Jackets

Finisterre Anabatic Mk II waterproof jacket – tested

Finisterre Anabatic Mk II – £180

In just a few short years eco-minded clothing company Finisterre has built a tidy range of outdoor clothing, ideally suited to the unpredictable weather conditions that being based in Cornwall means they’re faced with on a daily basis.

The new Anabatic Mk II jacket is a fully recyclable waterproof jacket – there aren’t many jackets in the cycling market place that can boast a similar claim. It uses a 2.5 layer waterproof C-Shell fabric exclusively developed by Finisterre with a hydrophilic membrane. Don’t think the company’s push for sustainability affects performance; it’s 100% waterproof and windproof and has been coping with the current winter weather just nicely

As with all Finisterre’s clothing, the jacket looks fantastic, particularly in the mild green sample we tested. It feels good too, surprisingly soft next to the skin, so you can happily wear it over a short sleeve jersey or base layer. It’s also very lightweight, with little bulk to hinder movement on the bike. That’s good news when you’re wearing it, but also means it can be packed down easily into a hydration pack when you don’t need it.

Fit is helped with an ergonomic cut plus there’s draw cords around the waist and Velcro at the cuffs to dial the fit to your personal preference. It’s quite a long jacket, and the sleeves are longer too, meaning you get a lot more protection, especially around the lower back.

A built-in hood can be worn under a helmet if you so wish. It’s thin and well designed enough to not hinder freedom of movement, and doesn’t ruffle too much behind your head when you wear it down. Chunky Riri Aqua-zips with toggles make it easy to operate when you’ve got winter gloves on or want to make a quick ventilation adjustment on the bike at speed. There’s two massive chest pockets which we found perfect for stashing food or a paper map, handy when exploring new trails in nasty conditions.

Performance is impressive, with rain visibly beading off the green material with astonishing efficiency. All seams are waterproofed and the zips keep water out too. Where such jackets usually fall down are breathability, there’s a good reason why the term ‘boil in a bag’ is often bandied around in such reviews. Happily the Anabatic delivers well with a sweaty mountain biker inside, preventing too much heat build-up. This is just as well because there aren’t any pit zips, just the main zipper to lower temperature.