Rivelo Newington Reversible Jacket

The Rivelo Newington Reversible Jacket is a decent commuter jacket that offers good protection against the elements and a lot of storage, but the suggestion that it can be reversed for casual situations seems slightly wide of the mark; it's very definitely a cycling jacket, whichever way round you wear it.

• Pros: Decent weatherproofing, loads of storage, good visibility features
• Cons: 'Casual' side still looks pretty 'cycling', breathability not as good as others

So, you need a jacket for riding into work, but you also need a jacket to wear while at work which doesn't make you look like you've just got off your bike. Rather than relying on two jackets, one for on the bike, one for off, Rivelo has attempted to solve the problem with its Newington Reversible Jacket which is brightly coloured on one side, and darker and more subtle looking on the other (in this case, navy).

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There's nothing complicated about reversing it – it's literally just a case of turning it inside out and flipping the zip tab to the outside once reversed, even with the zip garage.

On the 'cycling' side, the material is relatively lightweight, much like a regular lightweight cycling-specific jacket. The other is a kind of thick mesh material, which acts as webbing when on the inside, and the casual side outer. It's quite an interesting design because the mesh definitely gives another layer of protection against the elements when on the inside, so by virtue of simply being reversible the jacket offers better protection than most lightweight options.

I used this several times in the wind and rain and it kept out most of it. In really heavy downpours some water got through the untaped seams and zip, but for showers it's more than adequate. Wind resistance is also good, and the cuffs create a decent barrier against the elements at the wrist, and with the webbing adding a little extra padding it kept out the worst of cold bites. The jacket itself isn't brilliant at insulating, it's more of an external shell than an insulation layer.

The fit is somewhere between casual and performance, with a little bit of excess but not enough to consider it a totally casual cut. It also has a dropped back for riding and includes an extension for this too, with a piece of reflective material that can be unzipped to give more visibility or weather protection.

I'd say it's definitely designed for on-the-bike use, with the dropped hem a real giveaway, and that does mean that – other than the more subtle colour – it doesn't look particularly 'casual' off the bike. It does work well on the bike, though.

One element I particularly like is the amount of storage in the rear pocket, which runs across the bottom of the back and is accessible regardless of which side you have reversed. It's pretty cavernous, swallowing everything I needed for a multi-hour ride easily, including a pump and puncture repair kit, and I even picked up a couple of beers on my way home and stuck them in.

There's a fair amount of reflective piping and print detailing used throughout, which when combined with the reflective hem panel means it should be almost impossible to miss you on the roads. The orange colour that I reviewed (it's also available in cobalt blue/black) was also particularly useful in this regard; I even had one person lean out of their window and shout that I was almost as orange as Donald Trump.

Breathability is okay but not as good as others I have used. You don't exactly boil when wearing it, but there is a bit of heat build-up, despite laser-cut holes in the underarm. I guess it's not surprising given the separate mesh and outer layers.

An RRP of £120 seems about right for a well-made commuting jacket. It is comparable to the Altura Nightvision Thunderstorm reviewed by Dave Atkinson, which comes in at £129.99, and the Sweet Protection Crossfire that I reviewed a couple of months ago, which is also £129.99. It is £10 less but not quite as waterproof as either, but it does have the reversible element.

> Buyer's Guide: 10 of the best high-vis winter cycling jackets

Overall, I liked this jacket for its high-visibility elements, the protection it offers, and the fit on the bike. Perhaps to be genuinely reversible for off-the-bike use the fit could be a little more towards the casual, but as something to be worn on the bike it works well.

Verdict

A really good jacket on the bike, keeping you protected from all but the worst conditions, but the reverse could be more casual