Altura Women's NightVision Evo Waterproof Jacket (+ Hood)

I was really looking forward to testing the Altura Women's NightVision Evo jacket, but as soon as I tried it on I was disappointed. It offers good protection in the rain, and the visibility factor can't be faulted, but the sleeves are far too short – and I'm not especially long in the arm.

This was a constant annoyance, as I was forever trying to pull them down while riding. I compared the sleeve length to the Endura Luminite II jacket and they're a full 4in shorter.

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Fit

As for the fit of the rest of the jacket, it takes its description of 'loose' to the extreme. My size 10 was enormous in the body with baggy sleeves (it's not me in the photos, but the fit was no better on me). I could easily fit my thin down jacket under it; it certainly couldn't be described as a flattering cut, with barely any hint of a waist.

It's also too short at the back, hardly covering my waistband let alone bottom when on my bike. It does have drawcord toggles in the hem and also at the back of the cosily lined collar, which is actually a fairly snug fit so I only tightened it in heavy rain.

Visibility

Visibility is one of the main selling points of this jacket and it meets the brief very well. It gives excellent visibility at night thanks to reflectives around the the zips and the big reflective strips that are well positioned on the shoulders, arms and back to give 360-degree visibility to drivers, as Altura says. This made me feel confident on dark evening commutes. In daylight the raspberry colour is fairly bright, though less visible than the yellow option.

The integrated light on the rear is now positioned lower down than in previous NightVision jackets. It's just above the hem, which is an improvement because it can still be seen if you're wearing a backpack (and doesn't dig into your back either under a pack). But I found it too easy to turn on by accident, doing so regularly just by taking my pack on and off.

Waterproofness/breathability

This is a medium weight jacket ideal for wearing on colder days. The two-layer soft-touch fabric is windproof and keeps the rain out well, with water beading on the surface, although on a long, wet ride the water did soak in eventually at the cuffs (although no rain got through the body so I still stayed dry).

> Check out our buyer's guide to the best waterproof jackets

Despite Altura's claims of superior breathability, I still got sweaty on my commute, but the jacket doesn't feel clammy inside thanks to the rather lurid fluoro mesh lining. This might be in part due to the venting, which didn't feel very effective.

The position of the 'pit' zips didn't strike me as optimum as they are down by your ribs, not your armpits, and the storm flap covering the zips prevents free air flow. The yoke across the back has a vent but again it didn't feel like it was letting any heat/moisture out, and certainly wasn't when I was wearing a backpack.

Details

There are two usefully sized hand pockets and a handy chest pocket, perfect for train tickets, all with waterproof zips and a reflective surround. The rear pocket is a modest size, ample for a spare tube and wallet, and has a storm flap over the zip.

All the zips have toggles, which makes them easy to use with thick gloves on. The front zip has a storm flap behind it and a zip garage.

The sleeve cuffs are elasticated underneath the wrist – which makes them even shorter here! – and have a reflective Velcro tab to adjust them, but I didn't need to cinch them in.

The optional hood (£10.99, in colours to match) is also mesh lined and has reflective detail at the back, a peak and drawcord adjustment. It isn't large enough to fit over a helmet and is too bulky to fit under, so it's better suited for off the bike if you need to walk part of your commute. It attaches with only two poppers at the back of the neck, so to make it stay up you need to Velcro the front together under your chin.

Verdict

Good night visibility and decent for keeping out the rain but let down by the poor fit