by Chris Davala, PCI #490/EMSCI #056
IPMBA Membership Coordinator
Maryland State Police (MD)

During a recent trip to the United Kingdom, I had a taste of what our friends across the pond experience on a daily basis - weather that changes not only every day, but several times throughout the day. There is more truth in the statement, "if you don't like the weather, wait a minute" there than anywhere else I've traveled. You cannot even count on the seasons - in the course of a June weekend I experienced sunny, warm conditions and damp, bone-chilling ones!

The wet, chilly weather drove me into the vendor area, where I discovered Freestyle, based in Plymouth, Devon, UK. Freestyle manufactures a jacket that employs materials familiar to the United States: Gore-Tex® and Windstopper®. Anthony Russ of Freestyle detailed the fabric and offered a demonstration of the waterproofing/wind-stopping capabilities of the clothing line. He poured a bottle of water over the jacket, but the water did not seep into the fabric. Instead, it slid off the material the same way liquid mercury becomes like marbles, rolling over a smooth surface. The water simply rolled off the jacket.

The principle of the material is quite scientific. Gore-Tex combines two components to achieve a lightweight, impermeable system designed to keep a cyclist dry and warm or dry and cool. The two components joined together form an incomparable material, unrivaled in mechanical and chemical stability. Incorporating a product known as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, a.k.a. Teflon®) into the jacket makes it repel water. Since its accidental discovery (it was the product of an "oops" in scientific research), DuPont has capitalized on its chemical make-up. Simply put, PTFE won't react with anything. If you have a clothes allergy, you won't itch from wearing this material. Spill coffee, mustard or get powdered donut on it, it won't stain. Water and other liquids just roll right off.

Freestyle has taken Gore-Tex, whose water- and oil-resistant properties affect the waterproof performance of the clothing, and joined it with WINDSTOPPER, a breathable, windproof and water-resistant membrane. The result, it claims, is a lightweight, breathable, wind- and waterproof line of cycling clothing. Mr. Ross expressed an interest in introducing the product to public safety cyclists, so I purchased a jacket and offered to write an independent review. Hence this article.

My first experience with the jacket was during the rally itself. Now I know how New England got its name - the early settlers obviously felt right at home with the unpredictable weather. Utilizing the jacket for the frequent rainsqualls, I learned immediately how beneficial the jacket was in protecting the wearer (me) from the wind, cold, and rain.

The Initial Assessment

Upon my return home, I examined the construction of the jacket. The material had the consistency of Neoprene®, a waterproof fabric that is difficult to handle. Due to its thickness, Neoprene is not a practical choice for cyclists and other athletes. This jacket did not have that feel. It seemed designed to provide comfort without sacrificing protection from the elements. It felt soft and supple against the skin. The jacket had a "stretchiness" which I later learned could be an asset when spending long periods of time in the riding position. The seam stitching was done in white (the jacket is currently available only in black), which highlighted the seams too much for my liking. It may work for personal use, but may not meet departmental uniform standards. One possibility may be to substitute the white seam-stitching with reflective 3M® material, which could enhance personal safety and recognition.

The jacket felt as if the manufacturer cares about each jacket going out the door. Freestyle utilizes a jigsaw style of assembly, which reduces the likelihood of the fabric overlapping in the seam regions. The seams were "taped" to maintain the waterproofing characteristics. (Gore-Tex has a waterproofing guarantee, which must be met by each and every manufacturer using the trade name. This standard is what keeps you from getting wet.) The drawstrings and zippers were strong and placed in the appropriate locations to keep the wind and rain out as much as possible. There is a drawstring around the neckline designed to help keep rain from going down the neck. If the jacket were to be used for police work, the toggle would, in my opinion, have to be moved to another location for officer safety. In its present position, the toggle and drawstring could be used as a choke mechanism in a rear attack.

The zippers and mechanical makeup of the jacket were appropriate. The zippers (YKK) were durable. The jacket itself had a high tolerance for abrasions. The elbows and shoulders took a good beating during several falls (I'm learning off-road skills using clipless pedals!). The jacket stood up to harsh thorns, too. Only once did I note a slight thread pull on the sleeve.

The jacket also featured fitted sleeves, which left my wrists feeling not "strangled," but actually comfortable. I felt no restriction in movement. I would, however, recommend adding extra room for expansion of the shoulder blades. The jacket was as comfortable as it had seemed during my initial examination. The internal layer was soft and supple, and at no time did I feel uncomfortable. During the testing phase, the jacket was worn next to my skin, but I experienced neither chafing nor itching.

Finally, the jacket was easy to care for. After reading the care label, I placed it in the washing machine. The manufacturer recommends washing by hand or machine wash warm and cold rinse, with a short spin cycle. I actually put the jacket in the dryer, tumble dry on medium heat for a short cycle. The jacket came out of the laundry unwrinkled, unstained and ready for the next ride.

The Testing Process

The jacket was tested under two sets of circumstances: actual riding conditions and static testing.

