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Softshell jackets are designed to protect bikers from cooling down on cold days. They combine the properties of several items of clothing in one layer. The hard-wearing outer material repels splash water or fog. On the inside, soft velour or fleece keeps you warm, and in between, a membrane blocks the cold wind as vigorously as a bouncer blocks a trainer wearer at the entrance to a disco.
We tested twelve winter jackets, each of which is available as a men's and women's model. Our specification was that the jackets should cover a temperature range of plus five to minus five degrees. But it quickly became clear that the manufacturers interpret the cold very differently. While numerous models work well around freezing point, there are only a few jackets that you would want to wear even in sub-zero temperatures. And then there are also models that are better categorised as "heavy windbreakers".
Although the price of the jackets does not necessarily reflect their thermal performance, it usually reflects how elaborately they are made. For up to around 150 euros, you get solid basic equipment, while those who invest a little more can also look forward to clever details.
You can read how these softshell jackets fared in our big comparison test in the test report, which you can download as a PDF below:
- BBB Triguard
- Biehler Syndicate softshell jacket
- Bontrager Meraj S2 Softshell W's
- Castelli Alpha RoS Jacket
- Craft Verve Glow Jacket
- Gonso Diorite
- Gore C5 Gore WS Thermo Jacket
- Löffler D. Bike Zip-Off San Remo WS SS Light
- Maloja Pugel M. WB Jacket NOS
- Pearl Izumi Elite Pursuit Amfib Jacket
- Sportful Tempo WS Jacket
- Vaude Wo Resca Softshell Jacket II
You can find the complete group test including all the data, points tables and the score overview in BIKE 1/2019. You can read the entire digital edition in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the print edition in the DK shop reorder - while stocks last:
Downloads:
Stefan Frey
Editor
