The Altura Esker Dune insulated jacket uses a mix of insulated panels and softshell material to create a warm and non-restrictive mountain bike jacket. The windproof and warmth properties prove to be excellent for cold winter conditions although the jacket's water-resistant properties are only good enough to fend off light showers. It's a shame to only have one chest pocket but the cut and comfort do make up for this resulting in one of the best mountain bike jackets on the market.
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Altura Esker Dune Insulated Jacket - Technical details
The most obvious feature of the Esker jacket is the use of softshell and insulated panels to build a jacket that is warm and breathable in the right places. The warmth is provided using Pertex Quantum windproof fabric and recycled insulation whilst the soft-shell fabric is said to be breathable with its technical knit construction. The arms, chest and flanks along with the hood get the Pertex treatment and these areas have been shaped to ensure free movement while on the bike.
The cut is intended to be a relaxed fit and not be restrictive whilst riding. With riding in mind there is also plenty of coverage with a long tail, long sleeves and shaped cuffs.
Available in black or olive green with some subtle branding using the Altura logo on the chest, black Altura writing on the lower back side panel and a small “Pertex” logo on the right chest panel, this is an understated jacket that would suit most tastes.
A full-length front zip and a small chest pocket round out the features of this jacket.
The jacket is complete with a DWR coating to help fend off light showers but this is not a waterproof jacket by any means.
Altura Esker Dune Insulated Jacket - Performance
The fit is smaller than expected. Medium is my go-to size but a large would have fitted better. That said, the sleeve length and tail length were spot on giving excellent coverage even when hunched into a riding position and I didn’t find the small size restrictive thanks to the well-placed panels that allowed the soft-shell material to flex. The shaping of the long tail provides excellent coverage, stopping draughts, yet it hugs the body and doesn’t flap around. The arms are well-finished with shaped cuffs that reduce bunching while holding onto the bars. They do a great job of keeping the wind out and they remain secure thanks to elasticated hems. The fitted hood is cosy with a snug fit however it would need to go under a helmet if you intend to use it when riding.
The zips feel like good quality items and are easy to use, the small pulls on the zips are suitable even with some thicker gloves on.
The single chest pocket is plenty big enough to fit a phone in comfortably however, I would have liked some more pockets. A couple of hip pockets would have finished off this jacket nicely but would need designing around the insulating panels.
The DWR coating does a good job of shedding drizzle and a quick shower but soon gets overwhelmed. If the water-resistant qualities are important to you, consider re-proofing regularly.
I can’t say I noticed the insulated panels adding any more warmth to the jacket compared to the rest of the soft-shell material but overall the jacket provided plenty of warmth. Riding in conditions not much above freezing I found it to be a comfortable balance for keeping the chill out whilst working on an analogue bike. As temperatures get a little warmer, it does get a bit on the sweaty side so it's best for cold conditions only.
With the subtle branding and casual design, this jacket works well in a range of situations, it could be a commuting riding jacket which you could wear in the office or worn as a casual item.
Altura Esker Dune Insulated Jacket - Verdict
Retailing at £155, the Altura Esker Dune Insulated jacket is reasonably priced, however, it has stiff competition from some big brands. For a warm and packable jacket, the Endura GV500 insulated jacket is worth a look at £150. Pat gave it a glowing four-and-a-half-star review and couldn’t find anything bad to say. Another very warm jacket is the Albion Zoa insulated jacket although at £185 it is a little more pricey. Mat gave it three and a half stars praising the warmth but didn’t find the fit very bike friendly.
The Altura Esker Dune insulated jacket proves to be a well-performing winter layer, a reliable jacket for cold conditions which will keep you warm without becoming restrictive whilst riding. Some more pockets would be nice and the sizing is a little on the small side but the cut is excellent and aimed at suiting the riding position. It's well priced but there is some big brand competition at a similar price point.