One of the findings of the rain jacket test in TOUR 10/07 was that only a few suppliers dare to consistently tailor their models to suit road cyclists. Possible reason: such a cut looks unflattering in front of the mirror. VAUDE is a laudable exception. The "Casella 3 eVENT" is cut the way slim cyclists like it: short at the front, long at the back, tight and high-necked at the collar and with tight, long sleeves with practical, closable cuffs.
For five months, the 264 gram test jacket went through a lot, including the week-long Protest Germany Tour and a cycling trip from Munich to the Cyclassics in Hamburg. It was always a reliable companion. Rain could not harm it, the breathability subjectively left nothing to be desired - an impression confirmed by the laboratory findings for the "Women's Spray eVENT" jacket made from the same material (TOUR 10/07). A practical detail is the zip pocket on the left upper arm, which can be used to stow sunglasses in the rain. The pack size is also great: the jacket easily fits into a jersey pocket in the small bag supplied.
PLUS: Cyclist-friendly cut; comfortable material; lightweight; small pack size
MINUS: Relatively expensive
Reference/Info: VAUDE; phone 07542/53060; www.vaude.de
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Price: 240 Euro
(Photo: Daniel Simon)
