It’s been a stormy winter with more rain-lashed rides than I can remember in a long time, and through it all the Addict waterproof jacket from Madison has been doing a cracking job of keeping the elements out, and keeping me dry.

It’s made from a 3-layer seam sealed waterproof fabric which Madison claims offers “12,000mm waterproof and 15,000gms breathability”. Those are high numbers indeed, but what it boils down to is a jacket that will keep all the rain out, even in a heavy prolonged downpour, and will ensure you don’t overheat into a sweaty pile halfway up the first climb of a ride.

No matter how breathable even the best waterproof jackets are, it’s still possible to overcome the materials ability to cope. For that reason Madison have included two large zippered vents on the chest panel, and they’re angled so not to be covered by the straps of a hydration pack. A nice touch.

I didn’t find the heat too much of a problem in this jacket. Of course a lot depends on what layers you’re wearing underneath it, how hard you’re riding and just how much heat you produce when riding. Some people run hot while others run cold. I found a long sleeve base layer underneath was enough on milder days, and maybe adding a short sleeve mid-layer on colder days worked best to help regulate temperature.

The jacket works well to justify its price tag with lots of nice details and features, that makes it very functional as bike jacket. There’s the hood, which is actually more useful than you might imagine, especially when the rain gets torrential. Wwhich it has done on more than a few occasions this winter. There’s plenty of pockets too, and they’re all waterproof so you can be confident that your money, or whatever you decide to stash in them, won’t go soggy. Draw cords around the waist and hood help adjust the fit. There’s a couple of silicone prints over the shoulders to help keep a hydration pack in place. There’s also good length Velcro cuffs on the sleeves.

The fit is good, though the jacket is a smidgen on the large side, it’s more relaxed than fitted. That means you can comfortably wear it over a couple of layers when you need to wrap up warm. The jacket is well shaped though and the arms a good length, and it feels good on the bike when you’re throwing some shapes down the descent, there’s no restriction on freedom of movement when getting animated.

It’s competitively priced, and packs in all the features you really want in a jacket. The waterproof sealed pockets are a nice touch, and they’re big enough to get phones or wallets in there. That’s ideal if you don’t want to wear a hydration pack if you’re just dashing out for a shorter ride.

Verdict

A high quality waterproof jacket is an essential investment for any mountain biker, and the Addict proves you don’t have to spend a small fortune to get a decent waterproof jacket. It’s well designed,stacked with features and works really well in the conditions it’s designed for. It comes in three colours and five sizes.

More information: Madison Addict jacket
Price: £139.99

What Madison says:

Built to take everything the Great British weather can throw at it, the Addict 3-layer storm jacket is the ultimate mountain bike jacket.