There are good jackets and there are jackets that you recommend to fellow riders again and again. The Endura MTR is one of the latter – it’s become an almost permanent feature in our packs and even in jersey pockets.
Not because it has all of the bells and whistles but because it combines being beautifully minimal with providing eminently practical performance. Aimed squarely at the ‘keep it with you at all times’ sector, there are no weighty extras, just a slim (but not skinny) cut, deep dropped back hem and a little loop that tucks into the back collar, but will secure the rolled-up jacket in the corner of your pack. Or indeed back pocket.
Yes, it’s that light (135g to be precise). The construction is very clean – a bonded bulk-free hem, simple elastic cuff and (the joy) a Velcro-free front flap. The styling is pared-back simplicity, with clean lines and a slim cut that manages not to feel restrictive thanks to stretch inserts at the cuff and shoulders – which enable plenty of movement and are the surprise extra feature in such a well-priced jacket. The zip has a full-length flap both inside and outside, however, which adds virtually no bulk but is, we found, very effective.
The MTR’s fabric is a microscopically thin two-layer waterproof – the unlined and rubbery-feeling stuff – but given this jacket’s explicit ‘emergency’ nature that’s just how it should be. We had expected there might be a compromise in durability due to the light weight and two-layer fabric used but after more than a year our original MTR still looks as good as new. Don’t leave home without one.
