 Vulpine men's portixol waterproof jacket in charcoal A good rain jacket is a cycling essential. Even if you only cycle in the summer months there is always the chance of getting caught in a rain shower. Vulpine's rain jacket is both practical and stylish- the kind of garment that you would feel comfortable wearing both on and off the bike. Vulpine's clothing is the best of both worlds- stylish (i.e. looks like normal clothes) and also performs the technical function of cycling clothing. Think, being able to go from bike to work or bike to meeting friends for drinks and not having to change clothes or worry that your clothes shout 'cycling geek.' This design brief can also be seen in the other products I have reviewed - the socks, rain trousers and polo tops. Rain performance I tested this jacket in some horrendous conditions. On one of the days the rain was relentless and being blown horizontally into my face, but this jacket kept me dry. The waterproof and windproof qualities performed brilliantly. I did not get wet and I did not feel cold. The jacket is also breathable, so I did not feel uncomfortable when working up a sweat on uphill climbs.
Portability For many road cyclists a rain jacket that is as light as possible and can be folded into a tiny bundle when it isn't raining will be a priority. Although this jacket is not the lightest that you can get, I thought it could be folded up to a small enough size to easily shove in a backpack without it taking up too much room. If you need a jacket that can be folded up even smaller than that then this may not be your first choice.  Detail on the rear of the jacket showing the Vulpine logo Quality and style This jacket feels like a quality product. It feels like something built to last. It feels up to the job of protecting you from rain and wind. There is a lot more weight in it than the lightweight jackets that road cyclists may prefer, but that's what makes it feel like a jacket that you can wear both on and off the bike. I felt comfortable wearing this out and about, whereas I feel a bit more self-conscious when wearing one of those jackets that are specifically for cycling, particularly the ones with high visibility colours. Is charcoal too dark? I reviewed the charcoal version of the jacket, but it also comes in an orange colour if you prefer something that stands out more. All cyclists have their views about the effectiveness of high visibility colours. Personally, I was happy with the charcoal colour as I am not the biggest fan of high viz. The jacket does have some reflective elements for being seen by traffic. Pockets One of my favourite things about this jacket is that it has two pockets. I cannot tell you enough how brilliant it is to have somewhere to put all those commuting essentials like keys, wallet, phone etc. The cycling jackets that I have owned in the past don't have much in the way of pockets as they are designed more for their function than practical features. Plus, the pockets of this jacket have a fleece lining on one side, which is a wonderful feeling if you are using them to keep your hands warm. The inclusion of the pockets is another feature that makes this jacket fit that design brief of working well on and off the bike. Splash guard The neatest feature on this jacket is the splash guard. It is tucked out of sight by means of magnets and you can easily pull it out to give your backside extra protection from spray and mud. The splash guard also has reflective details on it, so that it can be deployed to increase your visibility. Summary This jacket currently retails for £100. This is good value when you consider that the jacket has a dual function of providing practical cycling clothing and a stylish garment that can be worn after you park up your bike. The waterproof qualities are excellent and the build quality means that this will last for years. Read my reviews of other Vulpine products Merion wool socks Henley and polo tops Rain trousers
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 Vulpine Rain Trousers. Image from Vulpine website Vulpine's cycling rain trousers are stylish and ideally suited to cycle commuting. After using them for about one month I fell in love with these trousers. Seriously, these trousers are superb and have become my favourite piece of commuter cycling kit. They are packed full of useful features and because they look like normal trousers they are smart enough to be worn in the office or wherever it is you are going to on the bike. Why do you need cycling trousers? Yes, you could just wear a pair of jeans or jogging bottoms and that would be fine for short commutes and good weather. But the further you need to travel on a bicycle and the more often you do it then you will soon discover that 'normal' trousers are not going to cut it. What you need is a trouser that:
