The Rapha Commuter Light-weight Jacket is designed to “stay you cool if you find yourself in a rush and dry when it rains”. Weighing a tight 226g (medium), it is simple to slide right into a bag for any eventuality. Its looser have compatibility is designed to be worn with a t-shirt or jersey, and the extremely breathable material will have to stay you from overheating.
There are 5 colours within the vary; Black, Darkish Military, Deep Crimson, Lime Inexperienced and Hello-Vis Crimson and 6 sizes from XS to XXL. A girls’s model may be to be had, in sizes XXS to XL with light blue and mauve colour choices along with hi-vis purple.
(Symbol credit score: M. Grele)
Rapha Commuter Light-weight Jacket – Building
The jacket is made out of 100% windproof and water-proof polyester material with taped seams to lend a hand retard water ingress. This will appear a bit of like ultimate the door after the pony has escaped: why pass to the difficulty of waterproofing the seams if the material isn’t a water-proof defend itself?
However in fact, it is a design we are seeing extra continuously (Castelli’s very talked-about RoS jackets being every other key instance) and the effects in reality are the most productive of each worlds.
As a common rule, the extra water-proof a cloth is, the fewer breathable it turns into. Throwing cash on the drawback can mitigate this to some degree, however no longer as a lot if the cost level stays consistent.
The second one level to notice is that it in reality does not take a lot waterproofing for the seams to turn into a weaker level than the material itself. Because of this, jackets which can be nominally ‘waterproof’, however have taped seams, be offering a gorgeous stellar aggregate of breathability and rain coverage.
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As with the remainder of the jacket, there are two zippered hand wallet, both of which can be utilized as a stuff sack for compact garment garage. The double cuff design assists in keeping the jacket extra climate resistant whilst taking into account a much broader arm diameter for bulkier clothes.
An built-in hood can also be worn below a helmet or rolled again with a security strap when no longer wanted. Each the hood and the waist can also be cinched for a extra comfortable have compatibility.
Rapha Commuter Light-weight Jacket: The Trip
The check was once a medium jacket within the colour choice Top-Vis Crimson. The medium have compatibility neatly with its comfy have compatibility and would simply have compatibility over a t-shirt and fleece. Whilst the colour shouldn’t have been my standard selection, I were given a large number of compliments on it and there is a lot to be stated for being visual in rush hour visitors. You’ll be able to in fact make a choice a extra subdued colour should you favor.
I discovered the jacket to be water-proof sufficient for brief showers and really breathable. When worn by myself with a t-shirt, the material did not really feel sticky towards the outside, and I used to be ready to put on my backpack with ease with out breaking a sweat on my again.
The hood can also be simply worn below a helmet, permitting you to show your head backward and forward to look correctly. In fact, it mask your listening to a bit of, however no less than you’ve the choice to make use of it or no longer. The entrance of the hood is minimize away to permit for peripheral imaginative and prescient, which is excellent for cycling, however you do get your face rainy should you stroll as there’s no height!
The reflective panel at the decrease again is moderately massive and is designed to be positioned below a shuttle backpack to help visibility in low mild prerequisites or at evening.
The jacket can also be stored compact the usage of a pocket like a stuff sack approx 18cm x 15cm x 10cm or it may be folded after which rolled up on its hood once more approx 20cm x 10cm x 8cm the latter measurement will have compatibility neatly in an exterior backpack pocket (Camelbak Mula 22L). In a position for motion!
When using with the jacket, there’s a little bit of a flap at the arm, however because the material is moderately comfortable, it does not make any noise. It is what you’ll be expecting from a looser minimize of clothes. Additionally the zip wallet are a just right measurement however take a seat a bit of low when cycling so your leg will get hit with the contents alternatively they’re nice when strolling.
However you’ve a bag whilst you shuttle, do not you?
Rapha Commuter Gentle Jacket: worth and conclusion
At $115 / £85 RRP, it is a just right worth jacket, it is neatly made, very breathable, water-proof sufficient to resist a bath, and rolls up moderately small.
The comparability to the $260/£190 Altura Nightvision Electron Jacket, as an example, is hard as they are in truth moderately other pieces, despite the fact that they are each shuttle jackets. The Altura is a bulkier jacket, does not roll up as small, prices about two times as a lot, however has the bright technique to illuminate!
Alternatively, should you basically pressure all the way through the day, it may be conspicuous with the purple or yellow model or extra discreet with the opposite final colors. Plus, you are much more likely to hold it with you more often than not, since you’ll be able to retailer it in a shuttle bag till you wish to have it.