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At just 169g, the Sans jacket easily packs down to the size of a pint glass. It’s good-looking too – as it should be, for this eye-watering price. The three-layer fabric, developed by Toray in Japan, has a microporous structure that blocks water but allows humidity to escape. There’s a full-length zip and a zipped breast pocket. The hood’s got two elastic tightening toggles, but doesn’t fit over helmets. While the jacket isn’t cycling-specific, we didn’t notice any tension across the back panel when climbing seated, stretching forward or in ‘attack mode’ riding downhill, thanks to its slightly stretchy construction. The dropped tail helps keep mud splatter off your back, especially when seated, but the aperture can’t be tightened, so some crud can still make its way underneath. Weatherproofing is good – when subjected to a flow of water, the hood, arms, torso and pocket all resisted wetting-out. Even when wearing a pack, no water got through the fabric under the straps. Breathability is good too, as long as you layer appropriately. The baggy cuffs are easy to slide over gloves and don’t gape open to allow wind or water in. Once you’ve decided to splash out on this jacket, the biggest problem you’ll face is not wanting to sully it in the wet, sloppy and gritty conditions it’s designed for. Alex www.missionworkshop.com

An incredibly lightweight and waterproof jacket, but there’s no avoiding that price tag