First Impression The initial thing that struck me about these trousers was the quality of the construction. They feel tough and they look made to last. When I first put them on they felt quite heavy duty, like something you might wear on a building site and when I walked in them they 'swished' noisily. I admit to not liking this at first, but within a few days I got used to it and it was no longer an issue. In fact. I happily wear these trousers on any occasion and not just on the bike. The trousers come in khaki, forest green, charcoal and blue denim. It was the khaki colour that I wore.  Me wearing Vulpine's rain trousers. I am also wearing Vulpine's cycling socks. See bottom of the blog for a link to the review Style That brings me to the next point, that these trousers look good. To an untrained eye they could be smart casual trousers from the high street, a trouser that could be used as office clothing or pub wear. Vulpine's mission is to offer cycling clothing that not only performs, but looks good off the bike. It is the principal of being able to wear the same gear when you cycle to work or to meet friends and not feel like you 'look like a cyclist.' If you are not a fan of lycra and/or do not want to have the hassle of changing out of cycling clothes when you arrive at your destination then Vulpine clothing is ideal.  The front of the rain trouser showing the button and belt loops Performance on the bike Vulpine have really excelled when it comes to getting the balance right between a stylish trouser and a practical cycling garment. Some of the features that I love are:
 The clip to attach your keys is inside one of the pockets. Eliminates the risk of dropping your keys  Rear pocket with the Vulpine monogram. This pocket is secured with a magnet Epic Cotton
The trousers are made of a material called Epic Cotton. With a name like that you're going to expect something special. It means you get a tough material that is made to last and is water resistant, windproof, stain proof and anti-bacterial. Rain Test Possibly the most important feature of a cycling trouser is its ability to deal with rain. I tested them out in light rain and in heavy showers. They performed brilliantly in the light rain, keeping out the water and drying very quickly after the rain passed. The fact that the material is breathable means that you don't get sweaty in the trousers. In heavy showers I could feel some water coming through, but not enough to make me feel uncomfortable and once I arrived at my destination the trousers dried very quickly. Note that these are not waterproof trousers, but water resistant. It was a 6 mile ride in the heavy rain and I felt that if I had further to go and the rain was prolonged I would need to put on waterproof over trousers. However, the main market for these trousers is the city commuter and they are unlikely to be doing a lot of mileage in the rain. Summary These trousers currently retail for £140. It is a lot of money, but they are made to last. They also have so many useful features for cyclists that the outlay is a sound investment for a product that you will not need to replace for years to come. For the purpose of commuting and looking presentable on arrival at your destination these trousers do a fantastic job. If it rains during your ride the trousers will repel the water beautifully. For long distance cycle touring where long periods of heavy rain could be expected these are unlikely to be your choice of garment, but for getting around the city and looking smart whilst doing it these are the trousers to pull on. I have loved wearing them out and about in town and feeling much smarter when I got off the bike at my destination. Read my reviews of other products from Vulpine: Merino wool socks Henley and Polo tops Vulpine specialise in cycling clothing that performs well on the bike, but also looks stylish off the bike. I had the opportunity to review some of their products. This blog reviews the merino Polo and Henley tops.
 A closer look at the Polo's collar Unpacking the tops and you are met with simply lovely items of clothing- flawless cut, stitching and design. The feel of the merino is soft and luxurious. When I tried them on I was delighted with the fit. They look great on, the sizing is perfect and flattering.  Me wearing Vulpine's Polo  Both the Polo and the Henley feature this handy rear pocket. It has lovely detailing with the "V" monogram How do they perform when cycling? What you need with cycling tops is for them not to feel too tight or too lose when your body is moving about as you pedal. Both of these tops excelled on this front. The fact that I didn't notice them, they didn't enter my thoughts when I cycled was a great sign that they did their job well.  A closer look at the Henley The merino material is designed to keep you cool when it is warm and keep you warm in colder conditions. I tested both tops on very warm days- above 25 degrees centigrade- and I felt comfortable. The breathable material wicks the sweat away from the body, so I never felt sweaty and uncomfortable. It also meant that there was no odour from the clothing rendering them serviceable for a day at the office or meeting friends for drinks.
