Georgia in Dublin Rainwrap

The Rainwrap Skirt from Georgia in Dublin is a lightweight overskirt which can store away easily in a pannier pending the inevitable downpour.

I will readily admit to being a fairweather cyclist. Overtrousers are practical but, well, I'd have to have lost my license and my bus fare to contemplate going out on the bike in weather that required me to wear such an unbecoming item of clothing. To solve this problem, mother and daughter team Georgia in Dublin have developed a waterproof cycle-specific rainskirt.

The Rainwrap is long - 96.5 cm - so even our leggy model didn't have any problems with her legs getting wet. The high waist and even higher back prevent trickles down your lower back too.

The material isn't not quite as 'noiseless' as claimed, but certainly doesn't have the 'crunchy' effect of a lot of wet weather gear. The outer layer of fabric is polyester with a slightly moleskin feel to it, and the backing is polyurethane so absolutely no rain could get through the areas covered by the skirt. The design doesn't skimp on the amount of fabric used, so even riding a bike with a crossbar there was still enough material to provide ample leg coverage.

Fastening is achieved with a wide velcro band, backed up by an additional plastic buckle. It certainly didn't feel like the skirt was going to come off even under the most extreme exertion and the size of the velcro patch meant that the skirt was easily adjusted to fit whether I was wearing wintery layers or summer clothes. Extra protection against the wind is provided by an elastic garter that can be fixed to either ankle to stop the skirt blowing up in the wind. A nifty video shows how this can be used but I didn't find that it was needed in general wet weather. 

There are small reflective details around the Rainwrap Skirt, but these seem token rather than a full on visibility assault. This is, however, in keeping with the pared-down no-fuss overall look of the skirt. It is pretty hard to make wet weather gear stylish but Georgia in Dublin seem to have pretty much nailed it with the cut of this skirt. It would be most suited to 'about town' riding in terms of the styling, though there is nothing that wouldn't work for longer jaunts.

Available in the test sample navy as well as black, green or red and in five sizes (s to xl and a 'short' option), there should be a rain wrap skirt to fit most women. The design and styling means its use is not limited to cycling – walking and using it as a picnic blanket are also suggested by the makers.

Overall, the Rainwrap Skirt does what it says on the tin, and with a degree of style too. Taking away the need for troubling with overtrousers and being able to keep your shoes on (this isn't going to be brought by many lycra and clipless users) are key advantages, and its easily stowable size and weight mean that it can live in a pannier on the off chance (i.e. 98% likelihood) that it will rain during your journey. The £45 price reflects the quality of the finish and the overheads of a small, new design firm but if you commute daily it has a very low cost per wear in the English climate.

Verdict

Perfect for the the changeable British climate; keeps you dry from the waist down with urban chic.