Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket

7
£165.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Sturdy and protective while rocking great reflectives for town use, though the cut doesn't quite reflect the performance
Good slim-ish fit
Warm
Comfortable
Very reflective
Feels tough
Not that relaxed for a relaxed fit
Front a bit short over casual clothes
Gets hot quite easily
Weight: 
489g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

It's best to think of the Altura Nightvision Zephyr Men's Thermal Cycling Jacket as a normal winter coat with a few good tweaks for cycling, rather than a cycling jacket per se. It's warm, gives great protection against wind and rain, and offers a good slim fit that works well on a bike, but any real effort on the pedals soon sees it getting hot and sweaty. For easy commutes and trips into town, though, it's great.

Check out our guide to the best cycling clothes for commuting for more options for the ride to work.

> Buy now: Altura Nightvision Zephyr Men’s Thermal Cycling Jacket for £82.50 from Altura

We've reviewed a very similarly named Altura jacket before – the Nightvision Zephyr Men's Stretch Jacket – but don't go thinking this is a just the same thing with minor tweaks and new colours. It's pretty different; for a start, it's not a stretchy softshell but a more traditional tough fabric outer.

2023 Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket - collar.jpg

It's also lined, hiding insulation made from 'post consumer plastic' – the stuff you put in your recycling rather than the other kind, which is 'post process'. That happens purely in factories when offcuts, sprues and misshapes are recycled; that increases efficiency, obviously, but does nothing to tackle waste plastic out in the environment. Post-consumer is the kind that does us all more good.

This plastic insulation is effective at keeping you warm, though that can be a problem... Create too much heat of your own and the Zephyr struggles to expel it, despite having permanently-open vents on the back over a mesh section that sits against your shoulders, and zip-up ones on each arm.

2023 Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket - shoulders.jpg

These latter are slightly weird as they're under your biceps rather than in the armpits, but they do at least point down and can be safely left open in the rain. They have a small but noticeable effect, but the obvious issue for all of them is that hot air rises, and there's no inner or outer air flow that wants to drag it out. Wear a backpack and the rear vents struggle even more.

2023 Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket - sleeve vent.jpg

Altura mentions commuting in its description, and that's a good hint. I found this jacket really good for gentle and mostly flat rides, where it comfortably provides a little bit of instant warmth and great protection from cold wind and rain. The neatly stitched seams are all taped, the 10K waterproof rating means it can deal with serious rain, and water beads up perfectly well on the DWR coating.

2023 Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket - hood.jpg

There's even a hood. While it does fit over a helmet, it's not quite tall enough and doesn't sit well (or cover the entire lid to the front), but it works pretty well when worn underneath. The hood sides will bulge out, but can be cinched in with elastic pullers, while the tall 'collar' gives yet more protection.

I also liked this Zephyr for adding instant comfort at the end of a ride, such as when you get back to the car park and have to dismantle your bike to origami it into a tiny car, or when hosing a filthy bike off at home, or just when stopping to eat cake and think about your life choices and eat more cake.

In my recommended size (medium) this proved a good fit, if not quite as 'relaxed' as you might expect – it's reasonably narrow across the shoulders and the sleeves are on the slim side. Good for eliminating flappage, at least.

2023 Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket - back.jpg

There's more room in the main body and it all still fits over a chunky jumper, though it gets a little tight in the arms and shoulders if you're not using bike kit beneath. It also leaves regular clothes (as you might wear on a commute) hanging quite far below the high front. Okay, it means the jacket doesn't crease and ruck up as you pedal, but given its non-performance intentions the hem could usefully be lower for better protection and better off-bike looks.

2023 Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket - hem.jpg

Alternatively, it could keep the higher cut and slim, flap-free fit and ditch the insulation – that would only improve its performance for harder riding. And while I'm on the missed opportunities, though the front pockets are useful, at least one internal pocket would be very welcome here. Especially if it were a map-sized one.

2023 Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket - zip pocket.jpg

The drop in the tail, meanwhile, works very well, and as it's slightly cupped it sits well to protect your waistband and bum from spray. The whole silvery lower panel is very reflective, too.

2023 Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket - reflective back.jpg

At 489g it's easy to carry and worth its weight for the protection it brings, but it's not something to stuff in a jersey pocket. It's a jacket for a frame bag or Camelbak type rucksack.

Value

At £165 this isn't exactly cheap, but it's still a fair bit less than many bike-specific jackets. For instance the Jack Wolfskin Bike Commute Mono Jkt M is £270, and not even insulated – though that probably helps it to its usefully superior 15K breathability rating. The Mono is also going to keep out heavy rain for much longer with a 20K waterproof rating. If your commute is long, fast or hilly, you're going to appreciate the extra performance.

For a properly casual look (and properly relaxed fit), the £260 Vulpine Men's Regents Mac is an excellent choice, and it has more pockets too. Okay, at 767g it's really not something to take off and pack away, but it too has superior stats at 20K/15K for waterproofing and breathability.

You could also look to Altura's own Grid Men's Parka Waterproof Jacket for a more 'street' style (and a usefully longer front), and while it has the same weird, not-really-armpit vents and low-ish 10K/10K ratings as the Zephyr, it's well priced (despite a £25 rise since our review) at £180.

