Alpinestars Stella Neo waterproof hoodie review | lightweight and waterproof, ideal for urban riding

A lot of bikers will have the full textile waterproof suit or jacket for long stints in the saddle, but those urban riders who need something a little lighter for the everyday commute aren’t after a bulky bit of kit which they have to walk around in all day.

So, that’s where the Stella Neo Waterproof hoodie fits in. I tested the woman fit, but there is a bloke’s version available too.

How comfortable is the Alpinestars Stella Neo Hoodie?

As a lightweight and flexible casual jacket, the Stella Neo Waterproof Hoodie feels just that – a hoodie.

Of course, there is CE rated armour in the shoulders and elbows, but the flexible nature means that you can barely tell it’s there and the softshell fabric is nice to the touch with a removeable liner for more breathability on warm days too.

With jackets, I usually opt for the size up in case I wanted to put on layers beneath. But as I used this mainly in the summer where rain was on the cards but not a given, you’re pretty safe getting the right size.

Some words of wisdom from someone who forgot before the first ride – if you’re heading out onto the motorway make sure to remove the hood and tuck it in your pocket or else you will get a windsock which will of course bring tension to your neck. But kudos where it’s due – the hood didn’t fly off by itself. Once I stopped and removed the hood it was perfectly happy on the move with plenty of movement in the arms and no tightness.

Is the Neo hoodie practical?

For an urban rider, this hoodie ticks all the boxes. It’s lightweight and easy to put on, and with the flexible armour I managed to stuff it into a pannier on more than one occasion once reaching my destination on warm days.

But it is an ideal jacket if you wanted to walk around with it without hulking bulky bike gear with you. It can get a bit warm once you’re walking around, but removing the liner does help with that.

As I mentioned I opted for the size up, so I had wiggle room throughout the jacket so getting it on and off was easy. The pockets are a decent size on the outside, and you also have interior pockets on both the liner and the shell of the jacket too.

To keep off those summer showers it works well both on and off the bike with its removeable hood, and the elastic at the bottom of the jacket is helpful to keep the breeze at bay.

Does the Stella Neo hoodie look good?

As I’ve mentioned before in my reviews, I prefer a much more understated look with my bike kit which fits in both on and off the bike.

Softshell jackets have become more popular over the years, and I think the fabric looks great, doesn’t show tarnish very easily and the simplistic design and understated Alpinestars logos look cool too.

But, if you were after something with a little more style and graphics, it might not be the optimal jacket for you.

What’s the quality like?

The softshell fabric feels durable to the touch and after 5,000 miles it looks as good as new. Tarnish isn’t evident even after thousands of miles, and the chunky zip is easy to use and isn’t getting stuck at any point yet.

As mentioned above, the hood clasps are good quality and kept the hood in place even on the motorway but didn’t cause much mishap when I came to remove it manually either.

So far there is no wear and tear on the stitching, and the elastic around the bottom of the jacket hasn’t stretched to make it useless although with this style I imagine that could be a feature in the future. But so far, it’s standing strong.

As a waterproof jacket it is remarkably good. I expected it to only withstand a light shower, but after being caught out in some heavier downpours I’m happy to report that I stayed dry.

Does the Alpinestars Neo hoodie offer a good level of protection?

This jacket has an A CE rating and is equipped with Level 1 shoulder and elbow protectors. Unfortunately, the Level 2 back protector is an optional extra for the garment, but there is an easy-to-use pocket for one as well as a chest protector.

As the jacket is so lightweight, I don’t think I’d be comfortable for long miles on the motorway with it, but as it is built for urban environments it makes sense.

Is it good value for money?

Whenever you shop for Alpinestars gear, you are buying the garment as well as the brand, so it’s bound to cost you a few extra pennies compared to other brands on the market such as Richa and Dianese who are around the £200 mark.

But Held’s softshell motorcycle jacket is a similar sort of price along with the likes of Rev It, but if you were looking for a much cheaper option, firstly take a look at some deals on older kit which might get you more for your money or check out Weise or Oxford.

So what’s the overall verdict?

If you’re planning on riding in an urban environment in the British weather, then you’ll be on to a good shout with the Stello Neo Waterproof Hoodie. It’s a lovely lightweight jacket that is CE A rated, but also airy and comfortable enough to wear off the bike as well. The jacket comes equipped with shoulder and elbow armour, but you’ll have to purchase the back protector and chest protector separately, but the lack of armour here does make it easy to squash into a pannier if you don’t want to wear it at the end of your ride.

With a detachable hood, you can stay dry on the bike as well as off it, and the thermal liner inside means that you can stay a touch warmer (or cooler) depending on how the weather is treating you.

Although this wouldn’t be my go-to jacket for motorway miles, during the British summer where there may be chances of rain and slow miles around town, it’s a real winner.

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