Royal Racing

Matrix Jacket - Men's

If you live in a place with regular precip, you already know how important a great rain jacket is for riding on those days when most everyone is sitting inside. With its roots in Great Britain, Royal Racing knows a thing or two about heavy rain, and the Matrix Jacket is proof. Hidden underneath the casual exterior is a technical jacket capable of keeping you dry in a downpour, with thoughtful detailing to ensure that you don't get soaked from the inside out, either. Naturally, the cut is optimized for riding in as well, so you can say goodbye to bunching, poorly fitting jackets. This is one that you'll find yourself wearing both on the bike, and off.

As you'd expect, the Matrix jacket is built from a polyester fabric, which carries a 10,000mm waterproof rating, and sees waterproof zippers as well. In other words, it may start to wet out if you stand around all day, but it'll keep you dry for hours at a time -- long enough to get in a ride, and then some. But if you've ever tried to ride in a plastic rain poncho, you've undoubtedly experienced the sweat box phenomenon. That's why the Matrix also carries a 10,000g breathable rating, so it'll allow your sweat to evaporate, instead of condensing on the inside of the jacket and inevitably leaving you soaking wet and frozen. The breathability is enhanced by mesh vents at the top of the back, which evacuate excess heat, without letting in the rain. And the mesh lining helps to keep the fabric from sticking to your skin, once again enhancing breathability.

Unsurprisingly, Royal built the Matrix with a riding-friendly cut. What that means for you is a drop tail to keep your backside covered, pre-curved arms for a natural range of motion, and just enough room through the middle for layering, without being baggy. You're probably already thinking it, but this cut makes the Matrix an ideal option for a whole host of outdoor activities beyond riding. The hood is large enough to fit over a full face helmet, which the downhillers and park riders among us will appreciate, and there's adequate adjustment to shrink the hood for those off-the-bike missions. There are three zippered mesh pockets to keep the contents of your pockets safe, and in your pockets. Plus, it's got reflective detailing to enhance your visibility in low-light conditions.

The Royal Matrix Jacket is available in six sizes, from X-Small, to XX-Large, and in the color Blue Pinstripe.