This website uses cookies to help us give you the best experience when you visit our website. By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies.
This website uses cookies to help us give you the best experience when you visit our website. By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies.
Sign up for our newsletter
Spoiler alert: if you’re looking for a cycling jacket for cold weather, the dhb Classic Softshell Roubaix jacket is one of the best I’ve worn in years. And once you take into consideration the value for money it represents, you’re on to a winner. Coming from the in-house brand at internet retail giant Wiggle, the jacket follows the tried and trusted route of many of the brand’s garments, in providing fuss-free functionality with a dash of style.
Good news for those of us who might be carrying a little extra timber into the late winter and early spring, the dhb Classic Softshell offers more of a relaxed fit than many race-cut top layers. Fear not, it’s not like wearing a zip-up wind sock, but more like a tailored jacket with enough room for a baselayer and/or jersey beneath.
I’d argue that its less restrictive fit also allows warm air to be trapped and retained better, too. The rear hem of the jacket doesn’t protrude too far, and is anchored securely to your bib tights by way of a silicon gripper.
It’s not going to keep your backside clean of road crap and rain thrown up by your rear tyre, but this jacket isn’t designed to provide a waterproof deep-winter-proof barrier – it’s there to keep you warm in the transitional months.
Packing a polyester fleece lining throughout, the jacket provides more than ample warmth on the go in temperatures hovering around the 5°C mark, while a thicker fleece material at the collar also sits comfortably against the neck.
Foolishly failing to take windchill into account when leaving the house for my first ride in the dhb Classic Softshell jacket, my hands felt like they’d been refrigerated within 10 minutes of riding; but my torso was remarkably well protected from icy blasts.
Windproof material at the front and sleeves cosset your core, while the rear of the jacket eschews this material in favour of a more breathable construction, allowing hot air to vent and preventing overheating. The sleeve cuffs, while not super-tight, are perfectly adequate to prevent the ingress of chilly air.
Buy now from Wiggle for £40, down from £80
The dhb Classic Softshell jacket is not going to be the only layer you need for rides in really foul weather, but for the months when autumn turns to winter, and winter turns to spring, it’s nigh on ideal. As it’s effectively a two-season garment, the zippers aren’t waterproof, but they are closed with flat-lock zips.
The full-length front closure is easily adjusted, even with numb fingers, while a zipped pocket to the side of the ubiquitous three-pocket array at the back is big enough (and secure enough) to swallow a smartphone and debit card. Those three rear stash pockets are also satisfyingly deep, so there’s stacks of room to stow the necessary rain cape, tubes, mini pump and any fuel you’re taking.
Sounding good so far? Throw into the equation the fact that at the time of writing this jacket is discounted to £40 on wiggle.co.uk and I’d struggle to find a reason to dissuade anyone from picking one up. No, it won’t be the year-round jacket you reach for no matter what the weather, but for the next few months, you’ll struggle to find a better equipped, utterly fuss-free jacket to keep you warm and comfortable, whether on a casual Sunday ride or even when doing serious efforts.
They’ve even hurled in a dash of panache – personally, I’m a big fan of the disco styling.
Minegoestoeleven is sublime to ride thanks to wide tyres and innovative shifting, and punches well
We revisit our profile of legendary...
Custom Factor Ostro VAM marks the 10...
This week’s round-up of choice...
Sign up for Cyclist subscription here.
Shop the Cyclist merchandise here.
Sign up to the Cyclist newsletter here.
British Hour Record holder and Ineos Grenadiers performance engineer adds his name to the history
From Giro d'Italia triumph to Tour of Britain talks, we look back at the career of the Dutchman
The new bike also has a much neater cockpit and is said to be a lot more comfortable too
Copyright © Diamond Publishing 2022. All rights reserved.