Troy Lee Designs Shuttle jacket review

The Troy Lee Designs Shuttle wind-resistant jacket is perfect for riders who aren’t fans of wearing full-on waterproof mountain bike jackets, or simply don’t think they’ll ever find the perfect weather-specific clothing.

Although the Shuttle doesn’t boast the same weatherproofing as heavier-weight waterproof jackets, its lighter construction means it’s less cumbersome to carry when you don’t need it, and it generally breathes pretty well too.

If you live in a climate where the weather seems to change constantly, it should offer sufficient protection from the elements to keep your body warm enough on most rides… unless Mother Nature really turns on the taps.

Troy Lee Designs Shuttle jacket details

The Shuttle jacket is made from TLD’s wind-resistant ripstop fabric and weighs a very reasonable 180g. That reasonable weight equates to a sturdier, more protective feel when compared to lighter equivalents (Velocio’s Trail Ultralight Hooded jacket weighs 120g on my scales, but is thinner).

This fabric is designed to keep the cold wind out, but won’t prevent you from getting wet in a downpour.

Thanks to that relatively lightweight construction, the Shuttle will pack down quite small (and into its own rear pocket), occupying roughly the same space as a soft-drink can. That means it’ll fit into most cycling backpacks and some of the best hip packs easily enough.

Troy Lee Designs has opted for a tailored, roadie-style cut to the Shuttle rather than a more traditional baggy mountain bike jacket. That said, I’ve still been wearing a baselayer, back protector and mountain bike jersey underneath on really cold days when I need to layer up, without the fit feeling tight or restrictive.

When you do begin to warm up, the Shuttle includes gill vents (a covered slit with a mesh backing) across the back and under the armpits to help dump heat before you start cooking and getting too sweaty.

While there’s no elasticated drawcord around the hem, the back of the Shuttle has a decent amount of drop, which should ensure your lower back stays covered while riding.

Elasticated cuffs help to keep any cold drafts from disappearing up your sleeves but ensure the Shuttle is easy enough to take on and off.

Around the inside of the close-fitting collar, TLD has opted to use a soft, brushed back fabric to help keep you snug, and although this adds to the overall weight, it’s a very welcome addition on chillier days.

There’s also a neat little zip garage (a flap of material that sits over the zip pull when the jacket is done up) in a bid to prevent any irritation of your neck or chin while riding.

Speaking of zips (of which there are only two), decent-length zip pulls are included on both the main zip and single, spacious rear pocket. I found these were easy to use, even with bulkier winter gloves on.

Troy Lee Designs Shuttle jacket performance

I’m a big fan of the tailored fit. It means there’s not masses of excess material left to bunch up when you're sat down and pedalling, and it can’t blow and flap about when you start moving faster.

There’s enough room in the sleeves and the body to keep you covered while you move around on the bike, and despite the lack of drawcord in the hem, I had no issues with the Shuttle riding up or leaving me exposed while on the trail.

On properly cold days, or simply when the wind was howling, I quickly started to appreciate the soft fabric and tight-fitting, high collar.

It may only be a small touch, but being able to get this zipped up and blocking any drafts from getting in makes a massive difference when it comes to keeping warm.

It’s also not something the lightest of lightweight jackets can boast, and I’ll happily take those few extra grams and a slightly bulkier jacket to stay better insulated.

The elasticated cuffs help here too, offering a snug enough fit over your wrists to prevent cold air creeping in, but never feel awkwardly tight or impossible to get your hands in or out of.

The Shuttle does a really good job of keeping the cold out and insulating your core, and it’ll stave off lighter showers and puddle splashes without issue too.

Of course, as it’s not a full-on waterproof jacket, hang around in a proper downpour and you’ll get wet, but then that’s to be expected.

But for those days when the weather can’t make up its mind, I’ll regularly reach for the Shuttle and keep it on all day.

That’s partly down to the added warmth, but also thanks to the fact that it breathes pretty well when you’re working hard, too.

On milder damp days, I've found I need to leave the collar unzipped to prevent getting too clammy, but otherwise it seems to dump heat pretty effectively.

That said, wear a pack and you’ll be covering the rear gill vent, which will impact this somewhat.

While all of that is really positive, I do have one niggle. I’d argue that although it’s handy being able to pack the jacket down into the rear pocket, it’s not essential.

Ideally, I’d rather the pocket was located on the chest and was smaller in size, or there was some kind of separator or organiser if Troy Lee Designs is keen on keeping it at the back. As it stands, put anything too heavy in the pocket and it’ll shift around as you ride.

It’s not the end of the world though, and hasn’t diminished the appeal the Shuttle has. There are not many jackets I’ll leave in my kit bag, but this is one of them, and it’s been great to wear throughout autumn and winter so far.

Troy Lee Designs Shuttle jacket bottom line

The TLD Shuttle jacket offers a decent level of weather protection and does a good job of keeping the cold wind out on really chilly days. The impressive cut and robust yet relatively lightweight construction add to this appeal and help it to stand up to more than just a gentle breeze.

If you’re not wearing it, the Shuttle will pack down small enough to carry without too much hassle, too.

Yes, if I could, I’d change the location of the rear pocket, but it’s by no means a deal breaker. I really like it for riding on mixed-weather days thanks to its weatherproofing, fit and breathability.