off-road.cc

The Race Face Conspiracy is a simple but effective waterproof jacket. It’s comfortable, but the cut's a bit short and it can get toasty on the climbs. It also faces some pretty stiff competition at this price range.

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Both in looks and features, the Conspiracy jacket is fairly low profile. You get underarm gills for airflow, bonded rubber elbow patches and a 10k/10k-rated fabric for waterproofing and breatheablity.

The cuffs, hood and waist are elasticated, and the outer sides of the cuffs are extended for extra weather protection. Inside you get a single welded pocket.

The fit of the Conspiracy is pretty slim, which helps avoid snags, and there’s no excess material to get in the way. It's also quite short in the body, however. I found myself often pulling at the waist to make sure it wasn’t actually riding up.

Unfortunately, the hood doesn’t fit over a helmet, but it’s still a handy feature for when it's chucking it down whilst you’re getting ready to set out.

On the climbs the Conspiracy runs quite hot, and there’s not an awful lot to help cool things down. Unlike the similarly priced Leatt DBX 5.0 All Mountain, there aren’t any adjustable vents dotted about, and while it can be unzipped to let heat escape, that's hardly ideal in the rain. It simply doesn’t have the venting to stay as cool as its competition.

When the trail points downwards though, the breeze flowing directly to the pits via those underarm gills is a very welcome and surprisingly pleasant sensation after a steamy climb. Cooling isn’t such an issue at speed... unless you don't want it.

Stacked against the competition, the Conspiracy looks a little basic for the price.

However, if you’re a frequent uplift user or usually hike-a-bike back to the trailhead, the Race Face Conspiracy jacket will suit you to a tee. It’ll keep you warm off the bike and provides adequate cooling on the descents, and all while keeping you dry.

Consequently, even though I’ve found myself using the Race Face Conspiracy quite a lot – mostly because it's simple, comfortable for my riding and I’m a sucker for anything black – it’s difficult to say it’s good value for money.

• www.raceface.com

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