VERDICT The Oxford’s the best but is still compromised
THERE IS NO getting away from the fact that at this price point, you can’t have it all — top-level crash protection and protection from the weather.
At £289.98 for the Oxford Montreal 4.0, you’re getting a jacket that is packed with features and stayed waterproof during our very heavy dousing — and we struggled to find much to criticise on the Montreal during our riding test. But it is still compromised — there are cheaper suits in this test that have offer better-rated protection. It’s up to you to decide what you value more, but it is still the Best Buy in the class because of how well it performs overall.
The Richa Phantom 2 jacket and Colorado trousers was the most expensive set in our test, at £334.98. However, it performed very well, like the Oxford Montreal scoring a perfect ten in the water test but losing a point in the ease of use as the connecting zip is quite short. There was little in it and it thoroughly deserves a Recommended award as it is well-fitting and would be ideal for riders who primarily want to stay dry.
Third place went to the Weise Core which, although allowing some water in to the trousers, the jacket remained completely impervious. It also has a higher CE rating - AA for the trousers and the jacket with Level-2 armour and an included Level-1 back protector. As a result, it too was given a Recommended tag for its protective abilities and would be a great buy if you prioritise safety over perfect dryness.