It’s competition time folks and we have 10 Dare 2b Clampdown jackets, which are lightweight, breathable and packed full of features, to give away to the lucky winners! 

You could win one of these fantastic Dare 2b Clampdown jackets!

Here are the details of the Clampdown jacket from Dare 2b, which retails at £100.00:

“The Clampdown Jacket provides performance protection for walking, cycling and running in wet conditions. Lightweight, durable and simple in design, the four way stretch jacket is both waterproof and breathable. Articulated sleeves, cuff adjustors and underarm ventilation zips allow complete ease of movement whatever the activity. A taffeta and mesh lining gives next-to-skin comfort and the fully adjustable wire peaked hood makes sure you get visibility when you need it the most. The jacket boasts multiple pockets with waterproof zip fastenings, including an internal pocket with MP3 port.”

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is answer this question:

Closing date for this competition is Wednesday 24th April so get yourself entered to be in with a chance of winning a quality jacket from Dare 2b! Good luck.

TERMS & CONDITIONS: By entering you are agreeing to receive details of future offers and promotions from Factory Media and related third parties. This competition will close on April 24th, 2013.

PERSONAL STATEMENT: By entering I also confirm I have read and accept the terms & conditions of the prize draw, competition rules and privacy policy.

Wow – this jacket is bright and I love bright! 2 shades of green, pink zips and blue elastic pulls and logos – you can’t miss me in it! It also comes in a purple/blue scheme but I love the green – great for being seen on dark nights.

Dare 2b’s Mind Trip jacket.
Photo © Julia Revitt

It’s waterproof to 20,000mm, breathable, has 4 way stretch and retails for £120. Our sample was a size 12 which is a bit big for me – I’m more of an 8 but I could cinch it in at the waist and cuffs to make it fit with plenty of spare space for layers. It’s not heavy at 700g but is definitely a cold weather jacket – I’d get too hot riding in anything above 15 degrees.

The cut includes a dropped back to help keep your bum dry on wet rides. The hood has plenty of adjustment but is not big enough to fit over your helmet. It also has a good-sized peak to keep the worst of the rain off your glasses.

Admittedly, I haven’t been on many extremely muddy rides (I’ve tried, but the trails near me just keep on drying out!) with it so cannot say how hard the mud is to remove but I suspect it would muddy up pretty quickly and would need washing regularly – it is washable though at 30 degrees.

I love the MP3 player pocket and headphone loop feature – my iPhone 4 fits perfectly. I suspect an iPhone 5 would be fine too but anything bigger would struggle. Long pit zips, waterproof zips and mesh lining complete the package. The only thing that wasn’t exactly self explanatory was the ‘roll away hood function’, but I guess that’s no big deal.

On the bike, the great cut is evident. It fits well, the wrists are tapered to fit inside or outside your winter gloves and the hood allows you to see sideways. It’s not specifically billed as a bike jacket by Dare 2b and is very versatile – I’ve used it for hiking and running and it performed well.

Ultimately, this is a great value jacket, packed full of features I’d expect to pay twice the price for.  It makes a fab cold weather commuter jacket as it’s bright, keeps you dry and warm and there’s plenty of space for your stuff.

Verdict

Very waterproof, machine washable, a good cut and the super bright colour makes it versatile as a commuter jacket as well as for mountain biking. Nice features all-round but one thing to take into account is that this is a jacket for extreme weather – great when it’s cold or pouring with rain but possibly a bit bulky for day-to-day riding in all conditions.

More information: Dare 2b Mind Trip jacket
Price: £120

What Dare 2b says about the Mindtrip jacket

Offering protection from the elements when you need it the most, the Mind Trip has been crafted in a water repellent and highly breathable 4 way stretch fabric. Taped seams and hi-tech water resistant zips work against the rain to keep you dry. Articulated sleeves, cuff adjustors and underarm ventilation zips ensure you get complete ease of movement whatever the activity. A taffeta and mesh lining gives next-to-skin comfort and the fully adjustable wire peaked hood makes sure you get visibility when you need it the most. The jacket boasts multiple pockets with waterproof zip fastenings, including an internal pocket with MP3 port.

The Dare 2b Night Hawk uses an Ared 5000 fabric pieced together with taped seams everywhere. Inside the torso is lined with mesh and the arms with a softer fabric. Worn with a long sleeve base layer on a recent ride the jacket managed reasonably well to allow perspiration to escape while also keeping us warm and insulated from the damp cold air outside.

Fit is on the baggy side but it’s well fitted and proved comfortable on the bike with no restriction of movement. It feels more like a snowboard jacket than a slim cut biking jacket, and feels bulky. It’s not heavy though at 500g. There’s plenty of space inside for a couple of extra layers making it a good choice for the winter, or can be worn with a single layer when it’s warmer.

Well thought-through features such as the reflective strips and adjustable cuffs are good to see

There’s a load of features which help to justify the price tag. Firstly it’s covered in reflective details, useful for stretches of road riding before a night ride. Or for the daily commute where its bold colour will certainly help you stand out.

You get just two pockets, both zipped. One on the chest and the other around the back. This pocket is far from generous and is best avoided. The waist has two drawcords for pulling it in a bit, as does the soft lined collar, and there are adjustable Velcro cuffs.

Mesh-lined interior with breathable Ared 5000 fabric on the exterior, but things can get hot inside due to minimal venting

In the heaviest downpour we could face the jacket proved adept at keeping us not only dry, but warm too. Breathability is good but during extended bouts of hard riding it is possible to exceed the fabric’s ability to let the warm, moist air inside escape. There are only two small vents at the back to provide ventilation.

 Verdict

Packed with features, a hard-working fabric, loose fit and at a decent price, the Dare 2b Night Hawk is a jacket worthy of consideration.

Pros

Waterproof
Loose fit
Features

Cons

Quite bulky

Price: £80

More information: Dare 2b Night Hawk

 What Dare 2b says:

“The Night Hawk jacket features D-NYT technology, which offers 360° reflectivity. Fluorescent colourway options are also available to keep you seen in lower light conditions.”