BTwin 700 Women's Warm Cycling Jacket

Standing in the shower wearing the BTwin 700 Women's Warm Cycling Jacket felt distinctly odd, but it was the best way I could think of to test its waterproofness without sweat confusing things. It confirmed what I had been thinking: this is an extremely good barrier against rain (and wind), but it's not so good at letting moisture out.

Even so, when I saw the price for this jacket I was rather surprised. Yes, plenty of BTwin items are at the lower end of the market, but it also has a few that are pricier (including the men's Aerofit 700 Warm Cycling Jacket for £99.99), and I was expecting this to be one of them.

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For starters, it's extremely windproof. I've worn this in very strong, very cold winds, and the only place you can feel any air creeping in is at the neck – but even then it has a hard job because the 700 comes with a detachable 'snood', a neck and lower face protector.

I initially thought this was just a gimmick, but then realised it was quite nice to have when there's a real chill in the air. (Note: pull it up too high and you will steam up your glasses.)

Although windproof, the fabric of the jacket isn't particularly insulating. It has a nice fleecy inner, but on really cold mornings you can do with a long-sleeve baselayer underneath otherwise your arms can get chilly.

The excellent windblocking isn't paired with quite such excellent breathability, and unless it's freezing, you will sweat. A lot. The technical details suggest 'mechanical vents' under the arms, but I couldn't find them; the only touch of venting our test jacket had was the mesh backing to the rear pockets. Even on a shortish ride you can get pretty damp, and I was convinced it was from the inside rather than the outside. Hence the testing in the shower.

In the shower I wore it with a cotton T-shirt underneath, and after a good few minutes' soaking the only part of my T-shirt that showed any sign of damp was the small of my back, where water must have run into the middle of the three rear pockets and through the mesh backing. Nothing anywhere else, even blasting water straight at the zip.

That middle pocket has a zipped 'water-repellent' pocket sewn into it, complete with hole for headphones, but I would urge caution before entrusting it with expensive gadgets. I worked up a bit of a sweat on just a half-hour ride and my phone was slippy with moisture.

The fabric of the jacket is quite stiff. The label says 100% polyester; there's a bit of give but it's not at all clingy and the sleeves are roomy. But it all appears well made, and although the seams aren't flatlock stitched nothing feels uncomfortable – and you're unlikely to be wearing this without a baselayer.

The zip, occasionally a bit reluctant to engage, has a double-fabric baffle and a neat garage at the top, always appreciated. Soft 'inner cuffs' slip into gloves easily, with the elasticated sleeve ends sitting over to create a tight seal.

I found the jacket a good length and I like the elasticated but not too tight fluoro waistband. With a thin strip of silicone gripper, it stays in place well.

> Check out our guide to the best winter jackets here

At the time of writing, the only colour option available on the Decathlon website is black. That might appeal to some of you more than this grey and blue combo but have others up in arms, and I have to say it's not overflowing with reflectives – just two thin strips along the sleeves – although the big logos and fluoro waistband (on the grey/blue option) stand out.

One last word of warning: if you've been wearing the snood, remember to pull it off over your head before you try to remove the jacket. Otherwise you look very silly...

Verdict

Keeps wind and rain out superbly and at an excellent price, but you'll undoubtedly end up moist on the inside anyway