Showers Pass Elements Jacket – Comfortable Multi Purpose Bike Jacket
Showers Pass Elements Jacket – Comfortable Multi-Purpose Bike Jacket
Drew Thayer
A versatile cycling-inspired raincoat equally at home shredding muddy single-track, commuting to work, or cruising the neighborhood
Staying dry on the bike during a downpour in the Showers Pass Elements Jacket
Showers Pass Elements Jacket Review
Showers Pass, known for their technical cycling apparel, just released the new Elements jacket to span the space between weaving through the forest on single-track and biking down to the grocery store. Built to be comfortable and versatile, this jacket is closer to a quiver-of-one raincoat than the cycling-specific jackets that make up the majority of their jacket line. Standard features for cycling jackets are still present, like large hook-and-loop wrist cuffs to seal out cold air and long zippered vents on either side of the chest. The hood is comfortable over a beanie but can also be pulled over a cycling helmet and stays on, which is a nice option for commuting.
The things I like most about this jacket are the stretch and feel of the material. This 2.5-layer fabric, which is exceptionally waterproof, has a treatment they call ‘carbon print’ on the lining that creates a different feel than common nylon liners. It’s still a hard-shell jacket, so don’t expect it to feel like a soft-shell, but I did notice after riding 30 minutes on a cold morning that I didn’t feel as much of the clammy sensation that always comes with biking in a raincoat. There is also a bit of stretch in the material, which provides an athletic, roomy feel with unimpeded range of movement in the arms.
This is a versatile jacket with a good fit, and it’s found itself on the coat-rack by the front door. It’s the jacket I grab when I’m heading out the door to take my son to school and there’s an extra bite in the air, some moisture or a bit of wind.
It’s just generally comfortable around town, with some nice extras like a soft fleecy lining around the neck. It has standard hip-level pockets that double as glove-holder pockets on the inside. It even comes with a microfiber cloth in the pocket for wiping sunglasses. The colors available (gray or dark green) are sharp but casual, great for town use – this jacket doesn’t scream ‘hi-tech’ in bold colors. I’m getting a lot of use out of this jacket.
