Vulpine Women’s Protixol Waterproof Jacket

Abi has reviewed some of Vulpine’s off-road/gravel orientated items for us. First up is the Women’s Protixol Waterproof Jacket in burnt orange.

The Vulpine Women’s Protixol Waterproof Jacket is a strong rain jacket with a relaxed fit which makes it ideal for commuting, mountain-biking or riding to a café or pub. It’s a gorgeous dark orange colour – bright enough to be visible on the road but not high-viz. There are also green and charcoal to choose from. The cut is relaxed, or “causal fitted” in Vulpine terms, which means it will fit over other layers comfortably.

I tested the women’s Large size, which Vulpine say is suitable for bust size 91-96cm/36-38”. I’m a tall size 36” and usually go up a size to allow for my height, but didn’t need to: the jacket is long – the back length is 69cm/27” (excluding the splash guard flap) and sleeves measured 79cm/31” which was long enough to cover my wrists. It has raglan sleeves so fits well over the shoulders and is well-shaped at the hips with some elasticated hem at the sides to ensure a good fit.

Although it only weighed 280g it’s quite a sturdy jacket made of durable Ripstop fabric – one to wear for the whole ride rather than the kind you might plan to take on and off and store in your back pocket. However it packed down to the size of a small water bottle so wouldn’t take up much room in a backpack or pannier.

How does it feel?

The jacket feels warm and comfortable; it’s good for temperatures up to about 12 degrees centigrade. There are features to keep you warm – the zip has a storm flap, the collar has a fleecy lining. Also the sleeves and hem have some elastication to keep out draughts. There are vents for breathability in the back and underarms. Plus, the front full length zip can be undone from either end for more ventilation. The jacket has a pretty good level of waterproofing and breathability (15,000 on both counts) and fully taped seams to keep you dry and comfortable in most conditions.

Handy zipped pockets at the front are big enough to fit a phone (there are no other pockets). These also have a fabric lining which is warm to the touch.

Finally there is a splash guard, held in place by magnets. When worn down it has little reflective stripes design. Or you can reverse it to reveal a panel of Vulpine’s signature green with a reflective V logo.

Overall, this is a jacket that I’m happy to wear for its joyful colour. And I’m delighted to have found a women’s jacket that fits me so well.

Head over to the Vulpine website and take a look at the Women’s Protixol Waterproof Jacket. We are also trying out some other Vulpine items, take a look here.