Conclusion

Overall, so long as you're not working too hard – or wearing a big long jumper – this jacket is great. It's cosy, comfortable and doesn't flap, and it feels built to last. It even gives you loads of reflective area without looking dorky. While some will want either better ventilation for fast riding or greater coverage for easy riding and walking, if you're in between, where this jacket lives, it will serve you well.

Verdict

Sturdy and protective while rocking great reflectives for town use, though the cut doesn't quite reflect the performance

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Altura Nightvision Zephyr Thermal jacket

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?

Altura says: "The Altura Nightvision Zephyr Men's Cycling Jacket maintains its contemporary styling but now brings added warmth with the addition of a thermal torso and sleeves which are lined with recycled insulation made from post consumer plastic.

"Not only is this a great jacket for times when you want a more 'lifestyle' look when off the bike but it still offers excellent protection from the elements with 10k / 10k waterproof and breathability ratings, PFC-free DWR coating and a useful adjustable hood.

"Solid areas of reflectivity and reflective print help you to stay visible to others in low light whilst the adjustable underarm venting system enables you to control the air flow efficiently helping you stay feeling fresh and comfortable on the commute."

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

Altura lists these features:

-10K / 10K waterproof and breathability

-PFC-free DWR coating to repel water

-Recycled insulation made from post consumer plastic

-Thermal sleeves and torso with internal detailed stitching

-Integrated solid and roller print reflective in key areas

-Adjustable hood

-Adjustable venting under arm

-Rear venting

-Secure zipped hand pockets

-Adjustable hem

-Relaxed fit

-Recycled Content

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Very neat and crisp.

Rate the jacket for performance:
 
8/10

For protection on short and/or gentle trips it's really good.

Rate the jacket for durability:
 
7/10

All good so far.

Rate the jacket for waterproofing based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for breathability based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
5/10

Altura claims a 10k breathability rating, which is the minimum for hard activity, but it feels like less. This gets hot and sweaty quite quickly if you're working hard, and doesn't cool down that fast. It's fine for gentle riding though – towpath ambles, short road commutes and the like.

Rate the jacket for fit:
 
7/10

It's slim but leaves room for warm layers beneath – though as it's insulated you won't necessarily want them. It's not quite as 'relaxed' as some relaxed-fit jackets, especially around the arms and shoulders.

Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
7/10

It's good for a slim-ish and flap-free fit, but you could probably get away with sizing up for a little more room.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
7/10

It's not trying to be superlight, but it's good for this kind of protection.

Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
8/10

So long as you're not doing anything too strenuous, it's great.

Rate the jacket for value:
 
5/10

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

No issues.

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

Very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

Great reflectives, nice slim fit, good protection, reasonably casual looks.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

No inside pockets, slightly narrow in the shoulders.

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

At £165 this isn't exactly cheap, but many other 'casual' cycling jackets we test are considerably more.

Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes

Would you consider buying the jacket? Maybe

Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

This is a tough-feeling jacket with a slim but not tight fit, and it gives great protection from wind and rain. It combines fairly un-cycling looks with a useful amount of reflectivity. It gets warm pretty quickly if you're working hard, though, and is best suited to short or relatively steady rides; it could benefit from a slightly longer/looser cut still, in fact, given that its performance is as well suited to off-bike use as on.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 48  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Vitus Zenium SL VR Disc  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mtb,

Add new comment

3 comments

Avatar
Dicklexic | 2 months ago
0 likes

Yet another 'winter' jacket in a dull colour way. Yes it's VERY reflective, and I am not saying everything designed for winter shuold be Hi-Viz, but they could at least have some brighter or bolder colour options. Most of Altura's jackets are only available in dark colours such as grey or navy. The few that are available in alternative colours are mostly either Hi-Viz or dark.

Avatar
Simon E replied to Dicklexic | 2 months ago
0 likes
Dicklexic wrote:

Most of Altura's jackets are only available in dark colours such as grey or navy. The few that are available in alternative colours are mostly either Hi-Viz or dark.

It's not only Altura, many brands seem to promote 'winter' kit in black, dark blue or dark grey. I suspect in some cases it's about cost of materials, I wouldn't be surprised if those colours are easier to get consistent colour across the fabric.

And there's also the issue of some colours/shades not selling enough to justify it; if you consider the range of sizes they need to produce it's not hard to see how stock is left on the hangers/piled in warehouses for long periods, which has an impact on logistics as well as cost.

My well-used Nightvision jacket is a black one (I was reluctant to buy black but unlike most it fits me well, and was an absolute bargain). I'm always conscious of its colour so run lights in daylight more often than I would wearing brighter colours, especially at this time of year.

I've considered adding a hi-viz vest but the Apidura is £45, (Albion make one for £125!) while the cheap ones are huge, not adjustable and will flap like mad.

Avatar
Adam Sutton replied to Simon E | 2 months ago
0 likes

Maybe comes down to use as well. With the short daylight hours I use a dark blue jacket with refelective panels for my commute, since both my morning and late commute are in the dark. It also means it is a fairly normal looking jacket if I pop out at lunch for a walk. I have a cheap fluorescent jacket I may use if cycling in daylight hours.

Latest Comments