Showers Pass Men's Navigator Jacket

The Showers Pass Men's Navigator Jacket is an extremely eye-catching top, especially in the dark, and it's designed to be worn both on and off the bike. The reflectivity is a nice touch, and I liked the removable hood – but it's not the most breathable jacket if you're using it just for cycling.

> Buy now: Showers Pass Men's Navigator Jacket for £225 from Showers Pass

The main use for the Navigator is urban cycling and thanks to its cut, which features a reasonably short dropped tail and roomy cuffs, it works well off the bike too.

It's a high-quality top and great for being seen in, though perhaps not quite up with the products in our best winter jackets buyer's guide.

The pattern on the jacket is printed in reflective ink and represents 11 international cities from Amsterdam to Portland, and Sydney to Taipei, and their impact on cycling culture – according to Showers Pass.

Basically, you are riding around looking like you're covered in a Strava heatmap.

And I personally think it's a cool-looking design. It's reasonably subtle in the daylight unless you look at it really closely but reflects impressively when illuminated by lighting sources such as car headlights.

The Navigator is waterproof and comes with fully taped seams that stood up well to all the rides I tackled in the rain.

I didn't find it the most breathable jacket I've ever worn and though it was ideal for urban rides on e-bikes, harder efforts on road and gravel bikes left me feeling a little hot.

The fit is quite relaxed too, making it more suitable for around-town rides when you're not in a hurry. Its lack of a deeply dropped tail also means it's better suited for riding in a more upright position, and if you're riding in the drops your backside won't gain much protection.

The hood is removable but if you do want to use it, it's large enough to cover a helmet and you can cinch it up at the bottom to stop it blowing back.

The tall neck it attaches to also keeps the elements out.

The jacket has what Showers Pass calls 'dump pockets'. These are basically zipped pocket openings on each side which you can stick your hands in, but there's an internal pocket on the other side of the mesh panel.

The pockets are deep, but I wouldn't want to carry too much in them when riding, as their position means the contents will hit your thighs when you're pedalling

Value

The Navigator's £225 price is a pretty sizeable chunk of cash for a cycling jacket. But it is a well made piece of kit and shows a very good level of attention to detail.

Proviz's Reflect360 Plus is a fair bit cheaper at £124.99, but though Matt was impressed by its brightness for night riding, he was less convinced by its breathability.

The £149.99 Gore Spirit jacket doesn't quite crossover into an off-the-bike top, but George reckons it's a brilliant all-weather jacket for a multitude of riding styles.

Altura's Nightvision Electron jacket (£190) goes one step further than just reflectivity by adding LED lighting to the mix. It has a relaxed fit for urban commuting and Liam was impressed with its waterproofing and breathability

Conclusion

The Navigator works well if you want a jacket that looks right whether you are on the bike or not. The removable hood is a good addition, and the reflectivity is both effective and stylish – but there's no doubting it is a pricey piece of kit.

Verdict

A jacket that works on and off the bike and its extremely effective reflective detailing doesn't look gaudy.