Pros
- Good weight for cooler conditions and more vigorous riding
- Water resistant
- Comfortably close fit
- Large rear reflective area
Cons
- No rain flap on pockets or front zipper
Price as reviewed:
£120
£120 may seem like a lot of cash for a winter jersey, but the Orkaan has a lot of tricks up its sleeves. For a start, it’s not much lighter than many brands’ winter race jackets, with a fleeced lining which provides plenty of warmth for cooler autumn days. It’s also pretty windproof, which means that the fleece is able to insulate effectively.
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On top of this, the fabric is water resistant, with water beading off all the panels including the cuffs when you do the running tap test. Stolen Goat says that this water resistance is built into the fabric rather than a surface treatment, so it won’t wash off. I’ve found it has lasted through quite a few wash cycles.
Long cuffs keep the draught out
Reflectives are also useful as the days shorten. Rather than add reflective accents, the three rear pockets of the Orkaan are made entirely of a pixellated fabric, so there’s a very wide expanse of reflective fabric right across the back of the jersey. There’s masses of room in the pockets and there’s a fourth zipped pocket. But the open pockets don’t have a flap over them, so when it rains your gels (and your phone!) will get wet.
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Zipper is not backed so water will get in eventually
The Orkaan’s collar is high and close, so that it keeps draughts out effectively. There’s a guard at the throat to the full length zipper to avoid irritation. The zipper isn’t backed or waterproof, so riding in wet conditions some water will find its way in. The long cuffs are effective at keeping the weather and wind out though.
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The Orkaan’s fit is close enough to prevent windflap, but there’s enough space and stretch to layer up underneath if the outside temperature does drop below your comfort range. I’ve used a baselayer with full length sleeves to increase warmth on cooler rides.
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Stolen Goat suggests a temperature hovering around ten degrees for the Orkaan long sleeved jersey. If you’re particularly hardy though, there’s also a short sleeved version of the jersey available for £95, along with weatherproof arm warmers to match.
Verdict
A nice design from Stolen Goat which is good for typical UK autumn into winter conditions, with the fabric providing a good level of wind and rain resistance. The reflective rear pockets are clever too.
Details
Weight: 356g
Contact: www.stolengoat.com
