Right as the cooler days of fall arrive in the Santa Cruz area, we begin to start off more rides in a windbreaker or a lightweight rain shell. We’re well familiar with ACRE/Mission Workshop after testing some of their excellent rain shells and hydration packs in the past, but more recently, the San Fransisco based brand sent us their new “The Interval” wind shell for testing. Lightweight and compact, this shell packs into its only pocket and is easily stashed away if and when the weather warms at higher eleveation. Here’s how it fared out on the trails…
The premium Japanese nylon which the Interval jacket is constructed from is surprisingly stretchy. MW makes no claims of it being waterproof, but we found it go keep you fairly dry in foggy misty days where we encountered light rain.
There are discreet thumb loops which are aimed at preventing the sleeves from riding up. We found that the sleeves stayed put on their own, but bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Perhaps if you have noodle arms, they’d be nice, but as they were a minor annoyance without gloves we usually didn’t utilize them. It’s worth noting that with gloves, you don’t feel them at all.
There is one single zipper pocket on the left side, which the entire jacket conveniently packs into. It’s big enough to stash gloves, a snack or a map.
The deployable hood fits over a helmet (even a slightly larger trail lid like the Bell Sixer pictured below).
The hood features elastic cords that cinch on the sides up front, and out back for depth at the base of your head.
The hood rolls up and packs into the collar, which is very soft and comfortable. Unlike some ultra light shells, there is a loop to hang it, which is nice for drying it out.
The cuffs, hem and hood are all welded and bonded by a material that is stretchy enough that they don’t inhibit motion, but manage to keep things snug and prevent breeze from blowing through the jacket.
Although for a simple shell, the Interval isn’t exactly a cheap, disposable purchase, so some may scoff at the price, but we absolutely loved it and thought it was worth every penny. It’s by far the most comfortable windbreaker we’ve worn to date, with its flexibility and breathability being the highlight. It cuts the wind and truly feels like a second skin on cold days, unlike cheaper, stiffer offerings. The excellent fit doesn’t inhibit movement, and the slightly lower cut back means you won’t be getting a draft up the back or a butt crack full of mud. While the Interval has held up well for us, we see it being a more appropriate buy for the Road/Gravel/XC/Light trail crowd as you’re less apt to crash and ruin it. If you’re getting sketchy on rowdy trails, perhaps a cheaper purchase could make more sense. That said, consider that it is incredibly well made in San Fransisco and Mission Workshop proudly backs their products with a phenomenal warranty.
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