CHROME STORM SALUTE RAINWEAR
£170, £110 Cool commute kit from Chrome
Chrome’s range of bags are among the best around as they’re very tough and well designed. The company also offers clothing and its latest foul-weather offering – the Storm Salute jacket and rain pants – boasts the same quality as its luggage.
The hooded jacket is shaped with a nicely tapered torso and neatly dropped tail, with a shock cord hem so it stays put. The arms also taper down to elasticated cuffs that remain in place but have enough stretch to pull over thick winter gloves.
The 2.5 layer material sheds water like the proverbial duck’s back and internally all the seams are fully bonded and taped to stop water bleeding through. To prevent the wearer becoming overly warm, Chrome has cleverly placed meshed vented fabric linings across the top of the back in conjunction with Harrington-style back vents and further breathability through the midriff front.
The front zip has two-way zippers and is storm-proof. The high neck has a 3-inch-long, soft-touch panel to protect your neck, while the hood can be cinched down over your helmet with an elasticated paracord with hidden locks. The front boasts a waterproof. zipped phone pocket and two storm-zipped hip pockets, while a massive zipped cargo pocket on the rear can store the Storm pants should you not want to go head to toe in rainwear.
The Storm pants use a three-layer fabric construction that can take 10,000mm of water, but also allows 5000g per metre of water vapour to escape per 24 hours. We stayed dry, without becoming a sweaty, boil-in-the-bag mess.
The cut of the pants follows the slender tapered fit of the jacket, and the ankle has a gusseted zipper that is generous enough to pull on over your shoes. The seat is reinforced and the waist is high, elasticated and drawcorded with zip and button fly.
The only downside is the poorvisibility charcoal hue, but the pants have reflective chevrons and the jacket a full-length reflective band across the back.