The Muddy Tracks is a bike specific jacket that draws on the technical outdoor expertise of The North Face. It has an incredibly well-constructed feel, with the details we like – easy drawcord operation, fleece lined collar (it’s not just cosy, it helps soak up any drips that head down your collar in a downpour) and shaped sleeves that follow the line of a cycling arm. The cut through the body is very good and with enough length through the back it works well on a bike, but will also see you good to pull on any other time you need rain protection.
The fabric is HyVent, which is waterproof but has a slightly rubbery feel to the inside, which we found less easy to pull on over layers. It helps keep the price lower for a jacket of this quality and the breathability, although not so good in warmer conditions, copes well with the sort of chill damp we often find ourselves grinding through in winter. We’d like bigger zip pulls, but overall this is a versatile all-rounder but one with serious cycling intent.
