Altura Nightvision Storm Thermal Gilet

Tell us what the product is for

The Altura Nightvision Storm Thermal Gilet is a three-season design with a 10K waterproof outer layer; it's a looser fit intended for commuting and casual riding.

Altura says, 'A three season thermal gilet perfect for cool early mornings and chilly evening commutes

'The Urban Thermal Gilet is a welcome addition to our Nightvision range, it is perfect to pop on for added warmth over a jersey on those early morning and evening commutes when temperatures can be cooler. The 10K / 10K waterproof outer layer is also highly breathable and encases the snug layer of thermal grid fabric across the chest and sides which keeps the chill off. The reflective print panels and light loop allow you to stay visible to other road users when the light is low in the early morning and dusk. There is plenty of storage for your essentials with a chest pocket and lower back pocket. With this easy, relaxed feature-packed style what more could you ask for?'

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

Altura lists:

- 10k / 10k Waterproof and breathable outer fabric

- Thermal lined inner front and side panels and collar

- Reflective print detail

- Rear light loop

- Zippered chest pocket and rear pocket

- Two-way waterproof front zip

- Silicone rear hem gripper [NB: there is no silicone gripper]

- Relaxed fit

The Nightvision Gilet is nicely constructed; it's got a bit of weight to it, and should last well. The fleece lining is comfortable and cosy in bad weather, and runs around the collar area, the sides of the gilet and the front panels. The double zip on the front is waterproof and can be unzipped from the bottom, allowing access to pockets in clothing underneath. Although Altura says it has, there is no silicone rear hem gripper.

The Nightvision Storm lives up to the Storm part of the name well: it's great in bad weather. I welcomed the snug, fleecy lining and high collar on cold morning and evening rides. The zip has extra weatherproofing with a rubberised outer later and it really keeps the wind off your chest. I found it best for days under about 13°C; above this I found it could get too hot inside, because so much of the lining is fleecy. But it's a good gilet for cold and rainy days. I was caught in an absolute downpour for about 45 minutes and was pretty dry underneath when I got home, apart from a few bits of ingress around the arm area.

However, it doesn't live up as well to the Nightvision promise in the name. It didn't really seem to reflect back to the light source at all. I tried it with my teenage son wearing it in front of the car headlights and it really doesn't stand out much. Even then the dot pattern is only on the chest and sides, and not on the back of the gilet where car headlights will be mainly shining. In the slate grey colour option I tested, my cycle buddies commented that it was the same colour as the tarmac and had made me almost camouflaged on the road, so I didn't very safe wearing it.

On top of that, the rear pocket zip access is fiddly and biased to right-handers, and even then it's not easy to access.

The panels are well stitched together, and the material feels rugged and stands up to snagging on brambles or wearing a rucksack. The zips feel nice and strong too.

I tested an XL, and with a 42 inch chest and 34 waist, I found it a good fit for autumn/winter weather. There's still enough room to fit a thick jersey or softshell underneath, with full pockets, and there is no excess flappy material in the wind. It fits well across the shoulders and back, and the elasticated arm holes enable enough movement without letting wind and rain get inside.

There's a bit of heft to it at 282g, but it's a well-constructed garment for commuting, and is about right for this type of material. This does mean it's not possible to stuff it into a jersey pocket, though it will go into a rucksack fine.

It's very comfortable in the right temperatures, which I would say need to be 13°C or below; above this, it is probably too warm.

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

30 degrees wash, and its dry in an hour. Came up like new.

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

For keeping out bad weather and keeping me warm it's great, but for visibility it's not so good.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The snug feeling in bad weather – the soft material on the inside is very welcome in cold and wet weather.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The reflectiveness – this was my biggest issue with the Nightvision and I felt it didn't live up to the name. I really didn't find it that visible compared to past Nightvision products I've used which have reflected light straight back to the source.

The dot pattern is only on the upper chest and sides of the gilet, and really doesn't "jump out" in the dark. The small Altura logos do reflect but are quite small. Also, in the Slate Grey colour tested here it's pretty much the colour of a UK road (it's also available in 'Hi-Viz Yellow').

The rear pocket is also hard to access as the zip access is on the right hand side. As a right-hander I found it tricky to undo on the go, I think a left-handed person would struggle even more.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's up against some keenly priced competition. The ETC Arid Gilet comes in at almost a tenner less, and is also suitable for commuting or casual touring, and is fully reflective all over.

I tested the Proviz Classic Gilet last year. It's the same price as the Nightvision, more breathable, with 20k fabric, and is very visible indeed. With its high collar it's also useful in colder weather, and comes with handy pockets. And it's light enough to be just about packable.

The BTwin Visibility Reversible Gilet was also felt to be very versatile on and off the bike, very visible, and comes with an assortment of useful pockets and large reflective strips – for £20 less than the Altura Nightvision.

Use this box to explain your overall score

Although it's a very rugged gilet, which does a very good job of keep out the wind and rain, the lack of reflectivity and fiddly pocket design knock the overall score back as it's not living up to its name. It's 'quite good' rather than full-on good, in my opinion.