BQ Tests: Ground Effect Anti-Cyclone Jacket

By: Mike Blewitt

When it comes to making cycling clothing for challenging weather, few brands have the heritage of Ground Effect Cycle Clothing. Based in New Zealand, the company has spent over three decades designing gear for riders who make the great outdoors their second home. Their products are designed, tested and refined by people who live and breathe adventure, with a focus on making equipment that works and using materials they trust.

Ground Effect sells directly to riders through their online store, helping keep prices competitive while maintaining quality. The company also supports grassroots cycling across New Zealand and Australia through its Slush Fund initiative, and offers men’s and women’s versions across most of its range. Bicycle Queensland members can also receive a free pair of Ground Effect merino socks with their order by using the code available in the member portal.

The Anti-Cyclone sits at the top end of Ground Effect’s waterproof jacket range and takes a slightly different approach to the minimalist Ground Effect Rivet jacket that I reviewed 6 months ago. Ground Effect have a women’s version called the Antidote. Ground Effect have just renewed the materials across their waterproof range of gear including the Splashdowns, their waterproof trousers.

What’s new?

The biggest update is the use of Ground Effect’s new HydroFoil Endure fabric. The material is highly waterproof and breathable (20k hydrostatic head, 18k gm/sqm/hr for the boffins), but importantly it is also PFAS-free and designed to maintain its performance without the need for regular waterproofing treatments. That’s thanks to each fibre being coated with silicone. That’s a welcome development for riders who want a jacket they can rely on season after season without constant maintenance. If you want to do a deep dive into waterproof and breathable materials, but would prefer if someone else did the work for you – read this.

Compared to the Rivet, the Anti-Cyclone has a more versatile design with a broader range of features. There are two chest pockets that double as additional ventilation points, forearm vents, a generous rear pocket, Velcro wrist closures, an elastic drawcord hem, a high protective collar and a stowable hood that fits neatly under a helmet.

The jacket packs into its own rear pocket when conditions improve, turning into a little bumbag hence delivering its own storage solution at the same time. I even managed to fit the Splashdowns waterproof trousers in as well, so you can be like a snail and carry your own waterproof shell with you on your (lower) back.

It’s clearly designed as a jacket that can move between commuting, touring, bikepacking and everyday riding duties rather than being a purely performance-fit cycling shell, which is the domain of the Rivet. Regardless, this is not a heavy jacket, clocking 362g in a small on my scales.

On the bike

I tested the Anti-Cyclone through some of the recent run of wet weather and came away impressed by how adaptable it feels.

The small size was still roomy on my 178cm, 72kg frame. Riders looking for a close-fitting race cut may find it generous and would be best looking at the Rivet or Flash Gordon. That extra space allows room for layers underneath and makes the jacket more useful off the bike as well. In fact, that’s one of the Anti-Cyclone’s strengths. It doesn’t immediately identify you as someone who has just stepped off a bike, or scream ‘bike nerd’ as much as it could. On that, the Bright Orange is quite bright and has lots of reflective detail – but Dark Royal is another option for those with a more demure aesthetic.

Plenty of thought has gone into the cut for a riding position. The articulated elbows help prevent bunching when riding, with room in the shoulders for making shapes if you’re on the trail or in the bike park. The front is cut short enough to avoid excess material gathering around your lap, and the dropped tail provides excellent coverage from wheel spray.

The only feature I occasionally wished for was a two-way zip. Riders using jersey pockets may appreciate easier access from below while remaining zipped up against the weather. However, many riders will be using the Anti-Cyclone as an outer layer with less lycra-centric clothing, and for those users the standard zip arrangement makes perfect sense.

What really stood out was the ability to manage comfort as conditions changed. During harder efforts, ventilation could be fine-tuned through the main zip, chest pockets and forearm vents. It was really easy to tug the zips a little when on a climb to let some cooler air circulate, then zip up for the full hardshell experience on a descent. When the rain intensified, everything sealed up effectively and remained comfortable – including the hood. By making it an under the helmet hood, you are less likely to have the ‘big billowy parachute’ experience when trying to close a one-size-fits-most hood over a helmet.

Best of all, the Anti-Cyclone keeps water out. Through persistent rain and extended wet rides there was no noticeable water penetration, while breathability remained impressive for a fully waterproof shell, thanks to the adaptability of ventilation.

Verdict

The Anti-Cyclone is a jacket designed for riders who want one waterproof shell to cover almost every cycling scenario. Commuting, touring, bikepacking, mountain biking, recreational riding and everyday transport are all well within its comfort zone.

Its fit and extensive feature set make it more versatile than the Rivet, while the new HydroFoil Endure fabric delivers excellent waterproofing without relying on ongoing waterproofing treatments. This is a jacket for the long haul.

Riders wanting most streamlined option may still prefer the Rivet. For everyone else, the Anti-Cyclone is an exceptionally well-considered wet weather jacket that feels equally at home on the bike and off it.

RRP: ~$AUD490
Available: Direct from Ground Effect