Product test
Stay dry in the great outdoors with Columbia’s Wyldwood waterproof jacket
by Patrick Bardelli
Dirtlej bike clothing: I wish I’d known about this brand sooner
10.6.2025
Translation: Julia Graham
From rain jackets, to vests and dirtsuits for rough terrain, Dirtlej offers cycle clothing for all conditions. This German brand delivers real game changers.
There are those aha moments where realisation sets in. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an earth-shattering event that turns your life upside down. Sometimes a jacket is enough.
After my first experience with a Dirtlej dirtsuit last winter (more on this later), the brand has now kindly provided me with a rain jacket and vest to review.
Source: Daniela Rohr
Weathershield rain jacket
Fancy a new favourite piece of clothing? Here it is: the Dirtlej weathershield rain jacket. If a name says it all, then this is it. Whether I’m on my gravel bike, on a dog walk or on the (once again) rainy first day of Cycle Week in Zurich, this jacket seriously rivals my previous favourite from Columbia.
And, unlike the latter, it’s also designed for bikes. The 2.5-layer membrane made from 100% recycled material is treated with PFC-free, durable water repellent (DWR) waterproofing. Its small pack size means the jacket is also suitable for outdoor activities such as hiking. Meanwhile, when you’re on the bike, the extended back ensures freedom of movement and protects your derrière from dirt and moisture.
At 20,000 mm, the water column is excellent, while breathability is 25,000 g/m2/24h. This value is also called MVTR (moisture vapour transmission rate). This means that 25 kg of water vapour can escape per square metre within 24 hours. For grading purposes, from 10,000 a membrane is considered very breathable, while the very best ones can achieve up to 40,000.
However, water vapour can only escape from the inside to the outside if it can also be absorbed by the atmosphere. If the humidity outside the jacket is 100 per cent with constant rain, it’ll unfortunately still be damp inside. Even the large ventilation zips under the arms are of little use. My boss recently had a similar experience with his new favourite rain jacket.
Nevertheless, the Dirtlej weathershield rain jacket has become a faithful companion over the last few weeks. Not least thanks to its cool design.
Details
- water column 20,000 mm
- breathability 25,000 g/m2/24h
- large ventilation zips at the armpits
- light, comfortable material
- waterproof pockets
- taped seams
- lightweight and small pack size
- hood can be stowed away as a collar
- long, slanted sleeves with adjustable cuffs
- reflective prints
- material: 100 per cent PFC-free DWR/100 per cent recycled polyester
Pocket companion vest
Before the intense heat arrives in July and August, it’s often cool in the mornings in spring. The sun is warm, but the air is still fresh, so you need a vest. Dirtlej also offers a good product in this category. With its two-way zip, the vest is comfortable to wear and can be reduced to a small pack size in the inner pocket if required. This means it fits in a rucksack or even a hip pack.
Source: Daniela Rohr
Details
- water column 20,000 mm
- breathability 25,000 g/m2/24h
- made from recycled materials
- two-way front zip
- lightweight material
- reflective print
- front and inside pocket
- small pack size in the inside pocket
- material: front and back: 100 per cent recycled polyester, TPU membrane; side panels: 90 per cent recycled polyester, 10 per cent elastane
Dirtsuit core edition
The dirtsuit core edition is made for the rough stuff. As I mentioned, I’ve already tried it a few times during the winter. The aim was to find out what to wear underneath so as not to freeze while out and about. Here’s what I discovered:
Now it’s spring and often rainy, so the challenges are different. With its three-layer membrane, fully taped seams and waterproof zips, the Dirtlej dirtsuit is watertight. Even after an hour in constant rain, no water or dirt penetrates from the outside.
However, it’s worth reiterating that very little gets from the inside to the outside in this way. Despite good breathability and additional ventilation zips under the arms and on the legs, the atmosphere inside the suit is like a sauna when it’s 15 degrees outside with 100 per cent external humidity. However, this isn’t surprising; it’s just a matter of physics. In dry conditions, however, the suit’s breathability is excellent.
Source: Daniela Rohr
The suit is comfortable to wear, even if it is quite heavy at around 1.25 kg in size M. The loose cut provides good freedom of movement and the area you sit on is reinforced with a robust, seamless material. The suit’s legs are removable to stop you bringing dirt into the house after an expedition.
To be honest, biking in chilly, damp weather isn’t particularly fun. Not in my book, anyway. But when I’ve got the Dirtlej dirtsuit core edition on, I can cope much better with the mud than when I’m in any other clothing I’ve tried in the rain.
Details
- water column 18,000 mm
- breathability 15,000 g/m2/24h
- six additional air inlets for cooling
- waterproof pockets
- stretch-segment and reinforced seams
- detachable legs and foldable hood
- robust, hard-wearing outer material
- reflective print
- material: 96 per cent nylon, 4 per cent polyester
- use: trail bike and all-mountain
All in all, I wish the Dirtlej brand had been on my radar earlier. I love the rain jacket, vest and the dirtsuit in particular, all of which are real game changers, both on gravel and mountain bikes.
Source: Daniela Rohr
Header image: Daniela Rohr
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
Bike
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
16 comments
later