Not all rain shells are created equally. They come in light and packable packages, or thicker and toastier bundles of warmth, and we can’t have both simultaneously. The Shield rain jacket from Evoc is warmer than most, while relatively packable depending on the girth of your pack. With two pockets for your hands or snacks and a breast pocket for your handkerchief or phone, it works as well for walks about town as it does on the trail.
The Shield’s off-the-bike-ability is further enhanced by its larger overall cut, with a space to hide a thin puffy coat or small puppy underneath. I have been wearing the size small with a down jacket layer on colder commutes, which essentially turns it into the perfect waterproof winter coat. I am allergic to being cold, and keeping dry is a high priority in the fight against frigid temperatures.
If you prefer a closer fit or live someplace where you won’t need to pack a puffy under your rain shell, consider ordering a size smaller than you typically would. I also tried on a size extra-small that fit just right.
The sleeves are long enough to overlap the cuffs of winter mtb gloves, allowing water to flow down the sleeve and over the glove instead of into it. Tighten down the sleeve openings to keep the cold air out, or open them wide to cool off.
- Price: $200 MSRP
- Weight: 380g (size small)
- Material: 100% nylon
- Waterproof: 20,000 MM
- Windproof: 20,000 MVP
- Colors: Black only
- Features: two hand pockets, one chest pocket, adjustable hood, velcro sleeve openings
The hood can be tightened around your face, and around your helmet, with two separate cinch straps. While the hood is large enough to enter your vision when worn over a helmet, the cinch straps allow you to tighten it back out of the way.
Now, about that warm and toasty bit. When I have worn the Shield on painfully cold days, with temperatures at or below the freezing point, it has proven a fantastic piece of gear for staying dry and warm inside. When the thermometer reached closer to the 60° F (15.5° C) mark the jacket was a little too hot for any pedally riding. It is not the most breathable rain jacket I have tested, which is part of why it is warm. For riders in colder climates, and those of us who choose to shred all 52 weeks annually, a heavier shell like the Shield makes the chilly days quite pleasant.
Thanks for sending the Shield jacket over for testing, Evoc!
