Label snobs out there should take a good look at the new Polaris range of riding gear — it’s a whole lot better than you think.
Take the Scandium jacket, for example. It’s the sort of jacket that’s thin and light enough at 595g to pack into a hydration pack, but burly enough to shake off the hardships of regular trail abuse, the odd spill, and of course good old British rainstorms. It doesn’t hurt that it looks pretty stylish, either.
Under the skin, this is a Hydrovent unlined shell with fully taped seams to ensure good levels of protection from wind and rain. Polaris has given the jacket long arms, a drop tail, Velcro cuffs and a drawstring hem and collar, plus waterproof zips on the pit vents, handwarmer pockets and chest pocket to further seal out the weather and endear it to us riders.
Throughout our test, the Scandium ticked all the boxes. Will it keep you dry in a monsoon? Yes, up to a point, and its waterproof performance isn’t too far short of that provided by more expensive jackets from Gore-Tex and Event.
Buyers can choose it in slate or ebony, and in sizes S to XXL.
