April is living up to its reputation with alternating temperatures, rain and sunshine.  With this is mind we thought we would look at a lightweight shell type jacket.  Fitting the bill perfectly is the Gore Alp X II Gore-tex pac-lite jacket.

Designed from legendary Gore-tex fabric this jacket is designed to keep the extremes of weather out while allowing your body to breath removing the sweat and heat build up from hard exercise.  Utilising the ultra light pac-lite fabric, the Alp II can be stuffed up really small and will fit in a jersey pocket, meaning you can adapt to trail conditions should it get cold or the heavens open.

Being a cycle-specific jacket it is cut for the activity with a long back and sculpted shoulders set up for riding.  Because you may want to wear the jacket off the bike too the tail clips up inside the jacket too.

At the back is a large rear pocket discreetly hidden behind a flap.  The is also a great chest pocket which comfortably takes a phone/bank cards/cash/Mp3 etc.etc.  The neck features a pull cord to keep out the worst and a waist pull cord too.  The cuffs feature a velcro closure system keeping things snug.  The front zip has a double storm flap secured by velcro which keeps the water out really well.

We have been riding it for a few months now and it has served us well in all weather extremes.  We rode it in torrential rain and apart from rain in the face we were toasty warm and dry when others were miserable and cold.  It does breathe really well too.  We noticed finishing long climbs that we were not overheating in the jacket even though sweat might be running down our face.

This has found its way into our questionable weather bag and is a fantastic piece of kit.  It is really well suited to the Irish climate and is highly recommended.

RRP is €199.  Available from Cycle Surgery in Snow & Rock at the Dundrum shopping centre.