Bromptoning in the Rain with the Cleverhood Rover Rain Cape (Review)
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- čas přidán 31. 10. 2020
- We are big fans of rain capes and think every cyclist should have one - or two! In our blog, we compared the old Cleverhood Zipster to the People's Poncho. The Zipster won, but narrowly. So when Cleverhood came out with a new rain cape that fixed those shortcomings and asked if we wanted to review it, we said sure!
(Disclaimer: Cleverhood sent us the Rovers for free, but we're not being paid for this review and opinions expressed are our own.)
For a detailed written review about the Cleverhood Rover, click here: bromptoning.com/bike-specs/ra...
Still unconvinced you need a rain cape while cycling? Then check this out: 6 Benefits of Cycling in a Rain Cape bromptoning.com/bike-specs/6-...
This was a great review. It really showcases the product and all its features. Thanks! I’m getting one of these for my wife on her birthday
Fantastic! Hope she loves it as much as we love ours.
Looks like a great cape 😁 Thanks for going out in the rain to test so we don’t have to 😎 (weirdest helmet I’ve ever seen 🤪)
It's a folding helmet to match my folding bike. ;) closca.com/
Proof that wearing a cape on a bike doesn't have to be dorky. I'm becoming more cape adjacent by the day. PS: you have the same piano as me.
Ha! Thanks! Capes really do straddle the line between dorky and practical badass. 😄
Excellent review thank you
You're very welcome!
New follower's from Thailand 😉 a nice reviews
Hi! And thank you!
We have several older Cleverhoodcapes, they are great. But i think i want one more like this one!
The upgrades on the Rover are worth it! I still have my blue Clever Zipster that I wear for walking in the rain, but the Rover with the belt is now my go-to when cycling in the rain. :)
Great!! 👍
Nice review
Thanks for the review! Has helped me decide to purchase one. While the rain isn't quite the same here in DC as it was in Vancouver, I've found I'm missing a good rain cover and my gore-tex jackets just don't cut it for cruising. I want something that opens up in the bottom! Keep up the nice content, and thanks again :)
Thank you! Enjoy your new rain cape!
Enjoyed your review, which is much needed for this cape. Question: if you are wearing a backpack (not a big one), does it go under or over the Rover?
A backpack would go under the cape, to keep everything dry! :)
Nice one
Thanks for the review. Appreciated the height mention, since I'm 5.4" too and was wondering how large the cape might look on me.
You're welcome!
Nice review! I'm imagining you were wearing the camera on your head for the opening scenes :)
Thanks! Actually, we attached the camera to the light fixture on the ceiling. My head would not be that steady. ;D
@@bromptoning I know. Jokes!
Great review! How has it held up over time? Is it still as waterproof as it was originally?
It has held up well! One of the things about rain capes that I've noticed over the years is that though the material isn't as water-repellent as some rain coats, they work because the rain runs off them rather than sitting on the material and soaking through. Especially when riding a bike, the cape creates a kind of umbrella around your body.
I am almost about to buy a Rover, but I was wondering how you feel it compares to the Zipster you wore (and lost!) on your Holland trip. I read the great review on your blog, but I was wondering how the two Cleverhoods compare to one another, in your view. Though, they don't seem to make the Zipster any more, The Spacing Store has a few. Thanks!
Both are good capes, but the belt and thumb loop upgrades make the Rover better in my opinion. The only thing the Rover doesn't have that the Zipster does is the reflective thread. If you really like the look of the dark grey cape, the Zipster grey will be much more visible at night than the Rover grey.
@@bromptoning Thanks! I always ride with multiple lights, so even though every bit helps, I'm not as bothered about reflectivity. It does seem like a strange thing to skimp on, but what do I know about making capes :)
@@TheBikeLife The Rover still has a reflective logo on the front and back, and it does cost less than the Zipster. Perhaps material with reflective thread is more expensive, and without that feature Cleverhood was able to make the Rover more affordable. That's my guess anyway!
This looks great but I think I would have to re-position my front light. it currently sits on the cross bar of the handle bars and would be covered by the cape.
Ah, yes. If your front light is on your handlebars, the cape will cover it. I have the light down low over the Brompton's front wheel. On his road bike, Pier puts a light on the front fork.
liked video 👍
Thank you!
This will not keep your bottom half dry in heavy rain. An oversized backpacking poncho might be better because it reaches to at least mid calf. I'm pretty much still a rain coat + rain pants + gloves + shoe covers person. Totally dry except in prolonged torrential rain. Setup works for riding my motorcycle and carries over into cycling.
I guess this will surprise you, but the cape DOES keep one's lower half dry - even in heavy downpours. Now, I'm not sure if it would work on a motorcycle, since you sit differently depending on the motorcycle, and your legs might not be under the cape. But on a bicycle, with the cape acting like an umbrella above your legs, it works very well. When the rain is heavy, I wear rainboots to keep my feet and lower legs dry because of all the water splashing up from the ground, but from the knees up I'm perfectly dry. Honestly, I was surprised the first time I wore a rain cape in a torrential downpour. I expected my thighs to get soaked, but they didn't!
We have a rain poncho that goes to mid-calf, but it doesn't do a better job of keeping us dry than the cape.
Thanks for the review. I had a cape when I commuted during college, and I can't find the darn thing, or any information about the company when I looked for a replacement since a cape is the best piece of gear for riding in the rain (keeps your hands, thighs, and bars dry). This one seems to be fairly similar replacement. I liked the waist retention better on my old one, besides that I'm pretty sure I'll be ordering a Cleverhood thanks to your review.
That's awesome! Always happy to connect fellow cyclists with rain capes. They truly are the best rain gear.
That helmet reminds me a Devo.
Ha! Pier says the same thing!
so super nice
I got it today. The best in The world.
2:04 😄
Does it keep your legs dry in rain ?
On my Brompton, yes! My legs stay dry. As you can see in the video, the cape makes a nice tent over my legs, keeping the rain off them. However, when I'm riding my Strida, my legs do get a bit wet because I'm sitting more upright and the cape doesn't cover my legs as well.
czcams.com/video/zUO-sSPIAfU/video.html Here you have a front bag mounted. Does this block much rain? This looks VERY smart when combined with the poncho since the main problem with ponchos is they don't protect the legs from driving rain if you're riding at any speed. If one could find an even wider bag it would be even better. I've never thought of combining the two til I saw this. Brilliant!
Yes, the front bag helps a lot! I didn't realize how much until I rode in a downpour without a front bag - and my legs got wet from the knees down (my thighs were still dry thanks to the rain cape). I do have a larger fully waterproof front bag too. When I ride with the large bag + rain cape, I stay completely dry. It's a great combo!
@@bromptoning Great to hear. What is needed is an aerodynamic front pannier that works with a poncho.
You can TAKE your own belt. Js
So many bike rain capes available now...and so few bike rain gaiters...Don't like those soggy ankles.
Perhaps that's a new product Cleverhood can look into! Pier got a pair of gaiters from MEC because his other bike has just a rear fly fender and no front fender. But I find the Brompton fenders quite effective for limiting splashback - unless I ride right through a puddle, which is unavoidable in many of Toronto's bike lanes.