Madison's Apex Waterproof Storm Jacket is a heavier weight, breathable, completely windproof and waterproof beast of a jacket designed to take on the worst of wet weather riding.
As a result, it’s bulkier than most, so not a jacket you’d stash in a jersey pocket, but it's stacked with good real-world features that help to keep you dry.
When it comes to the stats, the Apex is impressive. It’s fully waterproof with a rating of 20,000mm, which is up there with the best and usually reserved for jackets that cost far more. The Apex also has solid breathability credentials of 20,000g/m²/24hrs. This is good for the price, and while you can get waterproofs with higher breathability ratings they’re rarely found at this price point.
With Madison’s racing pedigree it’s no surprise to see the Apex has a fitted cut. That said, it does fit true to size and there’s even enough room for layers. The three-layer construction fabric features a little stretch that adds to overall fit and general ride comfort.
The rear droptail offers plenty of coverage and seals in place thanks to an elastic hem with a wide silicone strip. Add elastic cuffs with adjustable Velcro closures and a tall soft collar and you’re well sealed from the elements. I appreciated there was ample length in the arms regardless of ride position, too.
As mentioned, the jacket's breathability is solid, but Madison has also added zip vents on the chest and forearms, along with an exhaust vent on the rear. I found these useful when working hard or doing intervals sessions. They’re also useful on milder days when you’re riding in the rain and need a little ventilation, or if the rain stops and you warm up.
On cold days the jacket remains warm because its fully windproof, and even down into single figures I was fine with just a baselayer on underneath.
Two rear-zipped pockets provide enough dry stash space, no matter how long you’re in the saddle. These don’t use waterproof zips but have large flaps and I never had any issues with the contents getting wet. Being zipped did make them fiddly to access on the road, but extended zip tags made life easier.
Madison has added subtle reflective details and logos to the pockets, as well as the arms and front of the jacket, to help with visibility on the road.
One thing that really shines through is how robust the Apex is. It’s well built with taped seams and can take a lot of abuse. If you're anything like me, then winter kit gets a thrashing on and off the bike, but I never had to worry about the Apex feeling delicate. It’s one of those jackets you wear and don’t worry about.
Generally, I only needed to wipe down the Apex after riding in the rain because I was using mudguards. That said, I did throw it in the washing machine a couple of times at 30 degrees and it’s still working fine.
If you ride regularly in the rain and want a functional rain jacket to keep you dry, even on the wettest days, the Apex delivers high performance without costing the earth.
Product
| Brand | madison |
| Price | 135.00 GBP |
| Weight | 445.0000, GRAM () - |
Features
| br_gender | mens |
| br_clothingKeyFeatures | waterproof |
| br_clothingKeyFeatures | windproof |
| br_clothingKeyFeatures | zip_closure |
| Features | Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL Colours: Black, Blue, Orange Pockets: 2 zipped rear |
