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review

Altura All Roads Fleece

9
£90.00

VERDICT:

9
10
A comfortable and well-priced multi-purpose fleece that looks good and will keep you warm
Very warm
Good weather resistance
Decent breathability
Practical pockets
Holds odours
Quite bulky
Weight: 
386g
road.cc Recommends

This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

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The Altura All Roads Fleece is a comfortable all-day jacket for cycling and bikepacking that works just as well when you're off the bike. It has handy features, a casual, stylish appearance and is practical for long days out and warm enough for colder rides. I dived straight in at the deep end, wearing the fleece on a bikepacking trip from South Wales to Blackpool – and found it a great addition to the winter wardrobe.

In the market for a jacket? Our best cycling jackets buyer's guide covers a wide range of cycling tops at a variety of prices.

Altura has designed the All Roads fleece for maximum versatility. And while its relaxed fit makes it harder to spot as a cycling-specific top, the back pocket and slightly tapered waist do give it away a little.

The body is made from a DWR (durable water repellent)-coated softshell, and with the High Loft fleece used for the upper section being naturally hydrophobic, the All Roads is a practical piece of clothing for changeable weather.

2023 Altura All Roads Fleece - chest.jpg

I come from Wales and I've put the fleece's water resistance to the test on multiple occasions and can say that even after washing it is still effective. But despite this weatherproofing and its warmth, the All Roads keeps good breathability too, and I didn't overheat even wearing it in rides up to around 15°C or so. You could also use it as part of a layering system when the temperature dips further.

2023 Altura All Roads Fleece - hem.jpg

Despite the fleece material on the shoulders I found that the jacket didn't pick up too much dirt, and what it did pick up came out in the wash – as did any odours. This is just as well, as I found that the jacket picked up smells a little quicker than most of my other jerseys and jackets. And in addition to responding well to washing, the All Roads is safe to tumble dry, so you don't need to worry about shrinkage or damaging the material.

The jacket has a couple of pockets that help it live up to its All Roads name, and which came in very handy on longer rides. The rear pocket has an inner mesh that divides it into two, with one, smaller, tighter pocket that was too small for my iPhone 12, though it did fit in the larger section.

2023 Altura All Roads Fleece - shoulders.jpg

There's also a 'Napoleon' chest pocket that was big enough for my phone, though if you do overfill it the pocket will sag.

2023 Altura All Roads Fleece - chest pocket.jpg

Reflective details finish off a well-considered product and add a little peace of mind for gloomy days and night-time riding.

I chose a medium for this jacket and it came up true to size. It allowed a little room underneath it for layering, and with sizes ranging from small to XXXL there should a size for most of us. And you can choose from three generally muted colours too: navy mix, olive and blue.

The top is exceptionally comfortable thanks to the internal fleece lining. The length of the arms and body are good, which adds to its snug and cosy feel.

2023 Altura All Roads Fleece - cuff.jpg

When the zip is done all the way up I did find it a little tight, though that's something I find pretty much across the board with winter cycling jackets.

2023 Altura All Roads Fleece - collar.jpg

One of the very few downsides is the size of the fleece when it's packed down. It's not that light but its 386g weight is understandable when you consider the fleecy material – but it does contribute to a bulk that makes stowing it a bit of a hassle. I found that it took up about half of my Tailfin Aeropack, so bear that in mind if a small size and maximum packability are important to you.

Value

While not cheap, the £90 RRP for Altura's All Roads fleece is towards the lower end of what you might expect to pay for high-quality winter wear. The Galibier Colombière is another good option for an all-round top that you can use for more than just cycling. Although they are different in style, they share a similar fit and both are warm, with the Galibier that Paul rated even more competitively priced at £68.82.

The Vulpine Men's Regent Mac also covers some of the same ground as the Altura – it's an effective jacket on and off the bike and with good resistance to the elements – but Vulpine's super-stylish top comes in at over £250.

Conclusion

I found the Altura All Roads Fleece a great piece of kit for bikepacking and all-round use. It's snug, warm and with good resistance to the elements when you're riding – it's also casual enough to use it when you're off the bike and reasonably priced.

Verdict

A comfortable and well-priced multi-purpose fleece that looks good and will keep you warm

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Altura All Roads Fleece

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the jacket is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The manufacturer says: "The Altura All Roads Men's Cycling Fleece is a relaxed and cosy mid layer which offers a great warmth to weight ratio with a fresh modern design. The fleece upper is naturally hydrophobic so it will help to repel water whilst the softshell main body fabric has a DWR coating to also help keep the rain off in an unexpected shower. The chest pocket and large rear zipped pockets provide plenty of storage for personal belongings and relaxed styling makes this ideal for casual or fast paced adventure gravel rides. It is versatile and will keep you warm on outdoor days when hiking or walking."

This rings true when putting the jacket to use. I found it warm, comfortable and useable on and off the bike – and I think it looks good too.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the jacket?

Two zip pockets, one on the rear, one on the chest

DWR coated fabric

Naturally hydrophobic fleece

Reflective detailing

Relaxed fit

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for performance:
 
9/10

Very warm and effective against the weather.

Rate the jacket for durability:
 
8/10

Still looks as new.

Rate the jacket for waterproofing based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
6/10

It performs slightly better than the manufacturer says, keeping out water longer than expected without many leaks at all.

Rate the jacket for breathability based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
6/10

It performs better than expected, despite the top being so warm and fleece lined.

Rate the jacket for fit:
 
9/10

Relaxed fit as said, which offers plenty of options for you to layer.

Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
10/10

It came up true to size.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
4/10

At 386g it's pretty heavy and it's quite bulky too, which means it doesn't pack down that small.

Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
9/10

Very comfortable, feels snug and cosy for long rides.

Rate the jacket for value:
 
5/10

Not many products similar but a fair price for the quality and finish of the jacket.

How easy is the jacket to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

It is easy to care for, can be machine washed at 30 degrees and is safe to tumble dry.

Tell us how the jacket performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It performs really well, keeping me warm and dry and it's good not just for riding.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

The style and design.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

Quite bulky.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market including ones recently tested on road.cc?

There aren't that many similar products, but the Galibier Colombière Jacket Galibier Colombière Jacket shares the same idea of a multipurpose jacket and is a little cheaper.

Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes

Would you consider buying the jacket? Yes

Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A great, warm and practical fleece perfect for winter riding and beyond. And the fact you can use it not just for cycling makes it worth the investment.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 21  Height: 171cm  Weight: 72kg

I usually ride: Windover Bostal  My best bike is: Windover Bostal

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Semi pro

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb, Gravel and ultra-endurance racing

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1 comments

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Freddy56 | 2 months ago
1 like

I love it. Got that 80s ski instructor look about it.

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