Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Rating:
Source: https://velocio.cc/collections/mens/products/mens-ultralight-jacket?variant=41857619263561
Price: $199
Sizes: Men’s: XS/S/M/L/XL/2XL/3XL; Women’s: XXS/XS/S/M/L/XL/2XL/3XL
Colors: Undyed (tested)/ Black Olive (same colors for Women’s)
Pockets: 1 side rear pocket that doubles as a pouch the jacket stuffs into
Fit: True to size
Fabric: Undyed nylon recycled from tires
Availability: Bike shops and online
How obtained: Company sample
RBR advertiser: No
Full-Featured Featherweight Protection From the Wind & Wet
With its barely noticeable weight of only 97 grams, you might assume Velocio’s Ultralight Jacket couldn’t offer much protection from the elements. You’d be wrong.
Handles a Wide Temperature Range and Varied Weather
I’ve worn it on a bunch of rides now and it’s surprisingly versatile. On a morning spin along the coast so thick with fog and mist that I removed my glasses because I got sick of wiping them clear, the jacket kept me dry and comfortable.
Then on a 90-degree afternoon riding in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, I took it along for a little sun protection and it breathed so well, I stayed dry and protected in those conditions as well.
It’s the perfect take-along top too, because it tucks into its own zip pocket, so that you can easily stuff it into a jersey pocket or pack. With this type of jacket it’s helpful if it’s easy to take it off and put it back on – especially if you’re doing it while riding, which I do. Velocio has you covered there too.
Easy On/Off Thanks to its 2-Way Oversized Zipper
Instead of the tiny zippers found on many tops, Velocio goes with an oversized quality YKK zipper. And it has two pulls, the top one feels like hard rubber or vinyl, the bottom is metal. The top one locks so you can open the top of the jacket for venting and it won’t open more as you ride unless you open it. The bottom pull is handy for letting air in down there and also when it’s opened a little, makes it easier to access items in rear jersey pockets.
Back to taking the jacket on and off, Velocio’s oversized zipper is easier to find and connect so you can do it even if the wind’s blowing or you’re at the back of the group trying not to lose the draft and in a hurry to cover up. A nice touch is that when the jacket is fully zipped, the top pull tucks into a little pocket in the collar ensuring the jacket stays closed.
Designed with DWR to Repel Light Rain
For protection from the wet, Velocio says that, “the Ultralight Jacket employs a durable water repellent (DWR) to protect against road spray and light showers. Traditionally, DWRs are made using environmentally harmful forever chemicals called PFAS. Not this one. We designed the Ultralight’s DWR without PFAS so water still sheds without the negative effects on the climate.”
On the misty morning ride I mentioned, the jacket kept the water out just fine.
Thoughtful Features for A Comfortable Race Fit
Starting at the top, the collar is fleece lined which helps keep you warm and transfers moisture so you stay dry. For breathability, there are laser cut ventilation holes on the back of the neck, down the sides of the jacket and under the arms (you can see these in the photo of the back). Inside, there’s a full length draft flap behind the zipper to keep the wind and wet out. And, the tail of the jacket is the right length for good coverage in all riding positions with an elastic gripper hem so that it doesn’t ride up. While the ends of the sleeves have elastic on the bottom of the wrist only so they fit snugly and don’t bind at all.
I got the Ultralight Jacket in Velocio’s Undyed color since I like visibility from a jacket. Its orange zippers might add a little more. The Black/Olive color doesn’t have the orange zippers. I also got a size Medium, which is what I wear and why I said the jacket is true to size in the Fit field at the top of this page.
The thing to know is that it’s a race fit, which is snug so that it won’t flap around in the wind at all. There’s not much extra room in the jacket. I could fit a baselayer beneath my jersey fine with the jacket on but not much more. If you’re in between sizes, you probably would want the next size up.
Velocio’s Signature Guarantee and 1% For the Planet Program
To help, should the size not be right, Velocio provides their Signature Guarantee: “Ride in a new piece of kit for that 30 days and if for any reason you aren’t satisfied, return the piece for a complete refund. There’s a better way to ensure each piece of clothing is right for you and our guarantee promises just that.”
Also, with a purchase of any Velocio product you support their 1% For the Planet program. In their own words, “Our commitment to the environment goes beyond sustainable measures, durable clothing and a focus on circular manufacturing. We commit 1% of our annual revenue to sustainable causes including climate-focused non-profits, and bike advocacy groups.”
Overall, this is a great fitting and stylish race-cut jacket that delivers comfort, warmth and protection. It’s also so small and light that you hardly know it’s on and you can always bring it along.
Jim Langley is RBR’s Technical Editor. A pro mechanic & cycling writer for more than 40 years, he’s the author of Your Home Bicycle Workshop in the RBR eBookstore. Tune in to Jim’s popular YouTube channel for wheel building & bike repair how-to’s. Jim’s also known for his cycling streak that ended in February 2022 with a total of 10,269 consecutive daily rides (28 years, 1 month and 11 days of never missing a ride). Click to read Jim’s full bio.