Silva Visibility Jacket

Price: £59.99
Weight: 244g
Fabric: polyester
Colour: fluorescent yellow
Country of manufacture: not stated
Recommended wash: 40C wash

Being seen on a walk, run or cycle is a concern for most on the roads and so fluorescent outerwear is a wise purchase for those venturing out in low light.

Silva’s Visibility Jacket is available in men’s and women’s sizes, aimed at those who want a bit more functionality out of a high-vis jacket than that which a pound-shop vest provides.

The gender-specific fit did help curtail the jacket flapping around when we took it out on a bike ride, though it didn’t eliminate it entirely. A few miles of riding into a headwind and the jacket rattling around your ears can become irritating.

However, the sizing is generous enough to allow a few layers to be worn underneath without being baggy or ungainly. The high-vis jacket is manufactured from lightweight, 100% polyester material which is easy to wash and quick to dry.

The jacket has two front slanted pockets with zip opening as well as a concealed rear zip pocket providing perfect storage for your mobile phone, keys etc.

Three additional pockets in the back hem can be used for headlamp batteries, gloves or even drinks. These back pockets are easily accessed mid-ride, but any zipped pockets are too small and fiddly to comfortably extract items from without pulling over.

There is a loop on the right of the chest and the upper back: useful for attaching cables from your headtorch or earphones to minimise the risk of them becoming tangled. The chin protector on the zip prevents skin irritation.

Any regular cyclist on the streets of Britain won’t have to wait too long for a spot of rain, and sure enough we had a downpour right on cue.

This jacket will not keep you dry in the rain. It may stave off a brief shower, but this is more by virtue of being an extra layer than any water-repellent technology. Once the water does penetrate through, you can expect the lack of any real wind-stopping power to contribute to a fairly chilly ride.

After the rain subsided, the jacket did dry off quite quickly, but only after a good few miles of the jacket sticking uncomfortably to the forearms.

On drier days the jacket is reasonably breathable. The jacket didn’t compound any sweating issues and we certainly didn’t end up any hotter or wetter than in any other jacket.

The back of the jacket does hang a little lower than the front, with a strip of silicone gripper elastic helping to keep the jacket in place.

Those with a more aggressive riding position may find their lower back exposed, though the modest tail drop does allow the jacket to be used standing up without looking daft, giving the garment potential appeal to runners and horse-riders.

The Silva Visibility jacket would suit commuters more than those heading out for tens of kilometres on a weekend, but at just under £60 it has to compete with other jackets that are waterproof and more activity-specific.

For hobbyists, the Visibility jacket will certainly help you be seen while you’re out, but anyone more serious about their sport may want to look for something a little more tailored.

More details are on the Silva website.

Windstopping 15/30
Waterproofness 5/20
Breathability 14/20
Features 7/10
Quality 8/10
Value for money 5/10
Total score: 54/100