Race Face Chute Waterproof Jacket review
January 3rd, 2016
By Andrew Dodd in Reviews
Product Full Name | Race Face Chute
Retail Price | £164.99
Stockist Details | Silverfish
Race Face Chute – a waterproof jacket built for hard use
Race Face have been making tough MTB waterproof jackets for years. The climate on Vancouver’s North Shore is similar to the UK, so they know how to build kit to last in overly damp and muggy conditions. The Race Face Chute comes in bright orange as well as stealthy black, and is made from their Storm Lite fabric.
The 3ply construction has a waterproof and breathable membrane, with a soft lining and a tough DWR coated polyester outer layer. It’s fully seam sealed; makes use of waterproof zips throughout and has nice detailing like brushed material to avoid chin rash from the zipper. The fabric is rated 10,000mm waterproof, and has a 10,000mm breathability rating.
Although Race Face say the 3-point adjustable hood is helmet compatible, we could barely get the hood over a helmet. The Race Face Chute hood itself is an excellent construction though, and the 3point adjustment and stiff peak makes it very useable off the bike.
Likes
- Tough feeling fabric is durable and suitable for constant use
- Thicker fabric makes the Race Face Chute a good cold weather option
- Excellent fit – even for riders with longer arms
- Decent sized armpit vents
- Great hood fit and adjustment – with no helmet
- Internal media pocket
- Highly waterproof – even when the DWR coating wears off.
Gripes
- Minimal reflective detailing on the black colour
- Hood isn’t fully helmet compatible
- Tail could be a little longer
We Say
The current Raceface Chute has an excellent fit. It’s a tough jacket that shrugs off scuffs and scrapes better than many other MTB Waterproof Jackets. Despite the hood not being completely helmet compatible, we like the fact it works well off the bike. The Chute is a versatile jacket for general use.
Although the DWR coating wore off after a couple of washes and the outer fabric can look soaked, our jacket is still waterproof . It’s tough build makes it a go-to option for cooler weather and uplifts.
This review is part of our 8 jacket group test – see the rest of the jackets right here