Endura Pro SL Windshell

The Endura Pro SL Windshell offers a race-orientated fit and plenty of protection from the various elements. With a smattering of waterproofing and windproofing, it is a very good package, if not the most breathable.

• Pros: Lightweight, foldable package; performance cut
• Cons: Can get quite warm if you are riding hard

The temperatures are rising here in the south-west but it's still chilly either end of the day, the ideal conditions for a jacket of this sort.

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First up, it only weighs 190g and being such a thin, lightweight jacket it folds up and sits in a jersey pocket without you even noticing it, perfect for a ride in changing conditions.

The shoulders, top of the arms and front panels are made from a waterproof fabric, something I wasn't expecting for a windshell, so it was a welcome benefit. Riding at speed or into a headwind when it is raining hard, the panels do a good job of keeping your torso and upper back dry, plus they have the benefit of windproofing to keeping your vital organs warm.

The rest of the windshell fabric is windproof but with an added DWR (durable water repellent) coating to keep the worst of the rain off. It'll eventually get overwhelmed, but as it's used on the more sheltered parts of the body it'll take a while.

The main back panel is a much thinner fabric to aid breathability, helped by some venting holes under the arms. It does a decent enough job unless you are riding really hard; a few times I did find it getting overwhelmed and a little clammy, and that was in temperatures of high single figures with just a long-sleeve baselayer underneath.

Dropping the full length zip to about midway for a few minutes or when starting to climb does help matters.

I do like the overall cut of the Endura. It's performance orientated with a shape that suits you better when on the bike rather than off it, plus it has a long tail section to protect your rear from road spray and chilly winds.

I found the arms to be a good length for minimising skin exposure between glove and jacket, and the cuffs are cut at angles – longer on top – to help this.

You get a tall neck, and the front zip has a storm guard too to keep rain out.

Endura has included some smart little details too, such as the gel pocket on the left hand side, plus on the right there is a zipped opening which gives you access to your jersey pocket. It's not massive and can be a bit tight to get a winter gloved hand through while riding, but if you know exactly what you need to grab it's a neat touch.

There are some subtle reflective stripes on the chest, but it's a shame they don't continue around to the back. I'm guessing the change to the lightweight mesh back panel may be the reason behind this. It's also only available in black.

Endura offers a decent range of sizes from XS through to XXXXL – up to a 51in chest – and the sizing chart is spot on. The sizing is pretty generous – the Windshell is performance styled but without being a full-on race cut – and each fabric used in the jacket has plenty of stretch.

Price-wise, at £99.99 the Pro SL is not cheap for a lightweight jacket on the face of it, but looking back through our reviews of similar tops it's not too bad. It matches the Pearl Izumi Elite Hybrid jacket for money and the performance seems to be similar, though the Pearl Izumi does sound to have slightly better breathability.

> Buyer's Guide: 12 of the best windproof cycling jackets

I've been a big fan of the dhb Aeron Lab Ultralight jacket over the winter, and while it is fully waterproof unlike the Endura and comes with a £150 price tag, the Endura is very similar in terms of cut and packability. The inclusion of waterproof panels at the front, the areas that take the brunt of the weather, means that the Endura's performance isn't too far off.

Overall, if you want a lightweight weather-resistant jacket that you can wear for the entire ride or just drag it out when you need it, the Pro SL is a handy companion.

Verdict

Impressive weather-resistant properties and a great performance fit, although it can get a little warm