Planet X 365 Reactor + Jersey

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

This is what Planet X says:

"Respond to changing conditions with the Reactor Jersey. Made from a blend of waterproof softshell fabric and high breathable lycra it's the ideal top for those transitional days on the bike when the weather just can't make up its mind."

"The Reactor Jersey is what every cyclist needs. Totally windproof and utterly breathable it's designed to keep you cool and dry while protecting you from a little seasonal drizzle. Cut for recreational riding the Reactor feels perfect next to your skin on summer mornings and delivers maximum warmth for colder rides when paired with our 365 Baselayers."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

o Windproof jersey

o Highly breathable

o Weatherproof front zip

o Zipped chest vents

If we understand performance to mean keeping the wind out while being "utterly breathable", then this jacket's performance is pretty average. I was consistently getting the sort of boil-in-the-bag sweaty baselayer that you would expect from a cheapish waterproof, not from an "utterly breathable" softshell.

So far, so good.

The medium I tested was medium in terms of torso length, and arm length was bang on for medium too. Chest size was a bit too roomy for my liking; definitely not a racing fit despite the fabric having a lovely stretch. The marketing blurb does say it's cut for recreational riding, so I can't mark it down for that. The sleeves could fit more tightly too.

See above.

Perfectly comfortable to wear, apart from the gripper hem which is not really grippy enough to stop the top from riding up.

At £79.99 RRP, this softshell is in the same ballpark as the dhb equivalent. Given that I have some gripes with the design and the breathability of the Planet X one, I'm not sure I can call it good value for money. Currently, the medium yellow can be had for £30 on the Planet X website, at which price it's much better value.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

It went through the wash just fine.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The Planet X Reactor + Jersey keeps the wind out fine and actually most of the rain too, but it doesn't deliver on the "utterly breathable" that the marketing would lead you to believe. That meant it didn't tend to keep me that warm on rides where I got sweaty: get sweaty, sweat cools down, body cools down.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

It's more rainproof than you would expect.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The cut and the lack of breathability.

Use this box to explain your score

Planet X's 365 Reactor + Jersey doesn't quite deliver on the promise of being a windproof jersey that is utterly breathable. On longer rides at low double figure temperatures, this means my baselayer eventually gets soaked with sweat, which goes cold, which makes me cold. It does keep wind and most of the rain out, but I expected better breathability from the way this jersey is marketed, hence the "above average" rather than "good" rating.