The tops do not look like cycling clothing and this is what makes them so versatile for wearing on and off the bike. I have often worn them on days when I have not been cycling as their smart casual appearance makes them ideal for lots of different occasions. I have been testing these out for about a month and have loved wearing them. They look good, they feel good and they have the technical features that you need for cycling. Both the Polo Shirt and the Henley are priced at £80. It is good value when you consider that they can be worn both for cycling and non-cycling occasions. They have the technical features that a cyclist needs and the quality means long lasting clothing. I have also reviewed a pair of Vulpine's socks and if you need a bit more convincing about this type of cycling clothing read on... Why do you need special cycling clothes? It's one of those hotly debated subjects among the cycling community. One argument is that you should just wear your normal clothes when cycling. The problem with that is that not all normal clothes perform well when cycling longer distances or are any good when the weather turns nasty. Jeans, for example, do not give you the freedom of movement that you need when pedaling. If it rains jeans get heavy and wet, and that's a nightmare if you are on a bike for any length of time. The other argument is that you should wear things like lycra and high visibility yellow jackets for freedom of movement, safety and performance in bad weather. The problem with these clothes is that it means you look like 'a cyclist' and its probably not the look you want for the office or meeting friends for lunch. Vulpine offers clothing that is the best of both worlds- stylish (i.e. looks like normal clothes) and also performs the technical function of cycling clothing. Think, being able to go from bike to work or bike to meeting friends for drinks and not having to change clothes or worry that your clothes shout 'cycling geek.' Visit Vulpine's website to check out their range. Vulpine specialise in cycling clothing that performs well on the bike, but also looks stylish off the bike. I had the opportunity to review some of their products. This blog reviews the mid merino polka dot socks. Cycling socks need to keep you cool in hot weather or warm in colder weather. You are not going to get that from cotton socks bought from a normal clothing store, but Vulpine's sock is made from merino wool, a material well-known for its superior qualities. I tried the red polka dot socks. They look great and I would definitely be happy to wear them in the office or anywhere off the bike.
 They feel nice and soft when wearing them. I tried them out on three very warm days- averaging 25 degrees centigrade- and they definitely kept me cool. Even though my feet were sweating the socks have a wicking action that pulls moisture off the skin and out of the sock.
The other amazing thing about these socks is the odour resistance of merino wool. I decided to really put this to the test and wore the socks for one week without washing them! This included the three very warm days mentioned above. And they smell of nothing other than wool. Perhaps a bit musty by the end of the week, but not of smelly feet, which you would get from cotton socks. That's great news for cycle commuters who do not want to have to change their socks when they get to the office. I tried these during the summer, so have not yet been able to test their winter performance, but I have had used merino socks from other stockists in colder weather and know that the material is excellent at keeping feet warm. These socks are currently priced at £15. It's good value when you consider their technical qualities, stylish looks, that they are made to work in both cold and hot weather and that they will likely last for years because of the quality of the material. I will be reviewing more of Vulpine's products, so look out for my next blog. If you need a bit more convincing about cycling specific clothing read on... Why do you need special cycling clothes? It's one of those hotly debated subjects among the cycling community. One argument is that you should just wear your normal clothes when cycling. The problem with that is that not all normal clothes perform well when cycling longer distances or are any good when the weather turns nasty. Jeans, for example, do not give you the freedom of movement that you need when pedaling. If it rains jeans get heavy and wet, and that's a nightmare if you are on a bike for any length of time. The other argument is that you should wear things like lycra and high visibility yellow jackets for freedom of movement, safety and performance in bad weather. The problem with these clothes is that it means you look like 'a cyclist' and its probably not the look you want for the office or meeting friends for lunch. Vulpine offers clothing that is the best of both worlds- stylish (i.e. looks like normal clothes) and also performs the technical function of cycling clothing. Think, being able to go from bike to work or bike to meeting friends for drinks and not having to change clothes or worry that your clothes shout 'cycling geek.' Visit Vulpine's website to check out their range. |
AuthorMy name is Colin Baird and I want to see all of Scotland by bicycle. Categories
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