too hot , not too cold . That Goldilocks zone ). The waxed cotton fabric itself is the latest development , Halley Stevenson 8oz Cotec . It breaths better than the older , thicker 12oz fabric , but offers better abrasion resistance , so can be made lighter for more protection . It still has that slightly oily / damp feel for those after the authentic look and feel of waxed cotton . And there ’ s a natty tartan design on the inside lining .
modern waxed cotton gear changes that . I ’ ve been testing Merlin ’ s Edale jacket since last summer . I ’ ve done a summer lap of the South Island , high country passes , countless gravel roads , local winter gravel rides , been caught in torrential West Coast deluges and commuted around town . There ’ s not much this jacket hasn ’ t been through .
DOES IT PERFORM ? As I mentioned earlier , I did a lap of the South Island wearing the Edale . The 10- day trip started and finished just before Christmas . I ’ d normally pack a waterproof oversuit ( despite it being summer ), but for this trip I wore just the Edale . The jacket was tortured with searing temperatures , gravel dust and heavy rain . I got super hot traversing the Hakataramea pass , but the vents worked well and took the edge off . Rain washed off the dust . I stayed dry . Well , mostly . I had an issue with the zip flap letting water seep in and then through the zip . Some investigation showed I have a short
MODERN TECH , RETRO STYLE Like my dad ’ s waxed cotton jacket from the 1980s , the Edale looks very retro and classically styled . Four big pockets on the front fastened by pop studs and two zip vents on either side of the chest ( and one exhaust vent on the upper back ), quilted material on the shoulder and collarbone , and that classic waxed cotton feel . Unlike his jacket , the Edale boasts thoroughly modern D30 shoulder and elbow armour , a Reissa Active waterproof / breathable membrane and a removable Outlast thermal lining ( to call Outlast a ‘ thermal ’ lining seriously sells it short - this stuff was developed to keep astronauts at a constant temperature , not
KIWI RIDER 67