Price: £145

Features: Ripstop Gore-Tex with stretch Gore-Tex side panels, chest and rear map pockets, full length velcro storm flap, reflective trim.

6hrs in varied conditions + one year’s experience with previous version in all conditions.

The Freestyle Sprinter is a medium-light, slim cut, Ripstop Gore-Tex jacket with stretch panels in the sides to help keep your belly in. Pockets come in the form of map-sized at the rear and phone/wallet/keys/cash sized at the front. Long arms and tail keep everywhere covered at full stretch and velcro does the sealing over cuffs and zips. Draw cords pull in the hem and collar and Scotchlite tape will mark you out as a bunch of lines in the dark. An extra fiver over last year’s buys you a fleece-lined collar and more velcro, all the way down the front, both worthy improvements in our book, especially the former.

On the bike the fit is great, the stretch panels hold the front in as you lean forward and the whole thing stays close without compromising range of movement. The arms and back are long enough and the stretch panels also provide some give across the shoulders. The collar is tall enough to protect the neck area without getting in the way. The close fit still allows for two slim layers underneath on the worst of days.

The sprinter also breathes well too, the close fit means the mesh can take moisture away quicker from layers underneath and let it evaporate through the waterproof membrane. Yes the Sprinter is a favourite here, the fit, construction, styling and performance of it is on par with almost anything else and is all available in the one package. We’ve used the format for the last year and the only pedantic gripes we could come up with were the string draw cords and the ever so slightly short front that can leave a gap in some kit combinations. Price was competitive last year but with quality waterproof jackets dropping below the £100 mark the stakes have been raised by other manufacturers leaving great value as good value, nevertheless your money is still well spent, just slightly less so.

Fast becoming a classic the Sprinter is a great all round jacket and useful for a good 9 months of our year. A few tweaks bring it close to being the ultimate trail jacket but it still has string cords where we plead for user-friendly elastic and one-handed operation wouldn’t go amiss either. Picky you might say but 5 would suggest no improvements could be made. At this price it is good value and it comes out of the wash each time looking good as new.

Great fit, fabric and quality, quite probably all you’ll ever need. Tiny niggles stop it getting fives across the board.

Performance: 4.5/5

Value: 4/5

Overall: 4.5/5