Pedal Ed Hikari Reflective Shell jacket review

With signs of spring around the corner now, it’s a chance to put away that heavy winter jacket – and swap it for a waterproof one. The Pedal Ed Hikari Reflective Shell jacket fits the bill nicely.

Uninsulated, it comes with fully internally taped seams and is made of a highly waterproof breathable fabric. Pedal Ed says that the Hikari Reflective Shell jacket has been used in both the Transcontinental Race and the Silk Road Mountain Race – so considerably more extreme than my meanderings around the Chilterns.

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Pedal Ed has also made sure that you’ll be seen – something that I’m all in favour of. If you’re going to be riding around in the rain and possibly in the dark or low light, it seems a really good idea to up your visibility. The Pedal Ed Hikari Reflective Shell jacket comes either in grey – not so visible – or red – better. But it’s printed with extensive reflective dashes to up your road profile.

These extend over the chest, the upper arms and the lower back, right down to the bottom hem. There are even reflectives on the inside of the rear pockets, which are made of mesh, so that they can be seen though them – unless you’ve loaded them up with kit, that is.

Like many fully rain resistant shell jackets, there’s a distinct rustle to the Hikari Reflective Shell jacket from its slightly stiff fabric. It also doesn’t quite pack down enough to fit comfortably in a jersey pocket, so you either need to wear it all ride or carry some baggage to stow it in. There are other jackets at this premium price point, like the Gore Shakedry, that handle both of these problems better than Pedal Ed’s Hikari Reflective Shell jacket.

But if you’re after a premium waterproof jacket with lots of visibility, the Pedal Ed Hikari Reflective Shell jacket is one to put on your shortlist.