Showers Pass Men's Double Century RTX cycling jacket

Showers Pass bring us products for rainy days and the Double Century RTX jacket is no different. It's lightweight and packable but above all it keeps the rain out, like most though it struggles with the heat once the going gets tough.

The RTX is designed to be stowed away in a jersey pocket so to keep things lightweight Showers Pass have gone for 2.5 layer waterproof fabric. This means that you get a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coated waterproof membrane with the body side of the fabric being embossed or printed to keep it away from the skin providing ventilation and breathability. Artex 2.5DC (Double Charcoal) is Showers Pass' version.

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Although there are plenty of vents, seven apparently when you account for the cuffs and two way zip alongside two core ones and one at the rear, the RTX still gets clammy when you are riding hard or the temperature is above 10 degrees.

Waterproof? Well, it all depends on the rating to what level of water resistance you are going to get and although Showers Pass don't state that rating the majority of these jackets are 10,000mm (Hydrostatic rating) which should keep out moderate to heavy rain before finally succumbing to it.

This is about right with what I found in testing, heavy short showers or steady persistent rain was fine but a mixture of the two would see you getting wet.

The membrane and DWR coating is backed up with taped seams and storm flaps over the zip to keep the rain out. Added to this is an optional hood that you can purchase and a dropped rear tail to keep road spray from soaking your backside.

The fit is relaxed so you are best dropping a size from what you'd normally wear if you want an athletic fit, or as close as you are going to get, it's not exactly tailored. This sizing is throughout the jacket too, the arms and tail on my usual sized medium were a little on the long side.

This is a packable jacket so it needs to be easy to take off and fold while in the saddle, you don't to keep stopping and starting the club run every time the weather changes. This is where the RTX excels, it folds very easily into a small bundle that fits nicely into a rear pocket. Unfolding the jacket and putting it back on is just as simple.

As far as storage goes you get a chest pocket which has an audio port, a whole to stuff your headphones through basically, and a larger pocket at the rear.

Should you ride in the dark there is a continual strip off reflective material running around the jacket and a light loop on the rear. There is also a lime model if the white isn't to your taste.

Overall the RTX is a good jacket and although clammy it is a better than its competitors though the majority I've tested are a lot cheaper. If offers good weather protection and it is very easy to fold up and put in a pocket. All that said, the £125 price tag is a big one and I don't think it quite has the comfort or fit it to justify the price tag. Yes, it's good, but in my opinion it's not quite that good.

Verdict

Easy to pack with decent waterproofing though a relaxed fit and mediocre breathability means its price is hard to swallow.