Seeing as we tested this in the UK, the best place to start is probably the waterproofing and it’s where the fabric comes into its own. I used it in heavy rain and remained completely dry, with the rain beading on the outside and not saturating the material at all, even after an hour of intense rainfall.

Windproofing is also excellent, with nothing getting through either the main material or the zip, the latter being thanks to a strip of the same Event 310 material backing the zipper. Even in really bad conditions nothing managed to penetrate the zip.

On top of the weatherproofing, the jacket’s also very comfortable with a soft, fleecy inner that also provides excellent insulation. There are a couple of other nods to comfort such as the chin tab that stops the zip rubbing at the top when fully done up.

The cut of the jersey is responsible for the pocket-related issues, as the race fit means they’re quite tight when full and getting things out can be tricky. It’s quite an aggressive fit overall and I’d recommend trying one on before you buy, if possible, as the cut is close enough that it does come up a little small.

Underneath those pockets, the dropped tail adds another bit of weather protection, and the drop is anchored by a strong silicone gripper that keeps everything in place very well. It didn’t ride up at all during testing, even in wet conditions when the bib shorts were truly soaked.

The cuffs on the sleeves are excellent, and have an outer and inner element allowing for one part to be tucked into your gloves and the other to go over the top of the cuffs on the gloves. It’s very effective at keeping out the elements.

Conclusion

Overall, Specialized have made a seriously good jacket in the Element SL Pro. The Event 310 material performs admirably, even in the very worst of conditions, and manages to keep weather out and warmth in. It’s worth noting that the close fit means sizing might be an issue, and it does affect the accessibility of the pockets, but these are small prices to pay for one of the best softshell jackets I’ve used.

Pros

– Waterproof and windproof
– Comfortable with solid breathability
– Good looking, race cut

Cons

– Can be hard to access the rear pockets when they’re full