3 / 9
Pocket detail – they’re well-fitting so you’ll make it home with your essentials. 
4 / 9
Fuzzy on the inside. 
8 / 9
The fit on the bike is beyond compare – not all cycling jackets manage that. 
Pocket detail – they’re well-fitting so you’ll make it home with your essentials.
3 / 9
Fuzzy on the inside.
4 / 9
The fit on the bike is beyond compare – not all cycling jackets manage that.
8 / 9
Winter is on the way, so we took a look over the ES Cycling Jacket from Velocio – to see how their winter wear compared to their fantastic summer items.
Words: Kath Bicknell
Images: Gaye Camm
There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, the saying goes. With winter fast approaching, and our favourable impression of Velocio’s summer weight ES jersey, we took the opportunity to test one of the company’s women’s ES jackets. Available in XXS to XXL, in red (tested) or charcoal, it’s designed to be a functional staple that will last through several seasons use, and might be a key part of your winter wardrobe.
Sizing up the Velocio ES cycling jacket
The sizing runs small on this one, which, when it comes to winter riding gear for women, is something of a relief. I’ve lost count of the number of times a garment that promised to be great was let down by air funnelling up the sleeves making a cold ride an even chillier one. By comparison, this XS test jacket offered just enough space to warm it up with a wool thermal underneath.
The ES jacket uses a very soft, wind blocking, water-resistant yet breathable material on the front and sleeves; Polartec’s top of the line “Power Shield Pro”. It stays snug around the wrists but offers enough stretch that you can slide it half way up your forearms. The Superroubaix fabric on the main back panel and inner upper arms has a fleecy inner lining, for extra toastiness.
These two fabrics worked exceptionally well to stay close to the body while riding and to support optimal temperature regulation. While some garments mean you have to continually pull the sleeves up and down at the wrists for airflow, or adjust the front zip to compensate for fabrics that flap or billow in the wind, this one lets you concentrate on the riding instead.
The three rear pockets are generously sized and easy to access. A soft, velvet-like material is used around the wrists and on the high cut neck, adding to comfort and snugness without adding bulk. A possible negative is it’s cut for a riding position which, along with the snug fit, means it won’t suit someone who likes to pair their winter riding jackets up with jeans to get extra mileage out of the one piece of gear.
Why you should buy the Velocio ES Cycling Jacket
As we’ve found with other products from Velocio, the company’s meticulous attention to fit, materials and the placement of seams means this is a garment that moves effortlessly with your body without pulling or hitching up. At $329 it’s aimed at the higher end of the market and suits two main user groups: those who know exactly what they are looking for in a wind-blocking layer and have no patience for products that fall short when it comes to performance or fit, and those who would rather invest in quality kit from the get-go rather than waste time on products that cost half as much and perform half as well. If either of these sound like you, then the ES Jacket is a worthwhile investment, and one that makes cooler weather rides, from Autumn through to Spring, even more of a pleasure.
RRP: $329
From: Velocio