Which Cycling Jacket?
Which Cycling Jacket?
Our Guide To The Altura Jacket Range
You may be wondering which cycling jacket do you need? Altura our one of our favourite clothing brands. All of their cycle clothing is UK designed and has a big focus on being practical and affordable. They really made their name with the best-selling Nevis and Nightvision commuting jackets but they now make jackets for pretty much every type of cycling.
In this guide, we have broken down the Altura range into the type of cycling they are intended for. Of course, there is a lot of overlap. Lots of the commuting jackets also work great for mountain biking and a lot of the road jackets work great for commuting so feel free to mix and match. Hopefully, this will help you identify which cycling jacket do you need.
Altura Commuting Jackets
Altura really made their name with their commuting jackets and it is still the core of their range. Altura’s commuting jackets use a semi-fitted cut so you can put them over different layers of clothing and are designed to be reflective and hi-viz as well as comfortable to wear. Lots of the commuting jackets double up as great mountain bike jackets and work well for touring and general leisure cycling. If you are looking for a ‘packable’ jacket that can slip into a back pocket then skip down to the road jackets section.
Altura Nightvision Thunderstorm Waterproof Jacket
The Nightvision Thunderstorm is Altura’s flagship commuting jacket. It is designed for year-round rising and to keep you dry in the heaviest downpours. It is available in Men’s and Women’s versions and in a choice of colours. On all versions, the jacket looks two-tone in normal daylight but the top half of the jacket is made from reflective materials so as soon as car headlights shine on it your chest, back and arms will all reflect the light so you really stand out (the picture at the top of this section shows this in action).
Altura Nightvision Tornado Waterproof Jacket
The Nightvision Tornado looks like a plain jacket at first glance but when you get up close it has a subtle all-over pattern of dots and dashes. When hit by car headlights these dots and dashes are all reflective so you really stand out. So if you want a jacket to ride to work in, but which will also look good when you pop out for lunch, the Tornado does the job. It’s also waterproof, breathable and comes with plenty of pockets for carrying your gear on all sorts of rides. Shop for Men's Nightvision Tornado and Women's Nightvision Tornado jackets.
Altura Nightvision Cyclone Waterproof Jacket
The Nightvision Cyclone is closer to a traditional commuting jacket. It comes in hi-viz colours including yellow and red and has reflective panels in key points to give you 360-degree visibility. The Cyclone jacket is waterproof and comes with a detachable hood for maximum protection from the elements. Shop for Men's Nightvision Cyclone and Women's Nightvision Cyclone jackets.
Altura Nightvision Twilight Waterproof Jacket
The Nightvision Twilight is Altura’s best selling commuting jacket. It’s similar to the Cyclone but is made from a slightly heavier material, has smaller reflective patches and does not come with a hood. Even with those changes, this is still a great performing waterproof and breathable jacket and one which comes in at a super affordable price point. It comes in hi-viz colours including yellow and red and has reflective panels in key points to give you 360-degree visibility. Shop for Men's Nightvision Twilight and Women's Nightvision Twilight jackets.
Altura Nevis Waterproof Jacket
The Altura Nevis jacket is classic and has been around for years. Altura tweaks it every now and then, improving the fabric and cut to make it better each time. The Nevis is waterproof and windproof and comes with reflective elements to help you be seen.It is not as breathable as some of the other jackets in the range but it’s great for shorter commutes. Shop for Men's Nevis and Women's Nevis jackets.
Altura Mountain Bike Jackets
Lots of Altura’s commuting and road jackets also work really well for mountain biking but Altura do make a dedicated mountain bike jacket in the Ridge and Esker Jackets.
Altura Ridge Shell Waterproof Jacket
The Altura Ridge Shell has waterproof, windproof and breathable features which means you're covered when it comes to hitting the trails in the colder, wetter months. The handy adjustable hood is helmet-compatible, and there's room for elbow protection. The Altura Ridge Shell jackets relaxed styling will always keep you looking good both on and off the bike. Shop for Men's Ridge Shell and Women's Ridge Shell jackets.
Altura Esker Waterproof packable Jacket
The Altura Esker jacket has a lightweight softshell outer layer for when you're expecting interchangeable weather out on your adventure. Features include a zipped chest pocket, an elasticated cuff and hem, an adjustable hood that is compatible with a helmet, and there's room for elbow protection too. Shop for Men's Esker and Women's Esker jackets.
Altura Road Cycling Jackets
Altura’s road cycling jackets are all designed to be ‘packable’. That means they pack down small enough to go into a jersey pocket. Perfect for changeable weather, or to keep you warm at café stops.
Altura Race Waterproof Jacket
The Race Waterproof is Altura’s top of the line road jacket. It has a very fitted cut to make sure you don’t have any excess material flapping about to spoil your aerodynamics. As you are likely to be working hard the Race jacket has Altura’s best 2.5 layers of breathable and waterproof fabric along with tapered seems and a front storm flap to keep the rain out. Reflective panels will help get you seen in poor conditions. The Race jacket is only available in a men’s cut. Shop for Men's Race and Women's Race jackets.
Altura Classic Waterproof Jacket
The Classic Jacket is designed to have a clean and simple look with strategically placed reflective trim to help make you seen. It’s waterproof, windproof and highly breathable but still packs down small enough to carry. It also comes in fairly neutral colours if you don’t want to ride around in hi-viz. The Classic jacket is only available in a men’s cut. Shop for Men's Classic and Women's Classic jackets.
Altura Firestorm Waterproof Reflective Jacket
The Firestorm jacket is available in both men’s and women’s cuts. Like the Nightvision Tornado jacket, it comes with a subtle print pattern that is reflective when car headlights shine on it to improve your visibility. As well as being reflective the Firestorm jacket is waterproof, windproof, breathable and packs down small enough to carry with you. The Firestorm makes a great jacket for commuting and touring as well as road cycling. Shop for Men's Firestorm and Women's Firestorm jackets.
Altura Airstream Windproof Jacket
The big selling point of the Airstream jacket is the weight. At just 84 grams it is small and light enough to carry with you on almost any ride. The Airstream is windproof and water repellent but not waterproof. It will see you through a short shower, some drizzle or road spray but won’t save you in heavy rain. It’s a good jacket to have for changeable days. The Airstream jacket is only available in a men’s cut. Shop for Men's Airstream and Women's Airstream jackets.
