I’m nearly obligation certain at first of each waterproof jacket assessment I write these days to stipulate the modifications within the waterproof garment trade. A lot is altering because of the ban on PFAS – so-called ‘eternally chemical compounds’. On the entire this can be a good factor for the surroundings, and a nasty factor for staying dry; trendy, post-ban tech chemically is not pretty much as good, notably within the case of durable-water-repellent (DWR) therapies.
One constructive factor I’ve seen although, in my third 12 months of curating our information to the greatest waterproof biking jackets is a shift in client focus away from merely chasing essentially the most waterproof possibility in favour of a extra balanced method considering breathability and different elements. It is a good factor and has shifted the market away from merely plonking something Gore-Tex on the prime of the tree by default, and I’ve seen much more jackets utilising Pertex Protect in current months than I’ve anything.
One such jacket is the Maap Atmos. I’ve had my check pattern on the go since spring, and it’s seen use in summer season storms into the primary of the autumnal downpours. It’s, to my thoughts, the perfect packable jacket available on the market in the meanwhile, providing a reassuring stage of safety given the actual fact it could actually compress all the way down to in regards to the dimension of a big apple. It’s not one thing I’d advocate if you wish to trip by way of the winter, however for spring/fall changeable rides, summer season storms, and people who need to pack as gentle as attainable, it’s very exhausting to beat.
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The minimize is racy, with a reasonably cropped torso. The material has a bit stretch to it, which helps throughout the shoulders. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
The material is so extremely skinny. On the shoulders you possibly can see the dimpled texture of my jersey by way of it. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Design is minimal as are the few options, however packability is the principle factor right here.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
The tail is not very dropped, so do not put on a protracted jersey or it’s going to wick up.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Design and aesthetics
Much less is extra, or because the late, nice Colin Chapman of Lotus put it: ‘Simplify, then add lightness’. The Maap Atmos is so simple as a water-proof jacket will get, to the purpose you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a wind jacket or an old style ‘race cape’. Its lightness is the function although, so that is what you’re buying and selling a scarcity of adjustability, and it have to be mentioned a level of sturdiness for.
Match-wise it’s one other basic street silhouette, a lot the identical because the Rapha Professional Workforce Gore-Tex I just lately reviewed. The tail isn’t fairly so lengthy, I think in an effort to make use of as little materials as attainable. The rear hem is tightly elasticated by a skinny strip although, and given the racy intentions it’s a good assumption that you’ll doubtless be carrying a race-cut jersey beneath, which shouldn’t poke out and wick water up.
Like many race-fit jackets I went a dimension up than my traditional jersey, and with that got here various room for layering beneath for a jacket that’s not likely minimize out for tremendous chilly situations. In my appropriate dimension, I by no means discovered any tight spots or constrictions, and in contrast to many jackets, there’s a little bit of stretch to the material too. I wouldn’t say you need to make it skintight for causes I’ll go into quickly, nevertheless it’s sufficient to accommodate broader shoulders or different anatomical variations.
Contemplating it could actually hold you dry in a correct downpour the Atmos is extremely packable. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Just like the hem, and in addition just like the Professional-Workforce GTX, the cuffs are solely half elasticated. They’re not so tight because the Rapha possibility, and whereas they don’t do fairly so effectively at holding water out they’re consequently a lot much less of an obstacle to rapidly eradicating the jacket and stuffing it right into a jersey, which actually is the MO of the Atmos in my view.
You do get a double zip, which actually is a should these days, and comes into play when utilizing it as a wind jacket very often. The true function, for those who can name it such, is the material itself. The 20,000mm rated Pertex Protect membrane is sandwiched between such skinny face and liner materials that the jacket is nearly translucent for those who catch the sunshine proper. Its thickness is a bonus for packability. It does trigger it to really feel rather less sturdy and protecting in unhealthy climate, however extra on that shortly.
Design notes apart, it’s aesthetically a beautiful garment. It’s very a lot in step with the Maap branding, and like many different merchandise within the model’s vary, it is available in an entire host of unusually named color choices (fungi, clay, muscat, bay…). There are some minimal distinction rectangles for a little bit of visible intrigue, however that’s about it.
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A double zip is a should these days, nevertheless it helps the Atmos double as an efficient wind jacket too. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
You may nearly see that the fabric is nearly translucent. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
The cuffs are plain on prime.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
They’re elasticated beneath, however aren’t tremendous tight. Not so good for holding water out, however they make it a lot simpler to take the jacket on or off. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Efficiency
I’m going to begin by outlining what this jacket isn’t for, that being one thing to maintain you shielded from the weather for hours on finish within the chilly. For that you simply want one thing with a bit extra structural integrity just like the Rapha Professional Workforce Gore-Tex Jacket. Its lightness means it is extra simply distorted by the wind and notably heavy rain, and may depart the material extra more likely to relaxation immediately in your pores and skin. Human pores and skin doesn’t even have any ‘moist’ receptors, solely temperature and stress, however in case you have a gossamer-like cloth resting in your pores and skin it’s going to really feel chilly, and it’s going to really feel the stress, and your mind will inform you that it is moist.
