Fox clothing is known for its moto style blending performance with good looks into trail and DH kit. Now the californian label has raised its game with two jackets that are comparable to the best technical brands when it comes to cold or wet weather protection.

Words: Sean White  Images: Steve Jones

Fire and Water – Fox autumn 2017

When it comes to a few hours in the woods or a day at the bike park chances are that you’ll throw on a lightweight jersey along with your shorts, pads and gloves. After all, you’ll be working hard and that should do the job, yeah? In most cases this gives you all the protection you need. But as the mild autumn weather we are experiencing turns wet and challenging, more serious protection is needed. Especially once you step out of the blanket of tree cover at a trail centre and onto an exposed hillside or mountain.

There are plenty of budget options when it comes to jackets, some lightweight and fragile, others overbuilt and overweight. If you’ve thought of investing in something a touch more serious but want to stick with a brand that has its roots in mountainbiking (and maybe MX…), then the options are limited.

Step forward Fox, with their latest range for autumn/winter 2017. With more restrained styling and colours than usual, these technical jackets look great both on and off the bike, adding to their versatility and giving you more long-term value.

Here we take a look at the Attack Pro Water jacket (a hardshell breathable waterproof) and the Attack Pro Fire jacket (a softshell insulating jacket). With high price tags, you’ll be right in asking just what justifies the cost. Well, first up is the construction – these Fox jackets are incredibly well made and finished to the highest standards. You can rightly compare them to Arcteryx or Patagonia from the outdoor market or to Rapha road cycling kit. The zips, stitching, details and fabrics are all as good as we’ve seen.

The cut is spot on too, with asymmetric (diagonal running) main zips used to give a better and less restrictive fit. The arm length is long with good articulation at the elbow and the rear tail of the jacket drops a touch but not enough to catch your saddle. ‘Rider Attack Positioning’ are the buzzwords Fox use. Whatever the marketing says, they’ve done a great job here. Clean designs with no fuss means fewer frustrations on the trails.