Attacus Cold Weather Jacket

The Attacus Cold Weather Jacket lives up to its name, keeping out the worst of the elements, though it could do with taped seams to add more waterproofing for when the heavens really open. It looks good and fits well, but it is expensive.

• Pros: Really fun design, warm, breathable
• Cons: Expensive, no taped seams for added waterproofing

Attacus is an 18-month-old London-based cycling brand looking to bring a more 'punk' vibe to cycling clothing. Ash tested the Thermal Bib Tights and was impressed, and I was keen to try the Cold Weather Jacket to see how it compared to others on the market.

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The first thing you notice about the jacket is that it does not take the monochromatic aesthetic that many British based manufacturers have adopted, the vibrant indigo being a colour that really pops. Inside it's even better! The lining is a peacock pattern, which sets it aside from most other cycling kit and definitely lends a degree of fun to the jacket.

Attacus has used an Italian-made, water-resistant 'storm shield' for the outer, with an insulated, breathable membrane, and it does a really good job of keeping you warm on cold rides. I tested this during the Beast from the East and was more than happy with the insulation despite it not being classic softshell material.

The material itself is also pretty waterproof and generally nothing really comes through, although when the skies really open water does seep through the untaped seams; it's not anything close to a deluge, but still noticeable. This was only during really heavy rain for an extended period – for showers or drizzle it was more than adequate. This leakage only happens on the seams – one of the nice touches of the jacket is that Attacus has included taped seams on the front zip and on the chest pocket zip.

Windproofing is really good, and despite riding in strong winds at about -4°C I didn't have any complaints about the elements getting through. It also manages to maintain a good degree of breathability: I never found myself getting particularly clammy while using it, even on top of a jersey and thermal underlayer.

The cut of the jacket is relatively close compared to others I have used, although it's certainly not designed to be an aero garment. Attacus describes it as 'the luxury of a tailored suit jacket', which might be slightly hyperbolic but is probably relatively accurate in terms of fit – it's more fitted than aero. It's helped by the silicone gripper that runs across the bottom of the jacket – throughout the review period there was no point at which I noticed the jacket riding up.

It also has some good practical elements, such as the three pockets on the back and the zipped pocket on the chest, which means you can fit in everything you might need for a winter ride. It also has some reflective elements, with the logo on the pockets and hemming around the top and bottom, which is a nice touch for low-light riding conditions. Soft elasticated cuffs keep out the elements while also helping to maintain comfort and reduce chafing on the wrist.

With an RRP of £180 it's an expensive jacket, and comes up against strong competition, such as some of the insulated jackets in Rapha's Pro-Team collection (the Training Jacket is £160 and the Softshell Jacket £200). It is a unique and exciting design, and performs well, but does that justify the price tag? It offers more rainproofing than Sportful's Giara Softshell – but that's £120... Even Gore's Power 2.0 Windstopper Soft Shell is 'only' £150.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best winter cycling jackets 

Overall, though, I really liked this jacket; it combines a fun design with practical elements and a good performance. Taped seams would be good to stop water seeping in, especially at this price, but on the whole I was impressed. Whether you'd be happy to shell out £180 I'll leave up to you…

Verdict

A fun and strong performing winter jacket from the London-based newcomers