Ekoi Competition9 thermal jacket review

We tested the Ekoi Competition9 jersey during the early autumn, when its mid-weight construction provided a good level of warmth for temperatures in the low teens. Move on a few weeks and we’ve pulled on the Competition9 jacket.

Despite having the same colour options and many of the same features as the jersey, the Competition9 jacket is a very different beast. To start with, it weighs almost half as much again as the jersey. The cut is more generous, but a lot of the extra weight is down to the fabric used.

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This includes a windproof, breathable membrane which gives the jacket a slightly stiff feel. It’s also waterproof and Ekoi says it will deal with temperatures down to zero. It’s certainly a very warm jacket and would be well suited to winter rides at high altitudes and long descents. It’s much more of a full-on winter jacket than a Gabba-esque shell.

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The Competition9 jacket has nice features to keep the cold air out too, like long cuffs and a high collar. The zipper has a garage at the top and bottom and an interior storm flap also helps to keep out draughts. At the back, the three open pockets are commodious, so there’s room for a few extra energy products. And that generous cut means that there’s plenty of scope to layer up and add even more warmth.

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There aren’t any reflectives, which is perhaps an oversight in a jacket to be worn when light levels may not be great, but the super-bright colours, particularly the large swathes of neon green should help compensate for this. It’s available in a range of other colours too and Ekoi prices in Sterling for UK users and offers free delivery to the UK, although its prices fluctuate with exchange rate.