The Stowaway is part of the long-awaited women’s Rapha range. We tried hard not to fall in love with this jacket, but to no avail.
Okay, it’s not perfect: the front pocket is too small for even the tiniest of hands, the zip pull is hard to use with full-fingered gloves and the forearms are a little too narrow. However, the tough-but-light fabric is windproof, breathable and despite being described as only water resistant, it kept our torsos dry in some heavy downpours.
Black strips of tape protect shoulder seams from abrasive bag straps, and the reflective detailing along the arms, front pocket and back logo aided our visibility.
The shape is great, gracefully going in at the waist and out at the hips, and the natural stretch of the material gives a close fit that doesn’t feel restrictive, while allowing the jersey pockets underneath to be stuffed full of supplies without compromising the performance.
Available in red or cream, it looks and feels fantastic.