Constructed from Scott’s own 'DRYOsphere' fabric, the Trail MTN DYO 20 provides 10,000mm water pressure resistance, which at £199.99, and rarely available in stores for under £150, does not seem like a great deal on face value.
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However, water does bead off of the coat when you hold your arm under a tap, so you have to question how important this statistic is to you personally.
What can’t be overlooked, however, is Scott is still using zip-open underarm vents, which are as water-repellent as leaving your coat undone. It’s also all wrapped in a non-stretchy and somewhat crisp, rustling fabric.
The helmet-compatible hood is a nice touch, and the adjustability comes with a pleasing release button, however, it didn’t fit over my helmet without riding the coat upwards into my armpits…
An old-school experience
The jacket wasn’t particularly pleasing on first touch, it reminded me of those rigid, crinkly waterproof coats from my childhood. In fact, it's very much your typical waterproof mac, with a fit that seems more walking- than cycling-oriented.
That being said, the jacket was just as comfortable as any other on the bike, and the relaxed fit allowed for extra layers to be worn underneath. The robust material also gave me confidence about its durability when slipping and sliding in the woods.
When the hood was down there was no means to stow it away and avoid having a parachute on my back during fast rides, plus the button adjuster which controls the hood fit wasn’t comfortable to wear under the helmet either.
The zip-open under-arm vents created massive gaping holes that let in a lot of water and mud on trail rides, and strangely enough didn’t seem to offer that much venting, presumably because most of my heat was generated in the body and my arms blocked air flowing into that area.
The vents were also a nightmare to open on the move, as the zip would get stuck in the bend under the armpit, and wouldn’t work unless you stop and pointed your arm skywards.
Scott Trail MTN DRYO 20 overall impression
All of this sounds pretty negative so far, but frankly, I’m reviewing this jacket as a trail riding jacket, and if you read the description on the Scott website, it does give you hints at this being a more all-round 'outdoorsy' garment.
For anyone who commutes in the morning, walks the dog in the evening, and then rides with friends at the weekends, this is actually a pretty versatile jacket.
On the bike, it breathed well, to the point where I didn’t need to zip open the vents anyway. Despite feeling cheap on first touch, it was one of the least 'boil-in-the-bag' jackets I’ve tested recently, even on par with a Gore-Tex branded jacket.
It is, however, best coupled with long-sleeved jerseys to stop that cold, flappy feeling, as it’s still only a single layer coat. Another plus is that layering capabilities mean this jacket would see plenty of use in winter, as well as in autumn and spring.
I tested a size small, and usually wear a UK/AU10 or US6 in high street clothing sizes.
Pricing, sizing and availability
The Trail MTN DRYO comes in a range of colours including the dusky blue pictured, green, purple, orange and red, and dark grey. Sizes are XS, S, M, L and XL, and in my experience the jacket sizing comes up true.
- £199 / $TBC / AU$TBC
- More info from Scott Sports