Specialized Prime Alpha Jacket £150

I used to train and race fulltime on the Continent, meticulously fuelling

my body with the right nutrition, often leaving sweet treats behind. Those days are over. I now firmly believe that almost every ride I take should include a coffee stop, complete with the consumption of a hearty slab of cake.

But with the UK serving up changeable weather conditions, you have to be prepared – which is where the Specialized Prime Alpha Jacket comes in.

The Prime Alpha Jacket features a breathable fabric shell coupled with insulated inner panels, which keep you incredibly warm given its lack of bulk. The breathable outer layer has a similar texture to a rain cape or soft shell jacket, and although not waterproof, the Prime Alpha will resist an April shower. At the rear, you’ll find three traditionally spaced jersey pockets, along with a zipped pocket to carry keys and cards. Up front, there’s a two-way zipper and an internal secure zipped pocket, which is where I often end up stowing my headphones.

The jacket provides a splendid performance-focused cut, whilst remaining big enough to fit over more than just a base layer. The cuffs are super comfortable too, and I haven’t felt them riding up my arms at all.

Specialized’s party piece though, is its Polartec Alpha insulation. Thanks to its lofted fibres it’s lightweight, compressible and doesn’t require a backing fabric, which in practice, results in the most packable insulated jacket I have ever tested. If, like me, you feel the cold and love your coffee stops, then this is a must-have.