The Troy Lee Designs Crestline jacket is designed to keep you warm, and there’s a lot to like, including the understated styling, comfort and fit complete with a DWR finish. It’s one of the best mountain bike jacket options for when you’re looking to blend on-bike performance with casual in-pub use.
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Troy Lee Designs Crestline jacket - Technical details
Troy Lee Design’s Crestline is filled with PrimaLoft’s Gold, synthetic down insulation with an outer that’s coated with a plant-based Teflon EcoElite water-resistant finish. The brand says that this insulation should stay warm when it gets wet.
Elsewhere, it’s rather simple in its build, coming with a pair of elasticated cuffs, two side pockets and a single double-zipped tubular pocket at the back. This back pocket offers a bit of ventilation, thanks to its mesh inner.
There’s a single zip at the front and a terry cloth fabric around the collar, which is also home to a hanging loop.
Troy Lee Designs Crestline jacket - Performance
Troy Lee Designs has touted the Crestline as a jacket that can be paired with a jersey for mild weather use or used as a mid-layer if things were to get cold. Throughout the test period, I took it out in temperatures five degrees and lower, choosing it as an outer layer on top of only a long-sleeved jersey.
The jacket’s fit is very good. Rather than pick the medium size, which is my go-to option, I went for a large given that the sizing of the Descent jacket I tested earlier this year was on the short side. Even though it’s larger than I would usually choose, the fit is great, resulting in a roomy top with plenty of space for thicker jerseys and base layers should the need arise. However, regardless of its insulation, it’s not overly bulky and remains comfortable.
I would say that the arms are a little on the long side, however. It’s by no means an issue but there’s some excess bunching around the wrists when not on the bike. On the bike, the length is plenty to keep the arms covered even when getting well off the back of the bike. The cuffs are fairly wide too which does allow some cool air to find its way into the sleeves but the gaps are closed up when riding with longer cuffed winter gloves.
Although Troy Lee Designs says that the Crestline is for mild weather when worn over a jersey, during my rides I've found that it’s quick to get warm and cause some overheating. That’s mostly because there’s no form of moisture wicking or ventilation present, other than opening the front zip a little.
For temperatures like this, it would be great to see more ventilation options just to expel the warm, moist air that the jacket is so good at insulating. However, this does mean that the jacket is far more capable when the mercury seriously drops.
As such, I’ve worn the jacket casually more often than I have on the bike which shows its versatility. Even though there’s a dropped hem, it’s a comfortable top to wear when walking the dog, or strolling to the pub. It’s only when your body temp rises that the jacket starts to overheat. However, the Crestline will make loads more sense on the bike when the thermometer drops beneath freezing, or when cranking up hills on an e-bike, where the body temperature doesn’t rise as quickly.
The water resistance is very good. There's no waterproof membrane but it fends off spray and light rain impressively well. However, the DWR coating does wash away quickly, and after two or three spins around the washing machine, as well as a few hose-downs, the outer fabric is much quicker to absorb water.
And after those washes and hosedowns, the jacket isn't looking quite as good as it did when it was brand new. Threads are showing at the zips and the cuffs are showing signs of wear, which isn't ideal for a jacket of this price.
Troy Lee Designs Crestline jacket - Verdict
With a price tag of £160, the Crestline is one pricy number which unfortunately doesn’t go in its favour as several other insulated options perform better on the bike for less money. One of which is Leatt’s MTB Trail 3.0 jacket at £140. Like the Crestline, it features quilted insulated panels but it’s placed more strategically around the jacket so it doesn’t overheat. It also gets a proper waterproof membrane which is rated to 5.000mm of water resistance. Leatt’s jacket comes kitted with loads more features, making it awesome for winter riding but as its insulation is placed thoughtfully around the jacket, it’s not as warm overall when worn off the bike.
Nukeproof offers the Blackline Microbaffle jacket which will set you back £130. It’s filled with PrimaLoft Insulation ThermoPlume which is 100% recycled insulation, and there are recycled fabrics littered around the whole jacket. It’s a similar build to the Crestline for a fair chunk less money, making it well worth the consideration.
However, if you’re looking for a mid/outer layer for mild conditions, POC’s Mantle Thermal Hoodie is another great choice. It costs £130 but as it’s a hoodie, it blends on bike performance with casual goodness. It gets its insulation from a recycled double-layer thermal polyamide and it’s graced with a hint of water resistance from a flourocarbon-free DWR coating. It’s a much thinner feeling garment too.
Above all, the Troy Lee Designs Crestline jacket is versatile. The Crestline is a solid option due to its great fit, sorted insulation and its accommodation of layering. That said, if you’re after a jacket for milder temps, this one lacks the breathability required to expel warm, moist air. Its DWR coating wears quickly, too, and it’s fairly expensive compared to other great insulated jackets. It does look great though.
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