Membrane jackets promise breathability. Self-inflating sleeping mats supposedly inflate themselves. And yet you still freeze, sweat and blow on them. Maybe that's why the windbreaker jacket is still the most sensible piece of clothing in outdoor life: light, honest - and pretty underrated.
I love lightweight jackets. Back in the 1970s, they were called windbreakers. Back then, they were simply what they claimed to be: thin, practical and surprisingly effective. Today they are more. They keep out the wind, repel a little rain and weigh almost nothing. Above all, however, they are more comfortable to wear than much of what was to follow them later in terms of technology.
Because the great membrane narrative is one of those outdoor half-truths. Rain jackets are supposed to breathe. But they don't usually do this in such a way that you really want to wear them all year round. They are always a compromise between protection and perspiration. Just like self-inflating sleeping mats rarely manage without re-inflating. Marketing can do a lot. Physics remains stubborn. That's why I almost always reach for a windbreaker. Now the Ion Shelter Lite. Weight: 165 grams. A flyweight!
I had already been using the predecessor of the Ion MTB Shelter Lite for a long time. It's one of those jackets that simply works and is therefore allowed to stay. Now I've been riding the current model almost every day for over a year. It's light as a feather, barely noticeable - and still keeps out exactly what you want to keep out: The wind.
Ion Shelter Line: Impressions in the test
Black is of course stylish. Less ideal for photos - as BIKE testers, we are often in photos. And even in the dark season, I would prefer a colour that drivers can see even without good karma. Neon like a highlighter, for example. Unfortunately, Ion only offers purple as an alternative. So it stays with black.
The previous model still had a zip pocket on the chest. Practical. Now there's just a small pocket with a fabric tab. Safe is different. But at least it's there. It's not actually meant to be a pocket at all, but the fabric flap into which you can stuff the whole jacket for packing. Very successful: the hood, which fits easily over the helmet.
The water-repellent impregnation does exactly what you would expect: short showers work. Continuous rain does not. But that's fine. After all, it's not a rain jacket. It's a wind jacket. And that's exactly what makes it so charming.
What is surprising at a price of around 150 euros, however, is that the seams on both cuffs came undone and the elasticated bands came loose. No drama, quickly repaired, self-sewn (you can do it yourself!) - but still annoying considering the otherwise high quality of the Ion workmanship.
However, there are still strong arguments in favour: minimal pack size, minimal weight, high wearing comfort, good cut.
Conclusion: A jacket for exactly those months when the weather is still undecided.
What Ion says about the jacket
The lightweight & easily stowable windbreaker should not be missing from any mountain bike wardrobe. The Shelter Lite MTB jacket is made from windproof Pertex® Quantum. The material is particularly light, flexible and designed to trap air and thus have an insulating effect. The environmentally friendly, water-repellent C0 DWR finish keeps you dry in light rain. The hood can be worn under a helmet without restricting your field of vision and, together with the elasticated cuffs, contributes to an optimum fit. The jacket can be stowed in a small integrated pocket and should not be missing on any trip. Material: 100% polyamide (recycled) with FC-free C0 DWR finish.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
