Lumo Regents Parka jacket review

Having lights on your bike is fundamental to being seen at any time of day, though it’s often the body that is in line of sight of many drivers, and many cyclists in town aren’t wearing reflective items and are often choosing to dress in a dark colour too.

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There is also often a limit to how many lights you can stick on your handlebars or seatpost, so having an extra 14 four lumen LED lights on the front and back of the Lumo Regents Parka jacket will certainly increase your chances of being seen on the commute. These are 'to be seen' lights rather than 'seeing with' and Lumo reminds us that you should always have lights on your bike too.

Sticking lights in garments that are supposed to be used on daily commutes, that will no doubt get smelly and dirty, can sometimes complicate things when it comes to getting it washed. The great thing about the USB rechargeable lights in the this jacket is that the battery is removable so and the light strips are machine washable, eliminating all the faff of worrying about electrics. This is one of the key features that allows the Lumo Regents Parka jacket to stand out (other than the lights of course) - it’s hugely practical in use.

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In the months I’ve been testing the jacket operational time for the lights has been great (it is suggested to be between 6-14 hours depending on mode).

With an RRP of £400 this jacket is obviously not a whimsical purchase but it isn’t just the lights that can help us justify the price. This jacket really does work both on and off the bike, which is key for Lumo. It was very important to the company owners to ensure the Regents Parka works away from the bike describing it as ‘A futuristic adaption of the 1960’s classic mod Parka’. I really like the styling and it was often commented on at how nice it is… to which I said ‘look, it lights up too’!

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Usually in terms of fit, jackets struggle to perform on the bike when made to be stylish. However the Schoeller® C_change™ fabric works well aided by stretchy fabric around the shoulders and longer sleeves to suit a riding position. It is windproof and waterproof, whilst remaining breathable thanks to a vented back. The only downside, as the Lumo Regents Parka jacket does well at retaining warmth, is that you start to boil when you’ve reached your destination. Without that wind, breathability of the fabric suffers.

Final touches like the fleece-lined collar, scalloped fitted hood and sculpted cuffs ensure you feel snug out and about. The rear magnetically closed rear pocket is a nice touch, which makes for easy access on the bike, whilst reflective trim on cuffs and pockets add to the visibility.

Visit the Lumo website for more details.