As Santini says, this softshell winter jacket is for ‘bloody freezing weather’. We agree. Made predominantly with excellent Gore-Tex Windstopper fabric, the Feel feels completely windproof and shrugs off all but the heaviest showers – only our lab test showed that the seams leaked in storm-like conditions.
The elbows and underarms are made from stretchy waterproof and breathable Acqua Zero. With nice tight cuffs and the fleecy feel of the Windstopper it’s certainly warm – especially as there are no vents. Reflective hems help at the collar, cuffs and waist.
How we tested the latest jackets
As well as cycling for hours in the coldest, wettest conditions we could find (and sitting on a turbo under a hose), we took all the jackets to the waterproof clothing experts at Foxwear to test the seams and material – specifically the chest area and shoulder seams, which bear the brunt of downpours.
Foxwear’s testing machine isolates a 10cm section of the jacket and subjects it to increasing water pressure. We continued until either the jacket leaked or the pressure reached 0.6 bar which, according to Foxwear, is ‘not far short of a tropical storm’. Foxwear should know: they've been making hi-vis, high performance rain jackets for professionals such as the police for years, and will soon be bringing out a bike jacket.