Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket

7
£99.99

VERDICT:

7
10
A good option for changeable conditions, if you can live with the weight of the removable sleeves
Weight: 
518g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket offers the option of long or short sleeves and very good rain protection for faster rides. The fit is good, with a long tail, but the weight is more than some rivals. At £100 (reduced to £50 currently), it's a solid option that is worth your consideration.

Ever since blacked-out Castelli Gabba jerseys covered the peloton in the 2013 Milan-San Remo, other companies have joined in the trend, producing aerodynamic rain-resistant jersey-cum-jackets, and this new Magma does a very good job. With minimalist styling and an aero fit, it also comes with the option to have long sleeves on the rainiest days. It's a very handy feature to keep you dry, though it does add a fair bit of weight.

> Buy this online here

There are key design features that define this type of jacket. They've got to be close-fitting, relatively waterproof and yet be breathable enough to ride at a high intensity. Firstly, Planet X has made the Magma with 4-way stretch. The cut of the design is quite slim, but the stretchy fabric ensures a good fit over the top of the shoulders.

Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket - riding.jpg

Rainproofing the jersey is a waterproof fabric that is rated to 5K (which equates to 'light rain'), and it was actually quite effective, with heavy showers mostly kept out. Some water does get in, but when riding hard it wasn't an issue. Planet X hasn't marketed this as a full rain jacket; it's designed to protect you from the worst of the wind and rain, but then convert to a short-sleeve race jersey when needed.

Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket - no sleeves.jpg

Other notable features include a drop tail, YKK zips and a waterproof stash pocket. The drop tail is great for keeping spray away from working glutes and the small of your back. It does become a little annoying if you keep sitting on it, though.

Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket - back.jpg

The YKK zips worked well, both on the front and also at the shoulders. I was able to remove the sleeves while riding, but putting them back on is something best done at the cafe as it's a little fiddly. 

Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket - unzipping sleeve.jpg

The waterproof stash pocket kept my iPhone dry, with space for coffee money as well.

Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket - pocket zipped.jpg

The sizing was generous in the length department. I found that my medium had extra length in the arms and tail, which is good as I'm just on the border between this and a small. Being quite skinny but short, I'd probably be better off with the smaller size, but if you're tall and slim, the medium would be better. There is good space in the chest and waist if you're built more like a sprinter.

Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket - chest.jpg

At this price point, there is strong competition, notably from dhb with its £95 Aeron Rain Defence jersey. This is a short sleeve-only jersey with no option to add long sleeves, but the benefit of this is that the weight is kept down to only 261g, whereas the Magma comes in at 518g. Another option would be Endura's FS260-Pro SL jersey, which comes with arm warmers, but at £129.99 it's creeping into Gabba territory...

> Buyer's Guide: 10 Gabba-style wet weather race jerseys

I'd also think twice about the application for which I was buying the jersey. For racing and fast riding in changeable conditions, all I ever found myself needing was the short sleeve option with arm warmers. For more general riding, the long-sleeve option was useful when the temperature started out cold but then warmed up during the ride, but the sleeves take up quite a bit of room in the pockets, so you've got to plan ahead if you might be taking them off.

Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket - unzipping sleeve 2.jpg

As a jacket to cover most situations, it's certainly a good option. It's well made, with decent waterproofness, the fit is close but stretchy, and the option to have long or short sleeves opens it up to more than just fast riding. However, by trying to be one jacket for everything, it falls a little short in weatherproofing and weight.

Verdict

A good option for changeable conditions, if you can live with the weight of the removable sleeves

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Planet X 365 Magma Convertible Jacket

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the jacket 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?

From Planet X: "Chameleon like, weatherproof, technical bike jacket that's designed to protect you from the elements. The Magma will shield you from the worst of the wind and the rain when the weather is foul but quickly converts into a short sleeved race jersey when the sun comes out."

I'd say it's weather resistant as the water will get in eventually. If you need one jacket for everything, this does it well.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the jacket?

From Planet X:

Drop tail

YKK zips

Waterproof stash pocket

Chin guard

5k waterproof fabric (not seam taped)

5k MVP breathable

4-way stretch

Pit zips

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
8/10

The zippers are all big and easy to use with big gloves on, the stitching is solid.

Rate the jacket for performance:
 
7/10

It's nicely aero, with no flapping around the shoulders, and has kept me quite dry and relatively warm, but the weight has let it down in early season races.

