I love a convertible jacket, great for those indecisive weather days, especially on the MTB. It was only with a full investigation that we noticed the full technical properties of the Convert jacket, it has two main fabrics, lightweight and water repellent non-rip Nylon sleeves. Then there's the core fabric of the gilet, a thicker yet stretchy fabric that gives lots of protection from the elements. It makes for a great wind break and has the ventilation window on the upper back area which works well for cooling and keeping you comfortable.
Our test jacket was a medium and I felt it was a little big in the shoulder/bust area and a little tight on the hips, of course this could be just our shape, but the extra room on the upper torso was negligent when in action and the closer fit around the hips did prevent it from riding up and bunching around the waist which was good. The sizing seems quite generous, especially in the sleeves which were quite long. There are three choices of size, Small, Medium and Large.
The sleeves are easily removed, or unzipped halfway for extra ventilation on route and can be stored in the back pocket with ease. The collar has patterned fleece on the inside, a nice little extra for those chillier rides, and good for comfort. The front zipper can be opened from the base or neck and has a weather shield on the inside, giving plenty of options for ventilation. When tested against the elements, the sleve section of the jacket was water repellent causing beading of the water dropplets. The core gilet was not so waterproof to cause beading, but did protect against getting cold and was breathable.
Fox have steered clear of the typical “girly” colours with this jacket, it took me a little while to get used to the pale green, but I like it. We've heard that green is the colour of the coming season, so Fox have done well in keeping with the fashion houses.
Specs:
Soft-shell body with removable sleeves
Sleeve and shoulder material is water repellent Nylon rip stop, and the sleeves roll up tight to fit into the back pocket when detached
Mesh venting on the upper back for airflow and comfort
Water repellent and breathable fabric
Rear pocket for stowage
2-way zipper for good ventilation
Price: £ 65
Sizes: small, medium and large
Well made, lightweight and tough
The cut is not so "women's specific", we'd prefer shorter sleeves.
CJ
