Product Review: Showers Pass Amsterdam Jacket

For the past several months, I've been almost exclusively riding to commute instead of training or racing, so the gear and clothing that I am interested in reviewing tends to lean towards the more pratical - the stuff you can wear on or off the bike without looking out of place.

For fall commuting, you have the added challenge of varied and often unpredictable weather. It could be cold, raining, snowing, or all the above in the same commute. Fortunately, the folks at Showers Pass have the perfect jacket for just such a commute.

Their Amsterdam jacket is the perfect jacket for those late-fall commutes. I met with them at Interbike, and they gave me a jacket to test out. The Amsterdam jacket has quickly become my go-to jacket, wether or not I am going by bike.

It's the perfect weight for those brisk fall rides (in fact, I've been too warm riding in it when the temperature is around 50), and the styling looks good on or off the bike. This jacket isn't just a pretty face, however. It has it's fair share of technical features as well. First off, as with most of Showers Pass' clothing, the jacket is made with waterproof material, keeping you both warm and dry. It also has reflective piping along the front and back shoulders, as well as a reflective panel on the tail of the jacket that can be snapped up in the jacket for those moments when you are not on the bike.

This is actually a picture of their Portland jacket, but the features are the same as the Amsterdam jacket.

It also has hidden zippers under the arms to help with ventilation, and a chest pocket with an audio port.

The fit is comfortable. It's not bulky, and it's roomy enough to wear over a sweater or hoodie - for those days you need additional insulation.

The Amsterdam jacket retails for $200, but for that you're getting a quality jacket that will take you through several seasons and keep you warm and dry on and off the bike.