Proviz Nightrider Women's Waterproof Jacket

The Proviz women's Nightrider jacket would be recommended by the 'Be Safe Be Seen' road safety hedgehog if he could ride a bike. Or could talk. Waterproof and well-lit, this is one of the most reflective jackets we've seen and combined with the Triviz detachable triangular light you'll be lit up like the angel on the top of the Christmas tree.

Since we tested the men's version back in 2010 Proviz have tackled our only gripe - the jacket is now machine washable. Because the jacket is now compatible with the Triviz light system, rather than having internal lighting strips, you can remove the electrics and bung the whole thing in the wash after a muddy ride. The label in my sample jacket said do not machine wash, but having checked directly with the manufacturers this is incorrect and the jacket can be washed at 30 degrees. The jacket retails at £60, or it can bought as a bundle with the additional Triviz light for £80 from www.velovixen.com.

The jacket has enough reflective aspects to enable you to take up a career in nighttime motorway maintenance. The long, wide strips down the arms are particularly effective when indicating. Under the arms, the 8 inch wide reflective panel adds to 360 degree visibility. The expanse of less breathable reflective material is offset by pit zips for added ventilation. Epaulettes, shoulder piping, a front zip strip of reflective material and the Proviz logos ensure that you catch the light from any angle.

The Nightrider is available in black and fluoro yellow for both sexes, I chose the female only raspberry colour which is bright but doesn't scream 'cycle safety'.

The Nightrider jacket is available in both women's and men's fit and I found the women's sizing to be on the extremely generous side. I usually take a size 16 and the 14 was still large on me with plenty of room underneath for winter layers. The Nightrider certainly isn't build for skinny fit speeding, and as the smallest size available is a listed as a 10, it may not be a good choice for petite riders either.

The cut isn't as feminine (i.e. tailored to cut in at the waist and flare over the hips) as I would have liked, and as a result it wasn't as flattering as it could be. When zipped up, the jacket's somewhat stiff material tends to bunch up around the lower chest. A more cycling specific cut with a slightly raised hem at the front would help to alleviate this. The jacket has a slight drop to the rear - this was enough to provide some weather protection for predominantly upright commuter riding, but if you like to ride low in the drops you may be leaving your bum slightly exposed.

On the back of the jacket there is a generous zipped pocket, placed low enough that items placed in it don't intrude into your ride comfort. In addition a velcro sealed inner chest pocket provides a perfect place to stash your phone. I'd have liked a pocket around the hip too, for off the bike use.

The back of the jacket features a velcro triangle which enables you to switch between a plastic reflective triangle and the Triviz light. The Triviz light can be switched between Proviz products, their rucksack for instance, where we review the Triviz light in full.

The initial feeling of weight quickly disappeared and I didn't notice the Triviz whilst riding. The choice of two flashing and a continuous light forming a blue triangle certainly stood out amongst the plethora of lights on the road at night. Even when I let the battery die, it triangle still stood out as a reflective beacon and even on London's notorious Cycle Superhighway 2 I felt pretty secure that I was as visible as I could make myself.

Proviz jackets have a good reputation for quality waterproofing and the Nightrider is no exception to this. Stormproof zips and seam seals meant that I wasn't getting wet no matter what November threw at me. As ever, the waterproofing does affect breathability but the pit zips and internal mesh work to limit this. The fleece collar adds comfort but the lack of a zip garage means I got the pointy edge pushing in my chin. The velco cuffs were comfy and the arm length was fine and even when fully extended my wrists stayed covered.

Conclusion

A great commuter choice if keeping dry and being seen are top of your list of priorities. Possibly the most reflective waterproof jacket on the market. Buy at least one size smaller than you think and pretend you've been riding enough to have dropped a dress size.

Verdict

Super-visible waterproof commuter jacket that works best for a more upright riding position.