Lusso Aqua Pro Extreme Jacket

Warm, comfortable and water repellent enough to withstand all but the worst of days, the Lusso Aqua Pro Extreme Jacket does a lot of very sensible things very well indeed. Throw in a flattering fit and enough reflectivity and colour to make it highly visible without tipping over into garishness, and it's a real winner.

• Pros: Warm, weatherproof, flattering fit
• Cons: More colour options would be great

Stu tested the Lusso Aqua Extreme Repel V2 jacket last year and gave it full marks. The Aqua Pro Extreme costs a little more, but I'm similarly impressed.

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The Aqua Pro Extreme's Windtex Storm Shield membrane is categorised as 'water repellent' – which is typically considered to be a step down from fully waterproof, but a step up from merely water resistant. The material boasts a 10,000mm waterproof rating, which is enough for moderate rain and it certainly lives up to this. The seams aren't taped, as they are on a number of jackets, and so given long enough in heavy enough rain this is presumably where water would make its way in – but nothing got through in testing, and I'd say it'll serve you well the vast majority of the time.

If fact it's waterproof enough that without flaps over the pockets, water could conceivably begin to pool in the two outer pockets where the drainage isn't quite as good, but I think this is highly unlikely. (There's also a separate, reasonably sized zip pocket for your phone.)

With its quilted, windproof front, the Aqua Pro Extreme is a warm jacket. I'm sure of that. I set off on a clear November day, with the temperature reading just 1°C, wearing this, a thin baselayer, a short sleeve jersey and a pair of bib shorts. I assumed this was nowhere near enough clothing (I wanted to give the jacket a challenge) but it turned out to be merely not quite enough clothing.

I was out for almost six hours – including sitting down outdoors for a coffee because the café was full – and only for the first 20 minutes did I think I'd made a grave error. After that point, I'd say I felt cool but not cold and I'd be surprised if the air temperature got much above 5°C all day.

The flipside of this is that more boisterous riding can result in a bit of heat build-up, but nothing too significant. It breathes far more like a jersey than a waterproof jacket.

Size-wise, I always seem to be on the threshold between medium and large and that was the case with Lusso. I tested a medium and I suspect this was the better option. (It's not me in the pics.)

The cut seemed nicely flattering, yet didn't feel restrictive in any particular area. The high neck was close but unobtrusive and the sleeves were plenty long enough for me – although despite my height, I don't generally suffer in this regard.

I was especially happy with the rear where a flap offers good low protection south of your normal waistline.

That flap's ringed with reflective material too with additional reflective panels on the pockets and just below the neck. Throw in the lurid orange of the arms and pockets and this jacket's visible without screaming 'high-vis'.

The look may be an issue for some, though. My partner, for example, said she felt it looked a bit like a motorcycle jacket. At present, your only alternative to the orange arms jacket that I tested is an all-black version. (Minor design positive: I have a particular soft spot for the dimpled, quilted front. I'd have marked it up for that, if I could – but I didn't.)

It's £15 more than the jacket Stu tested, but while £165 isn't cheap, it's a sight less than the slightly lighter Sportful Fiandre Pro at £210.

> Buyer's Guide: 29 of the best waterproof cycling jackets

You can pay less, though: the Northwave Ghost H2O is another stretchy, water-repellent jacket for £140, and the Kalf Club Men's Softshell, while labelled a jersey, is actually a similar sort of product for £120.

All in all, the Lusso Aqua Pro Extreme is an extremely comfortable jacket: warm, soft and wholly devoid of irritants.

Verdict

Warm, comfortable, practically designed, and rain resistant enough for most rides, it's hard to fault