Dare 2b’s Night Hawk jacket offers great function and is packed full of features. Ventilation is perhaps minimal but this is outweighed by the jacket’s classy fabric, low weight and small pack-down size.

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.

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.

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.”