POC Motion commuter jacket review: My long term companion for city riding

Once I take a look at waterproof jackets – and I’ve tried 40 or 50 of them at this level with the intention to distil the market down into my information to the very best waterproof biking jackets – all of them get examined in parallel initially, after which I can hone in on them individually after that. Following testing and reviewing most have a tendency to reside in a field mentally labelled ‘for reference’ until they carry out very poorly. 

Some are adequate to remain in fixed use as a result of they work so properly as efficiency clothes, just like the Maap Atmos and the Rapha Professional Crew Gore-Tex, and a few keep in fixed use as a result of they transcend the biking jacket a part of the Venn diagram and bleed into normal use. The POC Movement may be very a lot on this second camp.

I’ve been utilizing it every time the necessity arises for properly over a 12 months now and I believe it’s the best choice for these of you after a commuter jacket. There are a lot more choices in my sister information to the very best commuter biking jackets if this doesn’t match the invoice for you, however I’m going to attempt to persuade you that it most likely does.

Now, simply to be clear, for those who’re commuting on a highway bike then this isn’t for you. Purchase a highway jacket, however make it a sturdy one. The Endura Professional SL Waterproof Shell is a superb possibility for these after a highway match, however for these not bombing to work within the drops the Movement is my choose.

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Design and aesthetics

Of all of the jackets I’ve reviewed in recent times the POC Movement is the one that’s the most ‘regular’. On the face of it, you’d be hard-pressed to choose it out as a biking jacket in a lineup of extra general-use waterproofs. The tail is barely marginally dropped, and save for a few little reflective patches on the rear it’s very a lot commonplace fare. Effectively executed for positive, however no humorous enterprise. 

Once I evaluate it to one thing just like the Albion Zoa Rain Shell, one other jacket I usually attain for once I must pop to Lidl to purchase milk within the rain, it’s fairly completely different. No voluminous hood, no closely vented pockets, no adjustable cuffs. Only a small hood that may match beneath a helmet, two moderate-sized facet pockets and a chest one for valuables. 

Look beneath the arms and also you see perforated pits, very like you get on the Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket I reviewed just lately. A double zip additionally helps when issues get toasty, and may be very a lot a prerequisite for any outer layer for me these days. The cuffs are formed in order that they cowl extra of the again of your fingers. The arms are a bit shorter than some jackets I’ve tried, however for using extra upright bikes that is no unhealthy factor. I even have very gangly arms, so It’s not the fairest take a look at.

The hood has no peak, however the brim is elasticated, that means it sits shut across the face when in use, and doesn’t act as a wind sock when not deployed. Usually I’m a fan of a hood that goes over the helmet, however on this case, I believe this makes extra sense. 

Underneath the hood, so to talk, you get a really sturdy feeling outer material protected by a PFC-Free DWR therapy, and itself defending a 20,000mm rated waterproof membrane. That is a lot for even heavy rain, and whereas it isn’t going to problem the likes of the Rapha Professional Crew Gore-Tex on paper, it’s actually greater than ample for non-performance using. 

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Efficiency

On paper, the Movement is a little bit of an odd jacket to present the nod to for greatest total for a class. No adjustment to talk of, no mega air flow, and a comparatively commonplace reduce. Why, then, do I believe it’s the very best? 

First up is sturdiness. It’s a very stable jacket, and the shortage of tabs, toggles, added zips and velcro is definitely advantageous in a commuter jacket. I could get a little bit of flack for this however I believe commuting is more durable on waterproof jackets than some other sort of using. Most individuals might be rocking a biking backpack of some kind which provides put on to the again and shoulders, they get stuffed into luggage with reckless abandon, and left moist on the again of workplace chairs – I’ve misplaced depend of the variety of instances I’ve appeared down to seek out I’ve been working my jacket over with my workplace chair – roasted in drying cupboards, and crashed in with higher regularity. Zips and toggles virtually all the time surrender sooner or later, so doing with out them is useful.

The outer material of the Movement is very stable, and whereas it isn’t essentially the most breathable jacket it’s positive for shorter or much less intense commutes and can stand up to all of the common put on and tear. The hood too is nice. No windsock impact when it’s down, and whereas I do like my hood to go over my helmet, for brief journeys like a commute you’re most likely going to determine at your door whether or not you want it up or down and it’ll be grand for your entire journey. The sleeves actually are a bit brief for using in a highway place, however for any flat bar bike (fixie youngsters I’m you right here) they’re excellent, and neither too tight nor too free, so there’s room for large gloves beneath. 

The opposite purpose is that, on the entire, most commuter jackets look a bit naff. Off the bike, they immediately mark you out as a bike owner, and whereas there isn’t something fallacious with that I don’t need to seem like I’m mid-commute on the after-work drinks, or if I throw it on to go wander round city. The Movement works very well on the bike, and I’d even say it has a spot as an MTB crossover jacket too. It’s protecting, and whereas it doesn’t have a water-resistant zip for some mad purpose the interior storm flap does the job, and is even stitched over on itself to cease it snagging. Off the bike, it simply appears to be like like a very good trying shell jacket, which I believe is why I attain for it so usually. 

I’ll admit that black is maybe not the best choice for visibility, however it’s what I like as a result of it goes with my different garments. The opposite mineral-named color choices (dioptase blue and calcite blue) are very good-looking too in a muted Scandi approach. If you’d like visibility then you need to give attention to getting the very best bike lights first, then fear about your layers as no quantity of brilliant yellow will assist for those who’re working a tea mild to be seen.

Breathability is commonly the downfall of commuter jackets. They are typically cheaper than their highway or gravel oriented siblings, and that tends to come back with much less breathable membranes. Once more, the movement isn’t going to match jackets designed for highway using, however until you’re completely hammering your journey to work it’s fairly good. The pit perforations I have a tendency to consider as good however not that helpful, however the backside zip does imply you may dump warmth fairly successfully, and is much better than undoing the jacket from the highest for those who’re sporting a chest strap in your backpack. 

The looser match permits quite a lot of airflow too, but in addition room for layering. In the event you commute within the chilly – keep in mind POC is a Swedish model so it is aware of about correct winter – a mini down jacket can simply be accommodated beneath, maintaining it useable year-round.  

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Worth

Very like the Albion Zoa the worth proposition right here is tremendously enhanced by its off-bike credentials. If you will discover it on sale – on the time of writing I’ve seen the Dioptase Blue mannequin right down to £154 – it’s an absolute discount. 

Commuter jackets on the whole are fairly low-cost, principally as a result of folks appear to detest spending some huge cash on one thing ‘simply’ for using to and from work. The POC Movement is dearer than many commuter jackets available on the market, however I’d wager it’s a tonne extra helpful too, and as such I believe it represents fairly nice worth. 

Verdict

The POC Movement is a winner on the bike, so long as your commuting isn’t too intense or on a motorcycle with a really aggressive match. It is sturdy sufficient to face up to every day abuse, backpack-wearing, and bag-stuffing, however it’s the off-bike versatility that units it aside from the group. Commuting doesn’t need to be a alternative between being a style catastrophe and efficiency, and for a bit extra cash you may have a jacket that’ll see use round city whether or not you’re on the bike or not.