The Repel Jersey has been designed for hard winter training in wet and windy conditions – of which we’ve had no shortage.
It’s designed, Chapeau say, to offer much of the performance of a rain jacket, but with the slim fit and breathability of a jersey. The Repel – and the clue is in the jersey’s name – uses Schoeller’s ‘C_change’ fabric, which is said to be wind and water resistant, but Schoeller also claim it regulates body temperature by expanding and contracting.
The fabric is inspired by a pine cone, which opens and closes in different weather conditions, and so the C_change membrane is said to open when the temperature increases or there’s the development of moisture during exercise, thus allowing heat and sweat to escape, while the membrane structure condenses when the body’s cooler, improving insulation. That, combined with the fabric’s wind and water resistant claim, sounds promising given the UK’s changeable climate.
The fabric has some stretch in it, but not as much as the Mistral Jacket. The cut is significantly slimmer than the Mistral, but slim in the right places and I’ve still dropped down a size. It’s a close cut, as you’d expect from a performance jersey, which leaves nothing to flap around in the wind.
Like the Mistral, there are three rear pockets and an additional zipped water resistant pocket. There’s also a reflective Chapeau badge and a silicone hem gripper to support the pockets.
The Repel is available in five sizes, from small to extra-extra-large, and two colours, red and black. It costs £199.99.
Website: Chapeau
