BQ Tests: Ground Effect Rivet waterproof jacket

If you’re familiar with the saying that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing – you are probably familiar with Ground Effect Clothing. The company is based in Christchurch, and they proudly design, test and manufacture their gear right in New Zealand. With over 30 years experience, you can be certain that their gear has been refined to provide everything required, and nothing that isn’t.

Case in point – the Ground Effect Rivet. It’s a fully waterproof jacket with a simple, slim cut made from quality materials. Ground Effect also make the Rivulet, a similar jacket in a women’s cut. With a long bike trip planned for the second half of November, a Rivet arrived from Ground Effect just in time.

A closer look

The Rivet, and Rivulet, use Ground Effect’s Hydrofoil fabric. The nylon outershell is attached to a waterproof and breathable membrane. When talking about waterproofness, testing involves measuring a hydrostatic head. In this case the material on the Rivet has a 23,000mm hydrostatic head. Therefore the material will withstand the pressure at the base of a 23m high tube of water! The seams are fully taped, and the breathability rating is 33,000gm per square metre per 24 hours. Or perhaps more importantly – it has a full zip that is easy to access when you’re working hard.

It’s a jacket of minimal frills. The collar stands tall, the arms are long for a riding position, including an articulated elbow. There’s a dropped tail for some additional coverage when riding. Ground Effect include a pocket on the chest and some thumb loops at the cuff. There is also some reflective pipping and detail to help with visibility – along with the bright orange colour! A green Kakariki colour is also available. Total weight is 263g and I found the small to be perfect for my 178cm 72kg build, with room for a light fleece underneath if needed. Of note, the Rivet doesn’t have a hood. If you’d like a hood and a few more bells and whistles, look to the Ground Effect Storm Trooper or Anti-Cyclone.

On the bike

My first use was on a bikepacking trip – the kind of trip you don’t take a jacket you’re not sure about. Day 2 started overcast and cold – the exact time to pull on a wind and waterproof jacket. With lots of climbing, descending and wet air in the fog, it was easy to regulate my temperature. In the cold I added a buff and had a light Alpha fleece beneath the jacket. On a day that went from low single digits in wet air, through to finishing in the dark and rain – the Rivet was an ideal companion.

With gangly arms I was really impressed by the proper sleeve length, having owned a number of jackets that never fit like they should. Better than that, the tapered sleeves meant minimal flapping at speed.

In changeable weather it is just as useful as a windproof layer, as it’s not nearly as bulky as something like a hiking waterproof jacket. As a jacket for a bikepacking trip that is ideal – but I think versatility in equipment is great for anyone. While it doesn’t pack into it’s chest pocket, I found shoving it into its own sleeve was pretty easy when packing the jacket away.

Of course, during rain in higher temperatures and humidity a waterproof often doesn’t feel like the right item, depending on the rate of rain. I didn’t get caught in any typical Queensland storms in the test period – I’ve learnt to avoid them by planning ahead. But in recent rain events the Rivet did what was expected – kept the rain out and managed perspiration to a good extent. The Rivet will be your best friend in a deluge but like any waterproof jacket, the breathability can struggle in high humidity when you’re working hard pedalling.

While the Rivet has only had a few months of use, I can tell it will become a hard-wearing staple in my cycling wardrobe. I’ve owned a number of superlight shells over the past couple of decades. This includes jackets that rely on a coating for waterproofness to a lower rating than the Rivet. They have been great for small packsizes and savings of around 60g – but these days those sorts of jackets are only grabbed for short dog walks in drizzle. They just don’t keep the weather out. Thanks to both a higher-quality material that is more durable to boot, I’m sure the Rivet will be on high rotation for years to come.

Our take

If you are looking for a truly waterproof jacket that fits well for on bike adventures – you’re looking in the right place. I was on the fence about needing a hood or not, and opted for the Rivet after advice from Ground Effect staff. Those looking for even more versatility could consider the Flash Gordon. It uses the same material but has zip of sleeves so you can have a jacket – or a fully waterproof vest that will keep your core dry in mixed conditions that may not require a full jacket. It may be one of the best answers for the ‘hot rain’ some British friends described when visiting Queensland.

RRP: $AUD285
groundeffect.co.nz

BQ Members receive a free pair of Ground Effect Merino socks with their orders – grab the code from the Portal!