Mountain Bike Rider — March 2018

NEW PRODUCTS

74 mbrMARCH 2018

ALTURA MAYHEM 2

£119.99

SPECIFICATION Weight: 368g • Sizes: S-XXL • Colours: red/black, black • Contact: zyrofi sher.co.uk

TheMayhem2aimstobringfull-onfoulweatherprotectiontoaslightly
lowerpricepointthanAltura’srange-toppingFive40jacket.
Make no mistake; this is no rebadged roadie or commuter waterproof.
It’s an unashamedly bombproof mtb-only garment, designed to perform
in the mud as much as the rain.
ItmakesuseofAltura’sownsuper-robustStormshield
materialwithclaimsofbothfullwaterproofingandaveryhigh
levelofbreathability.Thisfabricisusedfortheentirejacket,
andAlturahasmadesuretotapeeveryseam.TheMayhem,
like most waterproof jackets, is unlined. This keeps the weight
down,makesitatadmorepackableandensuresitperforms
better over a wider temperature range. However, the downside
isthatitdoesfeelalittleroughandcoldagainstbareskin.
True to its claims, the Mayhem provided ample protection against
thewindandtherainoverthetestperiod,includingabiblicaldayin
Madeira that would have pushed any jacket to the limit. On that occasion
moisturedidgetin,butinallfairnessI
think any jacket would have succumbed
eventually. The fabric itself remained
waterproof, but constant spray worked its
wayinthroughtheneckandwaist.Thehood
workswelloversmallertrailhelmets,but
pulled my neck back over larger versions.
For mixed conditions, with frequent
showers and double-digit temperatures,
the Mayhem coped admirably with
balancing protection and breathability.
Thepitvents,whilesmall,areeffectively
placedwhenusingapackbutcouldbe
larger,andthemainzipisnotthe
easiesttooperatewithonehand,
so regulating temperature on the
gocouldbeimproved.Inormally
runhotwhenridinghard,andthe
Mayhem kept me just on the right
side of comfortable. That said,
therearedefinitelymore
breathable options out there,
but you will have to pay
more for the privilege.
Thisbrings me on to my
main gripe: the sizing. It is,
shallwesay,generous.
As much as it’s good
to have enough room
forlayersandpads
underneath, Altura’s
fitmakesitworth
tryingasizesmaller
than you’d
normally
wear.

VAUDE TREMALZO

RAIN JACKET II

£140

SPECIFICATIONWeight: 264g • Sizes: S-XXL • Colours: red, green, blue • Contact: vaude.com

While the Mayhem 2 is irrefutably rugged and bombproof, Vaude’s

Tremalzo takes a more versatile, lighter-weight approach. Packable yet

stilldurable enough to take into the mountains.

Vaude uses an environmentally-friendly membrane to

provide permanent waterproof, windproof and breathable

weatherprotectiontothefabric.Thiscansurvivecountless

washes without needing reproofing. Like the Mayhem it also

proved to be reassuringly waterproof throughout the testing

period.Aswithanygoodjacket,alltheseamsaretapedand

heat-sealed for additional protection at weak points. Where the

TremalzohastheedgeovertheMayhemisinthetactilefeelof

thefabric.It’samuchmoreflexibleandquietermaterial,soconforms

andmoveswiththebodybetter.It’salsofinishedwithripstopfabric.

The body-facing side of the material does lend the Tremalzo a touch of

the‘schoolcagoule’.It’sslightlyrubberised

andgivesthejacketabitofabudgetfeel,

as well as being somewhat cold and clammy

againsttheskin,evenwhencompletelydry.

Thefitisalsoquitevoluminous,especially

acrossthetorso.Thisisexaggeratedwhen

riding if you put anything heavy into the

chestpockets.Withaseparatemeshliner,

thecontentsswingaboutwithintheshell.

Thisisarealshame,astheTremalzois

otherwise a well thought-out piece of kit.

In mild and wet conditions its breathability

andtemperaturecontrolbeatstheMayhem

intoacockedhat.Helpedinnosmall

measure by the cavernous pit vents

(theypracticallysplitthejacketon

both sides) and the ability to open

the two chest pockets to create

additionalairflowacrossthetorso.

Like the Mayhem, the Tremalzo

also features an adjustable

hood. Unlike Altura’s offering,

this isn’t separate from the

collar.Soifit’snotbeing

usedinarainstorm,you

can’t cinch the neck tight

enough to prevent the

dreaded drips going

down your neck. It

canberolledaway

though, preventing any

annoying flappage.

It also has a better fit,

notonlyonthe

head, but

also over

helmets.

VERDICT

Thelistofwaterproofjacketssuitableforourmild,

moist winters is growing, and both of these jackets

make it into the running. The Vaude doesn’t have

thesamefeelofqualityasAltura’sMayhemjacket,

andeventhoughitislighterandeasiertopack,my

vote goes to the Mayhem. It’s reassuringly solid

constructionfeelslikeitshouldsurviveyearsof

abuse, even through gritty UK winters.

James Bracey

HEAD

TO HEAD

TEST

WINNER!