Altura Ridge waterproof jacket review

Altura has a well-deserved reputation for delivering well-specified products at an accessible price and the Ridge jacket headlines feature-packed styling with waterproof performance.

It has a 2.5-layer construction, which essentially adds a very thin backing layer behind the membrane. This has the advantage of reducing weight but helping to protect the valuable waterproofing.

Plus, the 20k/20k rated Pertex fabric this jacket is made from has an immediately high-quality feel.

The zipped front pockets have long vents running above them and ingeniously include internal mesh retaining pockets to stop smaller contents from tumbling out. It has additional ‘gill’ style vents under the arms too.

The shape of the cuffs may sound insignificant but, in my experience, a bad one ruins a jacket. These cuffs are exceptionally good with a slightly stiffened construction that drops in place over the back of the hand.

A generously high neck and drawcords at all extremities ensure that riders can really cinch everything in protectively tight in more extreme conditions.

Altura Ridge waterproof jacket performance

The fit of the Ridge is relaxed without being overly baggy and there’s room to layer up underneath as temperatures drop.

The weather was autumnal – mild but very wet – when I tested the jacket, which made testing conditions tough for its balance of waterproof breathability.

Temperatures ranged from 10 to 16℃, so I wore a long sleeve merino baselayer only – which felt like a versatile pairing.

Through some of the worst rain I’ve had the pleasure of riding in, the water beaded well and it didn’t wet out. And, despite working hard, I didn’t feel in danger of overheating.

The hood is described as helmet-compatible but I didn’t get on with wearing it over my lid because it felt like it pulled the back of the jacket up.

Instead, I opted to wear it underneath my mountain bike helmet and it worked better – cinched in with drawcords and behind the high collar, it has a reassuringly protective feel.

The well-thought-out detail of mini retaining pockets inside a larger one made life easier because there was no digging around for smaller items, such as my keys, in the trailhead car park when the rain just got harder. Again.

Where this style disappointed was not in the features or specification, nor waterproof performance, but in the cut through the shoulders and sleeves.

Off the bike, the cut is perfect, but reaching for the bar, the sleeves rose a good three inches and it tightened at the shoulder, pulling the back up.

It was possibly unlucky that the weather was quite so bad through some of the testing and the thrashing rain amplified the misery of exposed wrists.

Altura Ridge waterproof jacket bottom line

This jacket was ridden in some of the harshest testing conditions and the fabric has become a favourite, but the movement of the jacket on the bike is a dealbreaker for me.

If the cut suits you, though, it offers excellent wet-weather performance at a sensible price.