During the summer, I wore the jacket while riding in the rain, over performance undergarments similar to those manufactured by Maxit and UnderArmour. The weather was 92°F. A light rain was falling. The jacket was a bit warm inside, but I did not feel like I was overheating. Never did I get wet - from rain or sweat - despite my level of physical exertion. The jacket was flexible and afforded me the movement needed for the training activity.

The jacket performed equally well during the winter. Slipping it under my patrol jacket because it does not meet our uniform standards, I wore it on duty several times. The weather conditions were cold and windy with an outside air temperature of 42°F. The wind was steady at 12 - 15 mph off of the ocean, causing a wind-chill adjusted temperature of 31°F. There was a light mist rolling off the Atlantic Ocean. With the neckline drawn in, the jacket maintained a high performance level. Never did I feel overheated by wearing four layers of clothing. The jacket kept my body dry and warm. In short, the Freestyle product lived up to its advertising.

As for static testing, the jacket was worn against the skin, zipped, and "sealed" around the neck, arms and waist. The jacket was first tested by misting it with a garden hose, to see how long the waterproof integrity of the jacket could/would last. After approximately 2.75 hours of shedding water continuously, the jacket fabric had not shown signs of penetration. Around the neck the jacket indeed allowed water, but not so much that it was uncomfortable. In fact, all four openings (neck, sleeves and bottom) allowed water into the jacket, but that would be the same with any other jacket on the market.

The second static test involved stronger water pressure. Placing the hose on straight stream, the discharge was directed towards the jacket at various angles. Over 30 minutes had passed without the jacket remotely feeling like water was coming in. After approximately 36 minutes, the water began to seep through the shoulder seams. Not feeling completely wet, the test subject indicated that the jacket felt only damp inside, and he would have been fine wearing the jacket until finding shelter.

Practical Applications

After reviewing the jacket and its material, I can confidently say that the jacket lives up to the manufacturer's claims. In this lightweight jacket, they have combined the soft, comfortable fit of a mid-layer with the reliable protection of a shell against cold wind, light rain and snow. My overall feelings for this jacket are it is a quality product. The jacket could be worn not only for cycling, but also for any outdoor activity, to protect against wind, rain, and snow. When worn in layers, the jacket is able to provide the wearer with a high level of protection from the elements. As it is, it is ideal for personal use.

As for police work here in the United States, some modifications would be necessary. The tail of the jacket is quite long and interferes with the duty belt. I tried tucking it in, but that gave me an uncomfortable, "bulky" feeling. The only alternative is to leave the jacket outside of the belt and cinch it tighter around the waist, but the water-shedding nature of the fabric would cause the water to run to the waist and soak the rider. That said, with modifications, the Freestyle jacket would serve as a reasonable medium between a rain slicker and a heavy winter coat. Even in the warmer southern states, it could be used and used well.

The current design may work better in the United Kingdom, where police officers utilize vest-style armour and equipment carriers, wearing their jackets underneath. They would enjoy the luxury of the wind and water stopping capabilities without an increase in bulk. I believe this jacket could be an alternative to the wooly pulley sweater, as well as a rain slicker, especially during those windy, misty days.

I think the jacket has great potential for use in the EMS field, both in the US and abroad. The jacket looks professional. It retains its shape well and is easy to launder. If blood or body fluids land upon the jacket, it cleans easily and with little fear of staining. The repellent nature of the fabric may even offer some protection from communicable diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis.

My opinion of Freestyle is that they are eager to get involved with public safety cyclists. Their website (www.freestyle-sports.co.uk) displays numerous products which could further the development of appropriate clothing. Materials and manufacturing practices could be altered to accommodate the needs of this unique group of cyclists, including making their product available in standard public safety colors, such as plain black, navy, or high-visibility green. In addition, the composition, location of stitching and application of silkscreen lettering would have to be addressed.

Conclusion

Although the current design of the jacket may not be ideally suited for public safety cycling, the fabric certainly is. I was drawn to it by both its water-shedding and wind-stopping characteristics, and both worked. It kept me dry and comfortable. Wearing a garment which makes you uncomfortable or miserable while on patrol saps your motivation and reduces your drive to protect and serve. A jacket like Freestyle's will bring it back.

Manufacturer's Information

Freestyle Sports
Tamar Building
Queen Anne's Battery Marina
Plymouth, Devon PL4 OLP
Tel: 01752 250101
Fax: 01752 250114
POC: Mr. Anthony Russ
Email: sales@freestyle-sports.co.uk
www.freestyle-sports.co.uk

PTFE Information Source: Roberts, Royston M.: Serendipity: Accidental Discoveries in Science; John Wiley and Sons; New York; 1989

Chris Davala has been a member of IPMBA for more than six years and currently serves on the Board of Directors. He has fought to establish and maintain the first state police bike patrol unit on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He can be reached at cdavala@mdsp.org.

© 2005 IPMBA. This review appeared in the Winter 2005 issue of IPMBA News.