Van Rysel winter cycling Endurance jacket review: Cold weather cycling performance way beyond its price point

The Van Rysel winter cycling Endurance jacket makes some pretty bold promises, given the (relatively) budget-friendly price tag. Windproof, waterproof, breathable, and with enough pockets that you could take everything but the kitchen sink out on a ride and still have a spare pocket left over for extra snacks.

Coming in at significantly under £100, this jacket is promising similar performance to far higher end options out there, without the high end price tag. So what’s the catch? TRI247’s Jenny Lucas-Hill has been taking the Van Rysel jacket for a spin to find out.

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Summary: The ‘TL;DR’ overview

For the price you pay, you get a lot of bang for your buck with this jacket. It’s performed well in changeable conditions, fits comfortably and the overall look gives it a premium feel. The abundance of pockets makes this ideal for long winter rides, though that does add a bit of extra bulk to the back of the jacket and it’s slightly less lightweight than higher end options. But overall, if you’re looking for performance without the price tag and you’re willing to make a couple of (very) minor compromises, you won’t go wrong with this winter cycling jacket from Van Rysel.

First impressions

I’ll have to admit, before I unboxed this Van Rysel jacket I was sceptical. It seemed to be promising a fair amount of performance for the price point, given that you could quite easily spend double (or more) for equivalent winter cycling jackets out there. Surely it had to be too good to be true?

I was pleasantly surprised at just how high quality this jacket felt out of the box. In fact, it had a similar feeling to my MAAP Apex jacket which costs a lot more. Sure, you can see where things have been scaled back a touch to meet that more wallet-friendly price point. The waffle thermal inner lining for example, is only on the upper section of the torso and one part of the sleeves on the Van Rysel compared to all the way through the inside of the MAAP. And you haven’t got those little extras like a two-way zip for on-the-go ventilation. Or taped zips on the pockets to protect your stuff if you get stuck in a downpour.

But overall, had you covered up the branding and asked me to guess the price point, I would have been guess-timating far more than £69.99.

Van Rysel winter cycling jacket sizing and fit

I got an XS in this jacket (for reference I’m usually around a UK size 6 for tops and jackets). I’d say it’s fairly true to size, though perhaps not as much of a ‘performance’ fit as the higher end brands. There’s enough stretch that you can comfortably layer up with a long sleeved base layer (or two) if you need to, but it’s still close-fitting enough that the jacket isn’t going to be flapping around in the breeze. The sleeves are a good length too. I have strangely long arms compared to my torso and the sleeves are still long enough in the size XS that they cover half of my hands, making it easy to tuck them into winter gloves and keep the chill at bay.

Overall, the Van Rysel Endurance winter cycling jacket fits nicely and again, gives it a look that is far more premium than its price tag. But the tailoring isn’t as precise as my MAAP Apex jacket, and I guess that’s the difference between more premium brands who perhaps spend a little more time with fit models to get precise seam placements. You can see in the photograph below, there are a few areas on the Van Rysel, particularly around the shoulders and the waist, where the fabric is bunching up a bit.

Pockets galore

I recently reviewed the Le Col Pro Insulated cycling jacket, and the only thing really knocking it down a few points was the total lack of pockets. The Van Rysel on the other hand, has answered all my pocket prayers. This jacket has 8 – yep, you read that right – pockets in total.

You’ve got one large mesh pocket on the back, which sits over the top of three smaller drop-in pockets. There’s also two side access zipped pockets, which are surprisingly roomy – just about big enough to fit an iPhone 15 Pro. Then two smaller mesh pockets which sit on the sides of your torso. These are particularly handy for storing gels as they’re easy to get at even when you’re wearing gloves.

Anti-wet butt protection

Alongside all those pockets, you’ve also got what Van Rysel call a ‘tail’. This is an additional waterproof skirt of sorts, which you can tuck up inside the jacket and fasten with poppers when you don’t need it. Or unleash it to cover up your butt if you’re riding in wet conditions. I doubt I’ll ever remember to do that – sometimes you’ve just got to embrace a soggy bottom. But for commuters sticking this jacket on over their work clothes, I’m sure it will be a useful addition. It does, however, add some bulk to the back of the jacket, making it look a teeny bit bulbous. Which so far is pretty much my only complaint about this jacket.

Performance

So how did this Van Rysel jacket actually perform out on the road? My first ride in this jacket was on one of those weird between season rides where it was absolutely freezing first thing. But the forecast was promising sunshine and temperatures getting tantalisingly close to double figures by mid-morning. So I was actually concerned I’d spend the second half of my ride feeling like I was cycling around wearing a mobile sauna in this jacket, given that it’s fleece-lined and designed to keep the elements at bay.

I was pleasantly surprised with how well the breathability on this jacket performed. It kept me warm for the first part of the ride, when the temperatures were still fairly low and I had a nippy head wind to contend with. But on the way back, with a tail wind and rising temperatures, I didn’t find myself overheating. And once I got back home, my base layer was still bone dry too – suggesting the wicking on the jacket had performed well. Another longer ride in slightly warmer (around 10-12 degrees Celsius) temperatures with a lot more sunshine, and once again I was pleasantly surprised at how well this jacket was able to balance warmth and breathability.

Versatile performance if you feel the cold

I’ll caveat all that by saying that I do tend to run cold, and they’ll probably put ‘I’d rather be too hot than too cold’ on my tombstone when I pop my clogs. If you run hot, or you’re heading out for a higher intensity ride – you’d probably get on better with the Le Col Pro Insulated jacket.

I have to admit that I also tend to hide away on the turbo trainer if it’s raining hard, so beyond a few showers I’m yet to road test this in truly gnarly wet conditions.

Comfort

I’ve had no issues with comfort while riding in this Van Rysel jacket. There’s no restriction around the shoulders, chest or upper back, and those nice extra long sleeves stay put both riding on the hoods and down on the drops. You’ve also got reflective detailing on the back, which is always reassuring. They’ve put reflective strips on the left sleeve too. Presumably given this is a European brand, that’s because on the continent you’d usually be using your left arm to indicate turning left across the road at a junction. Obviously for UK riders, we could do with it being on the other arm since we ride on the left. But still, it’s a thoughtful detail.

Verdict: good all-rounder that performs beyond its price tag

This jacket has performed surprisingly well. Considering it retails at under £70, it packs in a lot of features and the look and feel is anything but budget. I did notice a few straggling seams after washing it a couple of times, so it may not be as durable as higher end options – though it’s certainly not going to fall apart after one or two rides. I’ll also be interested to see how water-resistant this jacket is if I do ever get caught in a proper downpour.

It’s missing a couple of added extras like a two-way zip, and taped zips on the pockets. And the fit isn’t quite as nice as you’ll get from a higher end option. But overall, if you’re on a budget and you’re looking for a solid winter cycling jacket that will see you through the coldest winter months with a base layer underneath, while being breathable enough to use on its own for early spring. I doubt you’ll find another option that gives you as much bang for your buck as the Van Rysel winter cycling Endurance jacket.

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