Polartec: not just for mountaineering

Polartec talks us through its collaborations with Rapha, Sportful and others

Polartec has worked with a number of big names in the cycling industry, including Rapha for its Brevet insulated jacket

Jack Luke

Published: October 12, 2017 at 1:00 pm

_{The science behind Polartec's cycling clothing}

This video was produced in collaboration with Polartec

Polartec is a name more commonly associated with mountaineering gear and outdoors wear, but in the last five years the brand has begun to make inroads into cycling gear, working with a number of brands on insulated jackets, water resistant jerseys and much more.

At Interbike 2017, CEO Gary Smith took some time to talk us through Polartec’s Alpha and NeoShell fabrics, which have been most notably used on Rapha’s Brevet jacket and Sportful’s Fiandre waterproof jersey.

Jack Luke

Digital editor

Jack Luke is the digital editor at BikeRadar and has been utterly obsessed with riding and bike tech for his whole life. Jack can primarily be found whizzing about at a moderate pace on his array of road bikes from his home in Bristol, but his greatest passion is for cycle touring, bikepacking and ill-advised gravel-flavoured long-distance hike-a-bike-peppered adventures. Jack is also interested in fixed-gear bikes, tandems and anything else that’s a wee bit weird. With a near-encyclopedic knowledge of cycling tech – ranging from the most esoteric retro niche to the most cutting-edge modern kit – Jack takes pride in seeking out stories that would otherwise go unreported. After years spent working in bike shops, and as a photography technician and tutor, Jack joined BikeRadar in 2016. He’s now responsible for shaping the overall output of BikeRadar, editing, planning and – when he gets the chance – writing content for the site. Jack’s also a regular host on the BikeRadar YouTube channel and BikeRadar Podcast, and has contributed to articles for the Guardian and been a guest on BBC Radio Scotland.

Height: 181cm
Bike size: 56cm/Large

Polartec: not just for mountaineering

Share this article