The POC Women's Thermal is a jacket with performance that is very hard to fault. It also offers good warmth and comfort but comes with a hefty price tag that might put you off. However, if you are looking for a stylish, comfortable softshell cycling jacket that combines insulation and neat details with top-notch weather protection, this one is definitely among the best options out there and something that can easily contest with the best mountain bike jackets.
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POC W'S Thermal Jacket - Technical details
The POC W's Thermal Jacket is crafted from a thicker, insulated material and a brushed inner lining, ensuring exceptional warmth in cooler weather. While named a jacket, this top functions more like a softshell winter jersey, crafted with four-way stretch material for unrestricted movement during cycling. The stretch also allows for layering, although the thick insulated and brushed fabric can offer ample warmth even with minimal layers.
The waterproof and breathable membranes on the arms and front shield against cold and wet weather, while the highly breathable back panel allows excess body heat to escape. The silicone print on the hem prevents the jacket from riding up, and the two-way zip offers ventilation when needed.
The back side hosts four pockets, including three regular rear pockets and one zippered pocket for keys and valuables. The pockets' reflective outer material enhances visibility during rides in the dark and an emergency info panel in the rear left pocket provides space for vital medical information or emergency contact details. Two colour options are available: Uranium Black (tested) and Himalayan Salt (orange/peach) and the sizes range from XS to XL.
POC W'S Thermal Jacket - Performance
After nearly a full winter season and a half of riding with this thermal jacket, it has proven to be a go-to garment in my cycling wardrobe. Despite being labelled a jacket, its feel resembles that of a softshell jersey, with DWR-coated sleeves and front. The material, while thick, doesn't restrict movement and the two-way zip allows for easy adjustments.
The DWR-coated sleeves and front feel a little different than the rest of the fabric (but you can only really notice the different material if you feel the fabric between your fingers), which throughout the top is quite thick. That said, it's not so thick that this would feel in any way bulky. This is something the two-way zip helps with, as it means that it's easy to open up the jersey from the bottom if it feels too tight or to let fresh air in to dry away some sweat/moisture.
Despite its pleasantly bulk-free feel, this jacket delivers a very admirable level of warmth on those crispy, cold days. The DWR coating helps also with the humidity that almost always still lingers in the air here in Scotland and it keeps the occasional brief shower at bay, too. I found this jacket easy to throw on in temperatures ranging from below zero easily up to ten degrees Celsius. Depending on what base layer I was wearing, I was easily able to either make the jacket suit a colder or warmer temperature and the two-way zip helped keep me from overheating even if I had overdressed a little.
Although relatively new to the cycling apparel game, POC is well known for its helmets, but the details in this jacket showcase the brand's excellence in thoughtful design and specifically, safety. The rear pocket reflective detailing is brilliant and takes away no style at the cost of safety. There is also an info panel inside one of the rear pockets in which you can fill in your emergency details. I appreciate this detail, too, although it did make me paint quite gruesome scenarios in my head of times when it'd be needed. However, it also works as a name tag in case you lose your jacket.
Another thing I like about the details on this jacket is the hanging loop, which is placed at the back, just underneath the collar on the outside of the jacket. I don't usually wash my cycling jackets every ride (nor do I think you should) and as light as they are, most softshell cycling jackets don't have any hanging loops. This means they keep falling to the floor, where they certainly don't dry up before the next ride.
In terms of the overall fit, I tested size small which is what I'd usually go for in outer shells or jackets, and the fit was perfect. I'd say in terms of the length, this is not the longest jacket and doesn't have a massively dropped tail but I like that. The sleeves are long enough to effectively cover the wrists and the silicone strip at the rear hem keeps the jacket in place, and the collar is although not high, adequate in keeping the breeze from chilling your neck.
POC W'S Thermal Jacket - Verdict
As good as the performance of this jacket is, it is also one of those investment pieces because, at £220, it doesn't come cheap. Having worn this jacket for two winter seasons, I'd say it can be a justified purchase if you regularly ride in cold temperatures and appreciate the smart and extremely well-fitting design.
There are plenty of softshell-type cycling jackets available, but not many of them are in the same price bracket as the POC Thermal. For example, Lusso Women’s Perform Winter Jacket is £160 and Pactimo Women’s Alpine Thermal Jacket is a little more at £180. The Pactimo jacket also has a two-way zip and both have some sort of weather-proofing.
Is the price justifiable? Not necessarily but then again premium apparel does often cost a lot and if I count how many times I've worn this jacket without it showing much sign of wear (apart from a scratch from a crash), it's been worth the pennies for me.
For excellent warmth, fit and safety features, this POC jacket is hard to beat. It comes with a hefty price but if you find it on sale or have spare cash, I'd recommend investing in this because it'll make the cold rides a little bit more bearable.
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