SANTINI GUARD NIMBUS
£135 A deceptively good form-fitting jacket for lighter rain duties
The Nimbus has a great fit and, for shorter rides and light showers, it’s perfect
SIZES S – XXXL COLOURS Black, orange WEIGHT 120g WATERPROOFING Not stated BREATHABILITY Not stated
Rather than a raincoat, the Guard Nimbus feels and looks more like a lightweight, windproof jacket with its stretchy jersey material and second skin-like fit. It’s a cut that’s certainly streamlined for aerodynamics.
The double-layer fabric is essentially a hydrophilic (causes water to spread across the material) inner membrane bonded to a soft woven outer. The inner feels great over a long-sleeve base layer or against bare skin. As added waterproof protection, all seams are thermo-welded. The sleeves have ample length and coverage and the thin, wide neoprene cuffs seal well.
The front of the Guard Nimbus is high cut and, while the rear is dropped, it isn’t as long as some on test here. While out riding post-downpour, I found the jacket does a reasonable job of keeping road spray off, and it stayed in place thanks to the elasticated hem and overall stretch of the jacket fabric.
Santini employs a reverse-style front zip that seals well and the large zip-pull was easy to use, even when fumbling around in gloves. A nice touch is an additional small piece of fabric at the bottom of the zip that is designed to prevent rubbing on your tights. A single pocket offers enough space to stash essentials and the zip-tag makes life easier. Reflective logos front and rear, and dots on the front, help with visability.
In light rain, the Guard Nimbus delivered an impressive performance that saw water bead and roll off. I found it worked well in showers but damp did penetrate in prolonged heavy downfalls.
The Nimbus has a great fit, it doesn’t cost a fortune, and it’s perfect for shorter rides and light showers.