HUUB CORE ELEMENTS

£139.99 Will Huub’s new bike jacket be a cycling hit?

Tri brands have made repeated attempts over the years to crack the cycling market (largely to little avail), but Huub’s new Fellowship of Speed campaign (driven by acclaimed aerodynamicist Dan Bigham) is the most targeted yet. So will the Core Elements Jacket have enough form and function to win over the two-wheeled crowd? Even if we can’t predict that, for triathletes there’s plenty of appeal for training and even as a jacket for duathlon and early-/late-season triathlon races.

We tested the Core Elements on a 150km April ride in Mallorca, complete with wind, rain, blazing sunshine, and a smattering of thunder and lightning to boot. While we thankfully can’t vouch for its protection in thwarting the latter, the water-resistant fabric held its own in a sustained deluge with only minimal eventual ingress, and

proved surprisingly breathable due to the leaner underarm panels. The relaxed length and fit of the sleeves won’t win any aero points, but Huub’s’s Arms Neutral tech (derived from their wetsuits) stays unrestrictive and comfy. The trio of rear pockets is roomy and easy to access, while the silicone hem kept the fabric in place throughout. The zipper does a neat pull-apart trick, but we would’ve liked flatlock internal seams for the outlay.

We tested the jacket with the matching, functional Core Cycling Bib Shorts (£99.99), but for us it was the Elements jacket that stood out and it’s already garnering plenty of use due to its versatility and style. MB huubdesign.co.uk