Clothing: Test: Race Face Agent Softshell

Don't be fooled by the name of the Race Face Agent Softshell - although the material is actually rather soft and not a classic hardshell, the Agent is undoubtedly a rain jacket. The Canadian manufacturer specifies a water column of 10.000mm for the membrane - not too high, but more than sufficient for most areas of application. The wearing comfort of the overall quite large and comfortably cut Race Face jacket is great - which is mainly due to the soft material, which feels pleasant on the skin even with short-sleeved clothing.

The four large zippers on the front of the jacket ensure a very idiosyncratic look. While the two lower ones are classic pockets with plenty of storage space, the two upper ventilation openings are hidden. On the back of the jacket there is also a generous opening across almost the entire width, which is protected against water penetrating, but cannot be closed completely. This gives you a constant flow of air under your arms when you ride with the ventilation open at the front - this works very well in practice, especially when you're traveling without a backpack.

The hood only fits over a helmet with a lot of emphasis and the front zip can then no longer be closed completely. On the other hand, the cuffs are well done and can be closed firmly with Velcro in heavy rain to block the way for the water. In our tests, the Race Face Agent held up well for a long time thanks to the welded seams and the sealed zips, but in constant heavy rain the material softened after a while and it became uncomfortably damp inside.