It could actually stand up to some fairly protracted rainfall earlier than it will get up to now nonetheless, however like so many jackets I’ve examined just lately the DWR provides up the ghost on the main edges, notably for those who’ve received plenty of high-speed descents. As soon as this occurs you do find yourself with waterlogged cloth in your pores and skin, and particularly for those who’ve received naked arms beneath this will really feel just like the membrane has failed. It hasn’t, nevertheless it does quantity to a lot the identical factor by way of sensation. The flip facet to this although is that the jacket dries out extremely rapidly as soon as the solar comes out.
Contemplating how stuffable and feathery the Atmos is although, it does actually make you rethink the way you see waterproof jackets. For years the thicker and extra sturdy a jacket cloth was, the extra waterproof it ‘felt’, however by the numbers and in my expertise this will hold the rain out in a lot the identical method as far thicker jackets. The sensation of wetness I sometimes felt was merely a results of the material weight, moderately than the membrane failing.
The packability is de facto the star of the present right here, and it’s the explanation it’s completely excellent for changeable situations. In seconds you possibly can stuff it right into a jersey pocket or bar bag with out having to meticulously roll it up to verify it matches. The reverse is then true, that means you possibly can whip it out and sling it on as and when the heavens open – that is simply completed no-handed for those who’re assured because of the marginally looser cuffs I discussed earlier, and a easily sliding zip. The zip is kind of low profile so a bit fiddly to find, nevertheless it does turn into muscle reminiscence after sufficient tries.
Whereas it might not carry out as effectively in sustained rain as one thing extra sturdy, it outperforms nearly each different waterproof I’ve examined (with the attainable exception of the hooded Rab CNDR Phantom) by way of its capacity for use as a substitute for a wind jacket. For this reason I attain for it a lot extra typically all year long than nearly anything. The double zip actually helps the airflow, however the cloth itself is extremely breathable for such a excessive hydrostatic head determine. Maap claims a 20,000g/m2 breathability, which is mainly meaningless except you’re a material tester. What it means in actuality is which you could put on it to maintain a chilly breeze at bay with out having to depend on the extra cooling properties of water falling from the sky to remain moderately comfy. It is solely actually surpassed by way of breathability by the Castelli Gabba R, which is not practically as waterproof.
Mainly, in case you are using in spring, summer season, and autumn, however are inclined to keep away from deep winter using, it is going to be much more helpful to you than a extra hefty hardshell. To be sincere, it’s so small it simply lived on the bike plenty of the time, stuffed right into a instrument caddy, there if I ever wanted it however taking on so little area I by no means bothered eradicating it.
I feel a current trip I did in wales sums up the proper use case. A late-summer 200km hilly blast into Wales, with an hour or two of sustained rain close to the beginning, bookended by blue skies. Gentle sufficient to not weigh me down, protecting sufficient to defend my digicam from a downpour for a time, and breathable sufficient that I didn’t find yourself a sweaty mess each time the street pointed upwards. It didn’t cease me from contracting a very terrible abdomen bug from some farm effluent on the street, however I do not suppose any jacket may have completed that. Ignore the change in color of the jacket from the video to the photographs on this assessment; the darkish crimson one was my check unit, and the off-white one was simply despatched for photographs because it’s the brand new season color.
Worth
Placing my ‘if I used to be spending my very own cash’ hat on as soon as extra I can perceive why seeing a $345/£270 price ticket subsequent to such a tiny garment is likely to be a bit jarring. Making one thing this gentle present the safety of a big jacket is not any imply feat, however greater than that you simply’re getting one thing that may most likely have much more use than a super-protective hardshell. In some other a part of biking no one would bat an eyelid at paying extra for one thing that is lighter, so why ought to clothes be any totally different?
The Atmos may additionally conceivably exchange your wind jacket fairly fortunately, and supply much more rain safety than that ever may. I’ve even packed it on these rides I might often take a gilet for a bit of additional ‘I do know I’m coated’ safety.
All in all a reasonably unbelievable jacket that may reside in your bike full time with little or no effort. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Verdict
Gone are the times of selecting between getting soaked by the rain or getting soaked from your individual sweat; the Maap Atmos units the usual for packable, light-weight safety. It is sturdy sufficient to maintain you coated for spring and summer season drenching, and even into cooler autumn rides too. The POC Supreme did make a valiant case for itself within the preliminary post-Shakedry panorama, however compared, the Maap possibility matches higher, has a greater zip, and is quite a bit cheaper in addition to being solely a bit bigger when packed down.
Steer clear if you would like an excellent sturdy all-season possibility, however in my opinion, one thing like that is most likely going to be extra helpful to extra folks, except you’re all the time heading out within the pouring rain.
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Testing scorecard and notes
Attributes
Notes
Ranking
Match
Racy with out restriction. A little bit quick within the tail maybe however all within the identify of packability. If I used to be being choosy I might like tighter cuffs.
9/10
Safety
Contemplating the load of the factor it’s protecting sufficient to belief it to maintain my digicam dry in sustained rain.
9/10
Options
Packability is the function, however the double zip helps.
8/10
Breathability
The lightness makes for a really ethereal jacket, and greater than any others I am completely happy to make use of it as a wind jacket too even when it is not raining. Solely actually the not-quite-waterproof Gabba R surpasses it on this regard.
9/10
Worth
It is costly for such a light-weight merchandise of clothes, however what you get for the cash is a variety of use circumstances and one thing that’s so packable it could actually include you on each trip.
