I’m a Canadian runner used to all conditions - I tested Lyle & Scott's new Reactive Series in Manchester rain
When Tim Robinson moved from Canada to Manchester six months ago, he knew there would be a few adjustments to make.
What he wasn't prepared for though, was the constant rain.
An avid runner since his late twenties, Tim has spent years pounding the pavement in all sorts of conditions, from sunshine and rain to snow and sleet.
But since moving to Manchester, he's found the city's persistent rain to be a challenge of its own.
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With winter approaching, we put three jackets from Lyle & Scott's new Reactive Series through their paces, testing how they performed against the north's unpredictable weather.
The new AW26 Reactive Series responds to its surroundings with technologies that react to heat, UV light, water and low-light conditions.
Tim regularly runs after work, so having one jacket that will adapt to the change in temperatures and light saves him worrying about multiple layers and reflective gear.
So, how did the jackets fare when put to the test in one of the country's rainiest cities?
The Glow Reactive Jacket
One of the biggest surprises was just how much the Glow Reactive Wadded Shell Jacket actually glows.
It looks understated in normal conditions, but once the lights go out, it's unmissable.
“We tested the jacket around Ancoats, initially trying to find somewhere dark enough to see whether the glow-in-the-dark technology was actually going to work,” Tim tells LADbible.
“Even outside, the jacket remained surprisingly bright. Back at home, we turned off all the lights and the effect was even more obvious - the whole thing seemed to glow.”
The jacket is also impressively warm without feeling bulky, despite being relatively thin for a winter jacket.
It has a 100 percent nylon outer, polyester lining and polyester wadding, while the adjustable hood comes in handy when Manchester does what Manchester does best and starts raining halfway through a run.
For Tim, it's more than just a fun gimmick.
"Obviously the hood is great because you can adjust it and put your hood up when you're running in the rain," he adds. "There are also pockets for the essentials - phone, keys and whatever else you need when you’re out without a full running kit.
"All in all, as we head into the winter months in Manchester, it's a really great, great, great jacket to have. I've been wearing it all through the weather."
Glow in the Dark Wadded Shell Jacket
The Heat Reactive Gilet
The Heat Reactive Gilet takes a slightly different approach.
Heat Reactive continues across outerwear this season, with the brand's iconic shell jacket joined by a new quilted jacket and gilet.
All three styles arrive in washed brown and cove, shifting from a darker brown into a lighter beige tone when exposed to heat.
There's the Relaxed Crew Neck Jumper too, which transitions from ice blue to white.
You can throw it on to go out, wear it while walking around the city or take it out on a run - and the reactive element only really reveals itself as you move between different temperatures.
The Heat Reactive Gilet
The Water Reactive Jacket
If there is one jacket that feels particularly appropriate for a new life in the north of England, it's the Water Reactive Shell Jacket.
The AW26 version comes in olive green, blue, purple and black, with the material revealing a 3D-effect Lyle & Scott pattern when it gets wet.
And in Manchester, there are plenty of opportunities to see it in action.
After years of running through Canadian winters, Tim knows a thing or two about needing an outer layer that can cope when the weather turns, and this jacket comes with a water reactive nylon exterior and breathable polyester lining.
It will look just as good at the pub as it will on a morning jog around the city come winter.
Water Reactive Shell Jacket
The Lyle & Scott Reactive Series is now available to shop on the website here.
Topics: Fashion
Danielle Fowler