: 100 Euro >> available here
- Country of productionRomania
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 86 gram
- Colours women's jacket: Grey, White
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 98 gram
- Colours men's jacket: Grey, White
- Equipment extras: padded collar, climate mesh, lots of reflective material
Conclusion: Normal cut, on Back but somewhat short. The very Lightweight material fits well, but feels slightly creased and sticky on the skin. The material absorbs water droplets rather than beading them off. Lots of mesh as well as plenty of all-round Reflective material.
Sportful: Hot Pack Easylight
- Price: 75 Euro >> available here
- Country of productionChina
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 78 gram
- Colours women's jacketOrange, White, Black
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 83 gram
- Colours men's jacketOrange, White, Black
- Equipment extrasbacked zip, pocket, climate openings, lots of reflective material
ConclusionThe Hotpack is the Classics wind jackets and convinces both men and women with its good Road bike cut. The weather protection is excellent, Small fireplaces in the armpit area regulate the inner climate. Lightgood handling and also favourable.
Vaude: Air Pro
- Price: 90 Euro >> available here
- Country of productionVietnam
- Weight women's jacket (size S): 99 gram
- Colours women's jacket: 5 colour variants
- Weight men's jacket (size M): 116 gram
- Colours men's jacket: 5 colour variants
- Equipment extrasPadded collar, zip garage, climate mesh, back pocket, gel waistband, lots of reflective material
Conclusion: The Vaude jacket convinces with rich equipmentincluding gel waistband for a good hold. Slightly fluttery the jacket is suitable for very slim hips, whereby the Fit in total normal turns out. The back section lets out a lot of steam, but hardly protects against splashing water.
Matthias Borchers
Editor
