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review

OneTen Vento Wind Jacket

7
£49.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Lightweight, packable windproof that really does keep the cold air out, although our test model was more generously sized than normal
Weight: 
86g
Contact: 
www.hotlines-uk.com

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A lightweight windproof is an incredibly useful piece of cycling kit and the Vento from OneTen is a solid option.

The Vento is made from polyamide (nylon) and it stops the wind stone dead. That means it's handy pretty much all year round bar the height of summer. It takes up about half a jersey pocket and weighs just 86g so it's easy to carry.

Put the Vento on when the temperature drops and it makes a huge difference to your warmth. Remove cold wind from the equation and you retain much more of the heat that your body generates.

You get a high, close-fitting collar, of course, and snug, slightly stretchy cuffs too. I actually found getting the cuffs over my hands more difficult than usual, especially with chunky gloves on, but I'd far rather that than draughts up the sleeves. The tail is long to keep you covered and it's elasticated to stop the cold air getting in.

The Vento has 3D panels, meaning that it is cut to have depth. The idea is that the fabric, though not stretchy, sits close to your body as you ride without having to be pulled around. I found it to be a bit generous around the stomach compared to my favourite Mavic windproof.

That said, I am pretty skinny (just saying) and the Vento is similar around the middle to several other windproofs I have from brands like Pearl Izumi. Plus, the extra space came in handy when I wanted to load up the pockets of my jersey with leg warmers and so on. But I'd still say that the Vento is more of a general cut than a race cut, and our test model was certainly large for a size medium.

The neck and arms are cut to sit properly when you're leaning forward on the bike and they do that very well. My only problem was that when I opened the front zip at the neck for a little extra ventilation, the shoulders and upper back would billow quite a bit. Windproofs often billow if there's no yoke vent - and there rarely is. If you let air in, it obviously won't get out easily -that's what being windproof is - but the large sizing made it more noticeable than usual here.

Verdict

Lightweight, packable windproof that really does keep the cold air out, although our test model was more generously sized than normal

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Oneten Vento Wind Jacket

Size tested: Translucent White -M

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?

Oneten say, "The Oneten Vento wind jacket offers essential protection from the elements in a package convenient enough to always have at hand.

"We've designed the Vento wind jacket as an essential staple for riders of all levels and disciplines, on-road and off."

It's for anyone who wants windproofing where weight and size is an issue. That could be pretty much any cyclist although it's really more or a performance-type product.

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

It's almost completely windproof and reasonably breathable. If you do start getting too hot, you just take it off and sling it in your pocket. It takes up hardly any space.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

The fabric does its job really well and the 3D cut is good (even though I found it too generous around the middle). It did billow out more than most at the back/shoulders when I opened the neck a little.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Lightweight windproofs are never the most hardy of clothing but, of its type, the Vento seems durable enough. I've caught the fabric in the zip a couple of times and it has shrugged it off. The white is good for visibility although that does make it show the dirt and grime after riding on damp roads.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

It's a good price. You can get a lightweight windproof for £30-odd if you like and some are much more expensive, but £50 is a good price.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, but the fit wasn't quite right for me.

Would you consider buying the product? No, because of the fit.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, At the risk of sounding repetitive, it'll all come down to the fit.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 190cm  Weight: 74kg

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: time trialling, commuting, 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. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. 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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1 comments

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captain_slog | 12 years ago
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Quote:

our test model was more generously sized than normal

Are you usually smaller than that, Mat?

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