Royal Matrix 2016 Jacket Review

Royal Matrix jacket 2016
RRP 119.99
My last long-serving jacket has given up the ghost. No amount of reproofing was to going to save it after years of abuse. So long brother, it’s been a blast. But every rain filled cloud has a silver lining and in this case that happens to be Royal's Matrix Jacket. This is Royal's High-end waterproof and is designed to keep you dry whilst taking a proper soaking on the Trails. (Or if you’re from the UK, standard summer riding.)

As with most bike related things these days the jacket comes in two options, Bright Lime or Stealth Black, both with a thin cross-hatch pattern. The branding is subtle but there’s plenty of it if that’s your thing. I opted for Stealth Black because I'm cool, and it matches everything else I own. As expected from a brand like Royal the quality of the jacket was reassuringly solid Taped seams, zips and quality pull cords throughout show the jackets mucky weather intentions. The material is tough and looks like it would handle a tumble (though I've yet to test this.) Its casual looks are great for pub visits as well as being rad on the bike.

Sitting between a small and medium size (5'9 and 11.5 stone) I chose the small, based on the idea that most proper bike specific jackets will have a looser cut. The fit is ideal, a close fitting torso with a drop tail and pull cord is mated to longer sleeves allowing great movement on the bike. The 10.000MVP proofing/breathability is great for winter riding and the neck comes up high to stop you being covered in sh*t. The hood is big enough to fit over a lid without becoming a parachute in the wind. I initially thought the jacket to be lacking some of the smaller details of other brands at this price but more on that later.

Testing the jacket didn’t take long as a trip to Llandegla in the gritty, Northern weather called a few days after its arrival. Blustery weather, sporadic downpours and waterlogged berms were the call of the day and the jacket more than proved its worth. Heavy splashes and rain were easily deflected meaning I could concentrate on ragging ten bells out of my bike rather than feeling like an extra from SpongeBob.

As mentioned earlier I did feel the jacket was lacking in add-ons, but Royal do tout this as a storm jacket, and things like a pass-clip and goggle-cloth simply aren't on the agenda. Large front pockets are zippered from both ends and the internal stash pocket has a cable port for those who can’t ride without blasting their 'jam'. The jacket is thinly lined, for comfort rather than warmth and tight cuffs help stop the wind blowing up the arms.

The only negative I can find with the jacket is the lack of venting. There are three small exhaust ports to the back of the jacket under the shoulder flap and that’s about it. No under arm vents mean this is a serious weather only jacket but the breathability of the fabric reduces any 'boil in a bag' feeling. I’ve worn this with just a merino base layer underneath and it’s kept me plenty warm though heading into the winter months pairing this with a jersey as well will certainly keep you operating at optimum temperature.

As with all Jackets the proof is in the err....proofing and this jackets has so far been great. A cold, slow rinse wash without detergent has seen the jacket come clean and shows no sign of seeping across high-impact bag areas where packs tend to do their worst. As always reproofing is worth its weight in gold and I usually go for a reproof every 3 or 4 big grimey rides to keep me looking fly on the trails.
Sam Matthews