Latest kit
Laminate jacket and more
www.nevis.uk.com
THE CLAIM
“Stay warm and dry whatever the weather throws your way with the Infinity 2 Pro. This high-spec textile jacket is a comfortable, regular-fit bike jacket constructed from a highperformance abrasion-resistant fabric. With an improved fit to enhance its laminated Aquashell Pro 2L outer layer, ensuring your jacket keeps you dry even through torrential rain. Additional features include a detachable thermal liner and zip ventilation panels.”
THE REALITY
This mid-range jacket has a high level of quality that belies its price — in daily use it feels and acts like a much more expensive item. There is lots to like and for me, the first is the cut, which should be able to suit many riders. Northern
European manufacturers like Richa and Held seem to make jackets for bigger riders and this has a wonderful amount of adjustability in it and crucially for me, enough length in the arms.
There are quality touches all over — there are neoprene edges to the cuffs and the collar while the pockets are secured by Velcro and a press-stud; in my opinion, the best combination of longevity and security. The vents are extensive and it looks like it’ll work well in all seasons. Because of this — and the build quality — it feels great to wear.
Using Richa’s Aquashell, this is a laminated jacket, which means the waterproofing is bonded to the outer shell. This is a good advantage in the wet as it means that the jacket can’t become saturated with water — and so far, so good. In rain it’s proven to be waterproof, doesn’t take in water and dries quickly too. It does take a little bedding-in — the jacket feels a bit stiff to begin with, but that goes away within a few hundred miles.
There are a few things I’d like to improve, though. The jacket uses D30 armour, which is great, but it’s the lower level-1 protection and I’d like the back protector to be an inch or two longer, though I can see why it is the length it is. Likewise, I’d have a bit more confidence if the jacket/trouser zip was a little longer too. Most annoyingly, the mobile phone pocket in the lining doesn’t fit a medium-sized smartphone.
But at this price, things are always going to be a compromise and the Infinity 2 Pro has many of the advantages of a more-expensive jacket without the pricetag. I’m looking forward to trying it over a more extended period.