Mesh jackets can be wonderful ways to beat the heat, allowing generous airflow while still protecting their inhabitants with abrasion-resistant materials and padded armor in all the right places. During transitional seasons, however, when it can be too cool for mesh in the mornings and evenings, yet plenty warm enough for it in the afternoons, riders may be reluctant to use gear they can’t zip airtight and then unzip as needed. Jackets with zipper-regulated ventilation are certainly valuable assets during such conditions, but depending on their design, they may not offer anywhere near the cooling effect of a mesh version. If riding temps are expected to vary widely with time of day, elevation or some other variable, it might be ideal to wear mesh—but with a windbreaker underneath that effectively cuts the A/C factor way down. Klim’s Resilience Jacket fills this bill quite nicely and looks perfectly appropriate when worn off the bike as a stand-alone garment on a cool, windy day.
The Resilience lacks any insulation, which makes it extremely lightweight and readily packable. The gossamer synthetic material is slightly stretchy to avoid any restriction of motion, and Klim’s penchant for multi-panel assembly helps in this regard, too. These features are extra-important because this mid-layer needs to be fairly snug to fit under a tailored sporty jacket without bunching, yet it also has to fit over whatever thick shirt you might want to wear during the chilly portion of the ride. While windproof, the fabric doesn’t suffocate its wearer like some plastic rainsuits, which are often pressed into windbreaker duty. Klim calls the material “breathable,” an oft-used term conjuring fantasies of freer-flowing air exchange than synthetics sporting such a moniker can actually deliver. In this case, I can vouch for the jacket’s lack of a steamy interior when I’ve had to wait for a chance to shed it after the mercury rose and I was ready for a breeze. At such moments, the windproofing was definitely apparent—more vivid than when cold temps can make it a bit difficult to distinguish between invading airflow and simple ambient cooling.
When not wrapped in another jacket, the Resilience provides a lot of readily accessible storage for such a featherweight jacket, with two roomy hand-warmer pockets and a large single exterior chest pocket, all zippered, but without Klim’s usual glove-friendly pulls (same goes for the full-length front zipper). Neck comfort is assured with a soft suede-like lining in the collar and a semi-enclosed “garage” for the front zipper’s tab at full height. Elasticized sleeve cuffs and an adjustable bottom hem deny cold air entrance, and an internal draft flap keeps it from sneaking through the front zipper. Small reflective logos add a touch of extra visibility.
At $119.99, this is a pricey windbreaker, but the Reliance features Klim’s typical high quality in design, construction and materials, and it functions as advertised. Although it’s not meant to be waterproof, I’ve found it even does a good job keeping moisture at bay in damp/foggy conditions. Available in sizes XS-3XL, in four colorways (black, gray/hi-viz, light/dark gray, brown/black/orange).
