Primal Onyx Men's Clear Rain Jacket

Primal's Onyx jacket is a lightweight, packable 'race cape' that's okay for short, sharp showers but lacking breathability if you need to wear it for any length of time. It has very little to differentiate itself from many other options available.

Primal has been making cycling apparel and activewear since 2011, and has a good range of road and mountain bike kit, many with a modern and refreshing 'out there' aesthetic.

> Buy this online here

The Onyx doesn't stray far from the standard 'race-cape' format. Primal describes the material used as 'Toray' but the label tells me it's 100% polyester with a PU (polyurethane) coating, the standard for jackets at this level.

The fabric is textured, which helps it move more freely over sweaty skin, but before I go into its performance, let's take a look at some of the design details:

Firstly the cut, which is actually quite racy, suited me well. There was minimal wind-flap, and the elasticated collar, cuffs and waist kept everything in place at speed. However, I could have done with 3-4cm extra length in the sleeves to access the handy thumb-loops.

The zip is a full-length, fine tooth affair from YKK. The metal tab on the zip itself is a little on the small side and slippy in the wet – I think a material or rubber tab would have been nice.

Under the armpits there's a fine, breathable mesh, and around the neck the same material makes it comfortable when zipped up completely.

Out back is a vertical zipped entry point for access to your jersey pockets, with enough room to afford a good dig around for that last gel.

On the bike, the Onyx packed down easily into the narrowest of pockets in my aero racing kit and left room to spare in my more commuter-friendly jerseys. At 109g for a size medium it's easy to ignore, and on par with many of its competitors for weight.

So what's it like when the heavens open? Well, it's waterproof, both ways.

Yes, the Onyx will keep the rain off your shoulders, but after 20-30 minutes of effort you'll start creating your own micro-climate. After 50-60 minutes you'll be about as wet as you would be without it on.

For an emergency layer in the event of a shower there are cheaper choices, such as Altura's Microlite Showerproof at £39.99. The heavier (180g) but more breathable dhb Classic Rain Shell comes in at £60, but even at another £18 the Endura FS260-Pro Adrenaline Race Cape would be my choice.

> Buyer's Guide: The best waterproof jackets

As a quick emergency layer you can tuck away in a pocket and pull on in a downpour the Onyx is an reasonable choice, but if you need to wear it for any length of time then its lack of breathability will have much the same effect as the shower you've avoided.

Verdict

Lightweight and packable with a slightly racy fit, but breathability is poor