Altura Firestorm Waterproof Jacket

The Altura Firestorm Waterproof Jacket keeps the rain out and is well made, plus it offers an excellent amount of reflectivity to get you noticed in the dark. The breathability isn't too bad, and it is so lightweight and compact it easily stuffs into a jersey pocket, making it an ideal emergency solution. Its only main drawback is that the tail is a bit short – especially if you're on a drop bar bike.

• Pros: Reflectives are subtle in daylight; good waterproofing
• Cons: Can get warm inside when you're working hard; tail isn't dropped far enough

With a 15,000mm waterproof rating, backed up by taped seams, the Altura will keep the rain out for a long time even when it is absolutely bucketing it down. Water just beads off the fabric as you ride along, with nothing getting through at all.

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You are well covered from the elements too, with a tall neck to keep the rain out and extended cuffs that'll make sure there is no gap to allow water to run off and enter your glove even when you're stretched out in the drops.

A neat touch is that the cuffs are angled, giving plenty of coverage on top of your hand while being shorter at the bottom, so it doesn't get trapped between your hand and handlebar.

Breathability is okay for normal riding at a steady pace, but if you are out there on a bit of a mission or working hard on a climb you will start to get a bit damp inside. I never really noticed it while riding, I must admit, only when I got home and removed the Firestorm. There is always a trade-off between waterproofing and breathability, especially at this price point, and it wouldn't necessarily put me off buying the Altura – it's certainly no boil in the bag.

As you'd expect from a jacket of this style, insulation isn't great, although it does keep the wind out well. It has a semi-fitted design which allows a bit of extra room compared with a race cut, so layering beneath it isn't a problem, though that does mean that when you are in a race position there can be a bit of extra material flapping about in the wind.

Another issue with the cut is that the tail isn't dropped anywhere near long enough to keep your lower back covered, especially if you have quite a high saddle to bar drop. It needs to be at least another few inches longer to make sure your jersey isn't exposed.

Also round the back you'll find a pocket you can stuff a few things into if you're going to be wearing the jacket for the whole ride, but mainly it's there for you to fold the jacket into itself for easy storage.

It packs down to the size of a jersey pocket so it's an ideal emergency jacket to pack just in case it should rain. You can keep it stuffed in your commuting pack as well throughout the year.

A neat touch is the reflective print which is pretty subtle in the daylight but when headlights hit it in the dark you get full upper body coverage. For following drivers, it gives off the shape that you are a human in front and your arms are easily picked out when indicating your intentions.

The overall quality is good with tidy stitching throughout, and I found the sizing to be totally in line with most other brands – other than the European ones that tend to come up a bit small. Stick with Altura's size guide and you'll be fine.

Price-wise, at £79.99 it's pretty good value, although Galibier's Tempest Pro, which had a better fit for sitting on a road bike, with waterproofing and breathability about on a par with the Altura, costs £59.30.

There are plenty of more expensive jackets, though, such as the Endura Pro SL Shell Jacket II, which is similar in design and costs £164.99.

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Overall, the quality of the Firestorm is good for the money, the fabric works well, and I really like the reflectivity for use in the dark. If the tail was longer and offered more coverage then it would be even better.

Verdict

Impressive waterproofing makes this packable jersey ideal for rainy emergencies, though the cut could do with a tweak