Endura Helium Jacket

This neat, highly packable shell is a great option for slinging in a jersey pocket on summer rides ready to be pressed into service if the rain starts hoofing down.

The Endura Helium (not to be confused with the new Mavic Helium jacket) is made from 2.5 layer nylon, which means the fabric has outer and inner layers that have been bonded together, plus a raised pattern on the inside to stop it sticking to your skin. It’s not as breathable as a super-high end option, but it still allows plenty of moist vapour to escape while the full-length front zip and yoke vent add extra air-conditioning.

The main red panels aren’t stretchy but the smaller black inserts at the waist, armpits and neck are. This means that, though cut slim, the Helium seals out the rain well without feeling too tight or restrictive. You get a drawcord at the neck if you need to tweak the fit.

The Helium does a fine job of keeping out the rain. No water at all got in through the fabric or the taped seams even during a couple of, frankly, horrible test rides. a small amount of rain can seep in through the front zip but there’s a storm flap behind there so it’s really not much of an issue. Speaking of the zip, it’s positioned off-centre so the top doesn’t get annoying under your chin and there’s a fabric guard to stop it scratching.

The zipped rear pocket comes with a hole for plumbing in a headphone wire and it doubles up as a storage pouch for the rest of the jacket when not in use. Reflective trim will help you get seen in poor light while the whole thing weighs in at 235g and measures about 22x 10cm x 8cm when packed down.

Available in sizes S-2XL and in both red and black.

Verdict

Slim-cut, lightweight waterproof with decent breathability; packs down small enough to fit into a back pocket