dhb Aeron Tempo 3 women's waterproof jacket review

Cut to a cycling-specific outline, dhb’s Aeron Tempo 3 women's jacket is a mid-budget waterproof hardshell available in two bright colours with added reflective details.

While on paper the range of features is promising, the Aeron Tempo 3 jacket sizes up much larger than typical items from dhb.

This gives an oversized, flappy fit. Opting for a size smaller is recommended.

dhb Aeron Tempo 3 women's waterproof jacket specifications and details

Designed with drop-bar road and gravel riding in mind, The Tempo 3 is dhb’s mid-tier waterproof jacket that’s also easily packed away in a pocket when not needed.

A 2.5-layer nylon shell is sealed with taped seams and a YKK waterproof zip, while two vents flank the shoulders for added breathability.

The cut includes a dropped rear hem, which can be cinched in with an elastic drawstring, a high collar and cuffs featuring elastic inserts.

There’s a single, large pocket on the lower back, complete with a storm flap covering the zip.

dhb Aeron Tempo 3 women's waterproof jacket performance

The Tempo 3’s multi-layer nylon fabric is similar to pricier jackets, causing rain to bead and bounce off the shell with ease. This combines with fully taped seams to prevent water ingress.

Nevertheless, it’s a very thin outer layer, so it’s certainly more of a weatherproof shell than anything offering a great deal of warmth.

The sizing is very generous, and features quite a wide, boxy fit for a women’s jacket. I’m usually between a UK size 10 and 12 – a 12 in dhb kit – but I’d recommend sizing down for this jacket.

Alas, because it's so roomy, I found the excess material flapped noisily on every descent or faster section of road, which was quite distracting.

The cut is certainly cycling-specific, with fabric pulling tight across the front of the shoulders when standing upright. It sits perfectly with arms extended in front and leant over in a riding position.

The hem is short at the front, which further reinforces this, with an exaggerated dropped hem at the rear to aid coverage.

The rear hem also has an elasticated cord and toggle sewn in. I found the simplified application of the design pretty inefficient, because it only cinches in the tail, rather than securing the fit against your body. The toggle is also quite fiddly to use.

While the high collar is much appreciated, a short section of fleece just in the centre at the back of the neck seems a token attempt at improving comfort.

The sleeves are very long. But while some stretchy black fabric is sewn into a portion of the cuff to cinch down the fit on the wrists, the cuff circumference is far too wide. There’s none of the snug fit you might expect, even with thicker gloves on.

Reflective tabs are sewn into the upper arms, with reflective logos printed on the lower back and chest aiding visibility. For extra reflective print, check out the ‘FLT’ model, priced a little higher.

The bright red and teal colourways should help you stand out on murky winter days.

The Aeron Tempo 3 jacket is easy to take off, roll up and stash into a rear jersey pocket when it gets too toasty.

The large rear pocket is ample for tools, spares and snacks, and you can easily access jersey pockets underneath thanks to the two-way front zip.

Value-wise, at £130 / €145 / $190 / AU$240, it falls in the middle of the price range of technical jackets, similar to the Santini Guard Nimbus Rain. However, I’ve often seen it discounted heavily.

dhb Aeron Tempo 3 women's waterproof jacket bottom line

While on paper the design and waterproof capability of the dhb Aeron Tempo 3 jacket seems promising, it's let down by the sizing and its wide, boxy cut.

Choosing a smaller size than recommended may help alleviate some of this, though further attention is required at the cuffs and rear hem to achieve a truly snug, winter-ready fit.