Altura Nightvision Evo 3 Waterproof Jacket

The Altura Nightvision Evo 3 Waterproof Jacket brings together good breathability, strong waterproofing and windproofing, and very high levels of visibility into one well-made package.

As the nights have been closing in (and the clocks will have gone back by the time you read this), lights have made their way onto bars, full mudguards have appeared, and the amount of high vis on the roads has crept upwards. Perfect timing to get the Nightvision Evo 3 through the door for review.

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Now one of the most important elements for any waterproof jacket is – surprise, surprise – the waterproofing, something that London weather over the first three weeks of the review didn't seem to like me testing. However, luckily for me, the weather over the last week has been terrible. I've never been so happy to see dark grey clouds.

I'm happy to report that waterproofing on the jacket is certainly up to scratch. Even though it seemed like London had been saving up every drop of rain for me, the jacket kept me dry throughout. The company claims a 15,000mm waterproof rating and this seems to be accurate (15-20k means it should stand up to heavy rain).

On the other side of the coin is breathability, because we all know how unpleasant it is to be drenched more by your own sweat than rain. Here the jacket again has a 15k breathability rating, and there wasn't really a build up of moisture at all. This is helped by the 'Pit and Yoke Draft Venting', which is essentially a netting inside the jacket that keeps the the outer fabric away from the skin/jersey. There is also a full length zip and vents beneath the arms, which means you can adjust airflow if needed.

One of the most noticeable elements of this jacket is the high vis on the front, down the arms, across the chest, and at the bottom of the back. These light up like a beacon when light hits them, which is very impressive and means you feel really safe in the knowledge that you can be seen by other road users.

In addition to this there is also a light at the bottom of the back which you turn on/off by holding it down. It has three settings, either fast/slow flashing or solid, and gives off a decent amount of light, making it a useful emergency alternative or addition to a regular rear unit.

The jacket also has some nice design features, such as the large rear pocket which is useful for gels and smaller items that you can get to without needing to reach your jersey pockets underneath. In addition to this, there are two front pockets on either side of your hips and a chest pocket, each one large enough for a wallet, phone or keys. There are also a couple of drawstrings to help tighten the jacket around specific areas, with one around the neck to keep neck drips to a minimum and another around the base.

Fit is towards the casual side and I found it as comfortable when sitting up as in the drops. There isn't really any excessive material around the jacket, but it's certainly more commuter jacket than performance focused. It's not something you can pack away in a jersey pocket and is relatively bulky, which slightly limits its use from a performance perspective.

> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best waterproof cycling jackets

The jacket comes with an RRP of £99.99, which for a breathable, waterproof jacket that will protect you from pretty much whatever British weather will throw at you is a decent price. Endura's Luminite DL is a tenner less but breathability is more of an issue (rated 10k not 15k), while dhb's Flashlight Force offers the same kind of breathability and higher waterproof ratings but is another £20. Another to consider might be Altura's more racy cut (and listed under 'Road' rather than 'Urban' on its website) NV2 Jacket; it's the same price, £99.99, with the same 15k waterproof and breathable ratings, but a slimmer fit. A full review is imminent.

Overall I liked this jacket. It kept me dry, kept the wind off, and didn't boil me alive. For more performance-orientated riding its NV2 sibling might be a better choice, but for more casual riding and commuting, given the positives that it offers both in terms of design and performance, it's a strong offering.

Verdict

A very strong performance in terms of waterproofing and breathability, with reassuringly good high-vis features