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Smoke, mirrors and two short zips remove the yoke and sleeves to flip this lightweight jacket into a vest. Flopped back into jacket mode, the microFoil yoke covers the vest’s breathable mesh back to shed rain and block chilling winds. Two for one, and one for all.

> Hi-visibility microFoil fabric.
> Zip off yoke and sleeves.
> Fleece-lined collar. Mmmm.
> Elastic thumb loops keep your wrists under wraps.
> Zipped rear pocket to store sleeves.
> Turns into itself so you can shove it in your back pocket.
> Hazard! reflective trim dazzles others at night.
> Made by us in New Zealand.

What's the difference between this and the HydroFoil rainwear?
> The Phantom, Doctor Smock, Flip Flop, Flash Gordon, Storm Trooper and She Shell are all shells, ie. they have no insulation. Your shell is the primary defence against wind and rain - and is good insurance to take on any ride at any time of the year.
> The Phantom, Doctor Smock and Flip Flop are made from hi-visibility Microfibre fabric. They are obscenely compact to carry and is totally windproof but only provide emergency protection in light rain. Ideal for those who want to be seen on the road but don't stray too far from home.
> The Flash Gordon, Storm Trooper and She Shell are made from HydroFoil fabric. They are more 'high performance jackets' that provide effective protection in more serious conditions but are still relatively light and low bulk to carry. If you ride more than a couple of times a week (especially if you commute to work rain or shine) then you'll easily get your money's worth out of one of these over the microfibre jackets.
> Additionally the Storm Trooper and She Shell are tape-sealed and have hoods for maximum protection from the elements. They are most suited for multi-day mountain bike trips in the back-country and commuting or touring when you're likely to encounter rain for more than a few hours.
How waterproof is it?
> The challenge is for a jacket to keep you as dry as possible. With all shell fabrics this involves a trade-off between waterproofness and breathability. Even garments made from the most waterproof fabrics will eventually leak when you're belting along at 30kph in the wet (rain gets in through the collar, cuffs or closures). It's difficult to quantify waterproofness in meaningful terms for cycling. Keeping the wind out stops the majority of heat loss.
> The Phantom, Doctor Smock and Flip Flop keep you dry in intermittent rain or light showers. In persistent rain you'll probably begin to feel damp after about half an hour.
> The Flash Gordon provides extended protection and is good for up to a couple of hours in continuous rain.
> If you're heading into exposed areas for a day or longer or often ride in the rain for more than a couple of hours, then choose the Storm Trooper or She Shell for maximum protection - with its tape sealed seams and hood. And remember, if it all gets too grim then it's okay to hunt down a warm fire and a pint of Guinness.
> What ever your choice, it's important to use any shell in combination with an effective base layer (a Heatwave Merino, Intercool or micro-fleece 100 top) so that any accumulated moisture is transferred away from your skin.
How breathable is it?
> Cycling is a highly aerobic activity - so you sweat a lot. Even the most breathable fabrics won't actually stop you sweating and because they're windproof, you lose the cooling effect of the air rushing past as you ride.
> The Phantom, Doctor Smock and Flip Flop use Microfibre fabric - very breathable and totally windproof but only provides some water repellency.
> The Flash Gordon, Storm Trooper and She Shell all use 2.5 layer HydroFoil fabric. Specifically developed for high aerobic activities, it is extremely breathable - around 2-3 times more so than standard waterproof-breathable fabrics. The latest spec 2.5 layer version has a textured finish on the inside that improves comfort. Under arm vents in the Storm Trooper and She Shell provide additional temperature control and all the HydroFoil jackets feature full-length front zips.
>
Washing Instructions?
> Ground Effect shells enjoy a warm machine wash. Try to avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach. The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but can damage the Microfibre fabric. Bleach may also attack the fabric's coating.
> Select a soap-based product - ideally use a specific sport wash like Grangers Extreme Cleaner or Nikwax Tech Wash (around NZ$30 from most outdoor shops). Check out www.grangers.co.uk or www.nikwax.com for more info.
> Try not to wash too often. General wear along with washing will progressively remove the water repellent treatment on the outside of the fabric. This helps rain to bead and run off - and enhances the overall performance of the fabric. You can restore it after a wash by chucking your jacket in the dryer using a warm (not hot) cycle. This 'recharges' the water repellent treatment so it lasts a bit longer. When this trick no longer does its magic you can reapply the original treatment with a product like Nikwax TX Direct or Grangers Xtreme Synthetics (available from most Outdoor Shops).
> Any stubborn stains should be dabbed not rubbed clean. For grease spots you can use a degreaser like Swarfega. It's aggressive stuff though so take care - it might be best left alone as added character.