Altura Women's Night Vision Evo Waterproof Jacket

Altura are known for producing good value kit that performs well for the money. The Night Vision Evo is just one below the company's top notch waterproof jacket (the Sirius Plus at £129.99) and as such is aimed at the more serious commuter, or rider looking for long duration protection from the elements and a comfortable ride.

It's an inoffensive looking jacket, with plenty of cycling specific features, such as huge amounts of reflective accenting, and the bright colour options (as well as good old black).

Features include part elasticated/part Velcro fastening cuffs, hip drawstring, two zipped side pockets that double as underarm ventilation, a rear lumbar pocket, vents across the shoulder area and a fuzzy patch to which you can stick the Velcro fastening Lightstick LED that comes with the jacket (a removable hi-viz gadget that flashes red). The collar is fleecy lined too, for cold weather comfort.

The fit of the Night Vision Evo is on the generous side, with a UK10 being equivalent to most manufacturers' size 12 (it's available in sizes UK8-18), with plenty of room for layering. That said, the fit is quite straight up and down, making it better suited to those with an athletic broad shoulders/narrow hips physique. It doesn't sit quite as well on a more curvy frame.

On the bike, this is a good midweight jacket, which was neither too warm nor too cold, making it handy for three season use. The combination of the mesh lining and soft-touch waterproof fabric meant it was comfortable against the skin, and it was genuinely breathable enough to mean I didn't get sweaty on the inside when wearing short sleeves under it in warmer conditions, yet it dealt quickly with moisture vapour with long sleeves too.

The side pockets with mesh lining doubled up nicely for a bit of extra ventilation. The sheer amount of reflective bits and pieces on it, coupled with the flashing doo dah on the back made me as visible as I possibly could be - given that I was obviously completely invisible by dint of riding a bike in the first place (sorry...rant over).

I particularly liked the reflectivity on the sleeves, which many manufacturers seem to overlook, despite its importance in helping to make hand signals visible after dark. The only little niggle I had was that the Lightstick LED gizmo doesn't have a replaceable battery, meaning you have to bin it and buy a new one (£9.99) once it runs out of juice, something the eco-miser in me isn't happy with. I also found the main zip a little on the stiff side for easy on-the-fly operation.

At £99.99 it provides very good value for money for a cycling specific waterproof, with all the bells and whistles, whilst being really comfortable and effective.

Verdict

Good value for money for a high performance commuting waterproof. Highly visible and comfortable, but make sure the fit suits your body shape.