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review

Lusso Skylon 2XS windproof jacket

8
£39.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Simple, lightweight windproof/showerproof that adds loads of warmth when the temperature drops
Weight: 
98g

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The Lusso Skylon is a simple windproof/showerproof that's easily small enough to pack down and carry in a jersey pocket until it's needed.

If you've yet to discover the delights of the lightweight windproof, do yourself a favour and get one. Other people at road.cc harp on about gilets being the most versatile bit of cycling clothing out there; I go on about lightweight windproofs as the unsung heroes of the wardrobe. You sling one in your pocket just in case the weather turns cold or you stay out later than expected, and it makes a massive difference to your warmth when you put it on.

This one from Lusso weighs just 98g. That's the weight of a couple of Snickers bars. It'll pack down to fit easily into one of your jersey pockets.

The jacket is made from Skylon fabric which is a lightweight, windproof nylon. It's also surprisingly water resistant although the seams aren't taped. It won't keep you dry in a storm but it'll keep out a short shower, the water beading up and rolling off. If it's likely to rain properly, you'll need a full-on waterproof to protect you. The fabric is also fairly breathable, although if you do start to sweat the best option is just to take the jacket off and sling it back in your pocket.

The full-length front zip is decent quality while the cuffs and hem are both made from stretchy elastic with silicone dots inside to help keep them in place. That's about it in terms of features. This is a pretty simple bit of kit, but that's all you need. More features equal more bulk.

I've used this jacket loads lately, especially on after work rides when the temperature tends to drop considerably in a couple of hours. I go out wearing a jersey and sling this on top when the sun starts dipping down below the horizon. It works a treat for that kind of thing, stopping the evening air from robbing all your hard-earned body heat.

My one criticism is that I'd like a slightly slimmer cut through the body; a sportier cut to avoid downhill flappage. I found it a bit roomy and the overall sizing larger than normal (check Lusso's size chart). You might want to size down for a better fit.

Overall, though, it does the job well and it's a very good price. It's made in the UK and is also available in black and yellow.

Verdict

Simple, lightweight windproof/showerproof that adds loads of warmth when the temperature drops

road.cc test report

Make and model: Lusso Skylon 2XS jacket

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Lusso say: "The foldaway showerproof Skylon 2XS Jacket is great new design, it is both breathable and windproof, available in yellow, black or white

Features

* Showerproof Skylon fabric

*�Windproof breathable

*�Silicone gripper hem/cuff

*�Made in the UK

*�Machine washable"

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

It's a simple construction but it's done well.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

It stops the wind getting in almost completely, and that's its job.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Lightweight windproofs have a tough life, spending a lot of time screwed up in your pocket along with a mini-pump and any other odds and ends you sling in there. This one seems to be lasting as well as any.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Weighs very little. You'll barely know you're carrying it.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

As an outer layer, you'll barely know you're wearing it, and good breathability adds to comfort.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It does its job well. No complaints.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Lightweight, easily stowable.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I could have done with a slimmer, sportier cut to reduce flapping.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly, but I'd prefer a slimmer cut.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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