Sportful Women's Allure SoftShell Jacket

With the Sportful Allure softshell jacket you'll stay warm and dry, even as the temperatures dip towards zero or light rain gets added to the cocktail of British weather.

Sportful have continued to develop the popular Allure softshell jacket; modern fabrics and treatments make the Allure a tough-to-beat outer layer that will serve you from autumn right through to spring. Despite Sportful's claim that it is a jacket for 'cooler weather' it is one of the warmer pieces of kit I have ridden in this winter.

The Allure's cosy warmth comes from the fleece-lined softshell material used in the main body and upper sleeves-windproof, water resistant and breathable thanks to the polyurethane membrane. Although this softshell was not as soft and flexible as some on the market (like the Gore Power Trail Lady Windstopper Soft Shell Hoody), it did not feel overly stiff or bulky on the bike and was certainly warmer than many without sacrificing breathability.

Buy Sportful Women's Allure SoftShell Jacket

Sportful have used Thermodrytex Plus on the under side of the sleeves, a slightly thinner, more stretchy material treated with a water repellent silicone finish. The jacket endured several 3+ hour rides in drizzle and temperatures of between 2 and 5 degrees and never once did I feel cold or sense excessive build-up of moisture. With one single thermal base layer I was perfectly warm at all times.

Sportful only give a 2 out of 4 rating for breathability, based on use in temperatures below 5 degrees (with a single base layer). I would have been more generous. With temperatures a little kinder, I was skeptical about the breathability of the jacket. With a short sleeved base layer the material used for the sleeves provides noticeable airflow to help regulate body temperature, it's really effective.

The breathability rating is more realistic at temperatures nearing double figures where any sustained efforts result in a slightly sweaty torso. You are likely to cook in temperatures above 10 degrees if trying really hard, below that you can tailor the jacket to your needs with appropriate base layers.

>>Read more: The best winter cycling jackets

Sportful make a modest claim in their spiel about both softshell and Thermodrytex: they are 'water repellent'. Drizzle and spray water simply beaded and rolled off, even consistently light rain did not penetrate the soft shell outer.

Determined to see just how good this repellency was, I took the power shower to the jersey. The water did eventually stop beading, but even then there was no sign of moisture on the interior of the jacket. After several machine washes the jacket was still performing on all fronts.

The fit of the jersey did not impress me quite as much as its performance. The jacket is generous in length, both in the body and on the arms. That's fine and can be considered a plus. It also has a super high collar which is perfect for really cold days. However, while it fitted well I found it excessive around the midriff and arms. There was no real tapering in the cut that might be expected from female specific kit. Naturally this is down to individual body shape but you can see from the photos what I mean.

Aesthetically it is really attractive. The black/anthracite colour combination is not the most striking where visibility is concerned, it is most definitely very stylish and doesn't show up splatter stains. The other options (cherry/bordeaux and turquoise/ ocean) are certainly eye-catching if visibility is a priority for you. All three feature similar satin detailing across the chest, piping on the sleeves and collar and 3 ample rear pockets. The reflective logo and loops on the rear are minimal; more reflective detailing would be ideal. My other gripe would be the size of the zip toggle. Because the collar is high, unzipping it on the move helps regulate body temperature but it's a bit too small for use with bulky winter gloves.

The Allure lives up to the performance ratings that Sportful have assigned it: 4/4 for insulation and wind- and waterproofing, 2/4 for breathability. It is a quality piece of kit that lends itself well to use in a variety of weather conditions so is worth the investment if you know that a Sportful cut fits you well.

Verdict

Outstanding protection in damp, cold and windy conditions, but could be better tailored to the feminine figure