Five of the best... touring jackets

Sportsbikeshop customers loved the previous version of this jacket and the fourth generation follows up neatly. It has a waterproof drop liner and a removable thermal liner, while a short connection zip allows for the attachment of matching Oxford trousers and the fit can be adjusted at the wrist, forearm, bicep and waist. The Montreal 4.0 took the Best Buy crown in the latest independent test by RiDE magazine, repeating the Montreal 3.0’s success.

Sportsbikeshop customers highly rate the Cyclone’s fit, saying it fits perfectly and is so comfortable it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a jacket at all. The first 65 buyers to leave a review gave a mighty average of 4.89 out of five. The Gore-Tex liner means you’re guaranteed to stay dry, and four vents across the chest and back make it suited to touring in hot or cold weather. The long connection zip allows the attachment of the matching jeans, and a full set of D3O armour is included.  

Receiving a 4.77-star average from the first 165 reviews, Oxford’s Mondial Advanced jacket is hugely popular among Sportsbikeshop customers. They hail it a “great four season jacket”, complimenting the laminated waterproof membrane for keeping them dry and the large chest vents for keeping them cool on hotter rides. Reviewers also say it’s comfy and well-fitting, but it loses marks from some for the collar being a little low on the neck.

For a relatively budget touring option, the Held Zorro is well worth a shout. It’s made from a 500-denier outer with 900-denier reinforcements at the key impact points, has a Humax waterproof, breathable and windproof membrane and also a removable thermal liner. Our review team put one of these to the test and it resisted all manner of horrendous downpours. It can run a little hot in summer, but it’s popular with customers - 16 of the first 18 owner-reviewers gave it five stars - an average score of 4.89.

Simplicity is the name of the game with the Kalix 2, which also helps to keep the price down (by Rukka’s standards). The outer is a Gore-Tex two-layer laminate, so it repels water better than a drop liner yet is more flexible than a three-layer Gore laminate. The collar and cuffs are more traditional than the fancier Rukka jackets at the top of the range, too. The first 16 customers to leave a review for their Kalix 2.0 all awarded the maximum five stars, so it’s strong on satisfaction.