Rate the jacket for durability:
 
7/10

The waterproofness hasn't worn off when washed, which is good, but also a result of careful washing.

Rate the jacket for waterproofing, based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
7/10

Persistent rain will eventually get in, but the material will trap it, keeping you warm, if a little moist.

Rate the jacket for breathability, based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
5/10

Not bad for a jersey of this type but it's meant to hold in your heat.

Rate the jacket for fit:
 
8/10

The snug fit isn't an issue because of the stretch in the fabric.

Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
9/10

There's plenty of length in the arms and tail. The chest and waist are sized properly for regular people.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
4/10

The removable sleeves and their required zips add a lot of weight compared with a Castelli Gabba or dhb Aeron Rain Defence jersey.

Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
7/10

The jersey is comfortable, but those zips are less supple than fabric and are noticeable on your shoulders.

Rate the jacket for value:
 
8/10

The RRP of £99.99 makes it significantly cheaper than a Gabba, but more expensive than the dhb at £95. It's currently on sale for £50.

How easy is the jacket to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

I was cautious with washing, having ruined this type of jacket before. Wash at 30, with no softener, then air dry.

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

Quite well. It was noticeably less flappy than a standard jacket, especially around the shoulders, and kept out rain for a while. However, it was very heavy because of all the zips, which made it a poor choice for racing.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

Having the option of removing the sleeves, opening this jacket up to a wider range of conditions.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

The weight doesn't compare well with dhb's Aeron for racing.

Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes

Would you consider buying the jacket? No

Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? No

Use this box to explain your score

If you need one jacket for everything, this does it well. It offers good warmth and fit, and the removable sleeves add versatility but they also add weight.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 22  Height: 177cm  Weight: 64kg

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Di2  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, I specialise in the Cafe Ride!

Add new comment

3 comments

Avatar
alansmurphy | 6 years ago
0 likes

"At £100 (reduced to £50 currently), it's a solid option that is worth your consideration"

 

Do people believe the Sports Direct pricing model or is this where Planet X could shoot themselves in the foot? Is it a good jacket for £100 or good for £50.

 

If I was spending big money I'm afraid I'd want a big label, that's not to say the Assos or Rapha would perform better but if you've had Planet X cheapies before and they've fallen apart then that has an influence... 

Avatar
ClubSmed | 6 years ago
0 likes

I bought this just over a week ago for an event that I was doing which would start off in the cold morning and go in into the warm(ish) afternoon. I was not sure if there was going to be any rain or not so this seemed like the perfect top to make the best of most scenarios that I could envisage being thrown at me. I have to say that I wasn't let down.

 

Shape and Sizing

I am 6ft tall and currently 40in Chest and 34in waist (though usually 32in)

It was a perfect fit across the  chest and on the arms (without the long sleeves) but a little snug on the waist (though that is where all my extra weight sits and I am a few pounds over my fighting weight). The long arms were just a little bit loose, but I assume that this is to aid getting them off on the move. They were also a little bit long, but this could be to ensure there aren't any gaps between the sleeves and your gloves. As mentioned in the original review, they are a little heavy too, but that could just be the price you pay for waterproofing (and zips). The long arms were really easy to remove whilst riding but I doubt the reverse would be possible.

The back pockets were a little bit higher up the back than I would have liked, not inaccessible, just a little awkward at first.

 

Material

It was warm enough to have stopped me shivering in the line-up at the start in the morning, yet cool enough to not have me over heating after 4 hours in the saddle in the afternoon. It did seem waterproof enough, though I didn't suffer any downpour to properly test it. I did however on 2 occasions spill some water down me (by accident) and not of it penetrated through the fabric so I have some faith in its ability.

 

Looks

It really does look great on, especially in short sleeve mode. The reflective detailing is perfect and the branding is subtle and unobtrusive.

 

 

Overall

It's a very versatile cycling top that seems like it can do most things well, this will definitely be a staple in my touring kit. I may leave the long sleeve arms at home though and take some lighter alternatives that will be a little snugger, lighter and able to be put on whilst riding.

At the price I paid though (£34 plus postage) it does not matter that I may not always use the supplied long sleeves, it is still better than any short sleeved alternative.

Would I buy it again? Yes, without a doubt (and I already have)!

Avatar
Freddy56 | 7 years ago
0 likes

Never got the zip off sleeves.

Is a less comfort gilet? 

Perhaps for the person with one cycling top that never needs washed 

Latest Comments