When it comes to winter cycling, I’ve put in more than my fair share of time. I’ve spent hours upon hours in miserable weather trying to figure out the best way to stay warm. Eventually I came to more of a stopping point than a resolution, then I worked on the best winter cycling jackets buyers guide. What I learned is that the more you understand, the less you know.
In the past, my strategy was all about insulation with little regard for the various technologies. I didn’t have a lot of trust in what was being promised but I managed to keep myself riding. As I investigated more, I learned about the science of layering and why there might be a better way. Midlayers have taken on a whole new importance and the Endura Pro SL Primaloft II Jacket once again made its way to the forefront of my winter cycling rotation. With a fresh eye and new information, I’ve taken a whole new interest in this jacket from Endura. If you are also looking to upgrade your understanding of what works to stay warm during winter cycling, keep reading to see what I think of this option.
Design and aesthetics
The Endura Pro SL Primaloft II Jacket looks like a puffy jacket that’s been through a performance upgrade. The trademark quilted look of a puffy jack is there but instead of large squares with generous internal padding, it’s streamlined. What you’ll find on the front panels, and the top of each arm, is a series of angled rectangles. There’s also an extra seam that bisects each section, though not completely, further dividing the stuffing.
Just as the outside mimics a traditional puffy jacket, so does the insulation. Inside of all these sections is PrimaLoft Gold insulation. This type of insulation also frequently shows up in actual puffy jackets, but in either situation the point is to mimic down. It’s high-loft and traps air, but unlike real down the 55% recycled content fibers get a PFC free DWR treatment that leaves the fibers unable to retain water. In this application, the filling is thin for ease of layering.
The outer layer is a nylon that is largely windproof. In another nod to ease of layering there is no membrane, but even without that addition you won’t feel the wind coming through. There’s also PFC free DWR applied externally, which is largely effective, but don’t mistake this for one…
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