The Velocio Mens One Jacket is a versatile rain layer with an unfussy design. The fit is usefully slim without being tight, so it can be used in different riding scenarios.
The Polartec Power Shield Pro material provides good protection from the elements and is part of a fabric that feels delightfully soft and comfortable compared to other rain jackets on test. The only real drawbacks are that it isn’t particularly light or packable, and the pocket design is slightly flawed.
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Velocio One Jacket design and specs
Velocio has partnered with Polartec on the One Jacket, which is billed as a do-everything jacket for mild and poor weather riding. Polartec’s PFAS-free Power Shield Pro material is used by brands including Le Col, Sportful and Castelli, and uses a plant-based alternative to nylon, Biolon, which is said to be breathable, windproof and waterproof.
Numbers-wise, Polartec’s material has a strong 20k hydrostatic head waterproof rating, plus a DWR treatment. In terms of breathability, 20,000g of water can pass through a 1m² section over 24 hours. There are three rear pockets, a two-ended zipper with a windblocking panel and Velocio says the jacket works well down to 0°C.
Velocio One Jacket performance
The Velocio One has a simple, understated design, and most elements work together as intended. Unlike Velocio’s cold weather-focussed jacket, the One Jacket functions admirably as an all-round riding layer that is as useful on mild dry days as it is on drizzly, persistent rides.
I found the Polartec Power Shield Pro material worked well. The windproof material, supplemented by light fleecing on the raised neck and the fabric panel over the zipper, blocked out the majority of cold gusts, and the waterproofing was also good. Sporadic rain was no issue, with the DWR working well to shrug off rain droplets, and the waterproofing was effective for longer spells of rain.
The breathability was comparable with jackets that use Pertex or Gore-Tex membranes, only really struggling to evacuate warm air when the conditions were particularly wet and the riding was intensive. The two-way zipper was very useful for brief sunny spells.
The inclusion of three unzipped pockets was welcome, however, unlike the Castelli Perfetto RoS 2, which has some helpful plugs stitched into the pockets to allow water to escape, the pockets of the Velocio One simply fill up with water, which eventually then seeps through the fabric. Because of the way the fabric folds at the bottom of the pocket, it’s possible to cut some hidden holes yourself, but that’s hardly ideal and bad for long-term durability.
The material differs from many of the jackets tested recently as it’s more of a softshell than an audibly crinkly rain shell like the Q36.5 Rain Shell Jacket, the Gorewear Spinshift or the Rapha Gore-Tex Rain Jacket. It feels smooth, more fabric-like and both softer and warmer on the skin than any of the other jackets I’ve tested.
By producing eight sizes, Velocio makes it very likely that riders will be able to achieve a good fit. I’m a size Large 95% of the time (188cm, 84kg) and that carried through neatly to the Velocio sizing. In fact, the fit is one of the jacket’s strongest suits, positioning the One as a jacket that is appropriate for both full-gas riding or gentle cafe days.
The half-elasticated sleeves perfectly overlap with my gloves, the chest and shoulders are fitted without cramping movement, the raised collar leaves enough space for a buff, the front hem overlaps with my bibs, while the thickly elasticated tail panel provides significant cover without tipping into cape territory. Combined, these features give the Velocio One a classy and timeless look.
At 270g in a Large it is heavier than some of the thinner shells I’ve tested, and doesn’t pack as down as small either, owing to the more substantial overall build. The branding on the central pocket provides a small amount of reflective visibility, but it is minimal.
Velocio One Jacket review verdict
The Velocio One is a very well-designed rain and cold weather jacket with fantastic build quality. It doesn’t just protect against bad weather effectively, it also feels incredibly comfortable on exposed skin and has classic, timeless looks.
Velocio has done brilliantly with the cut of the sleeves, collar and torso. There is almost no spare fabric, but it isn't uncomfortably snug, which makes it particularly versatile. It isn’t the lightest or the most packable, and you might want to punch your own holes in the pocket buckets, but those are small drawbacks to an otherwise excellent rain jacket.
- Buy from Velocio for £276
