ABOUT THE FOX RANGER 2.5-LAYER WATER JACKET
Designed to be on the more affordable end of the spectrum while still packing some impressive performance, the Fox Ranger 2.5-Layer jacket is a multi-layered jacket that packs a punch and looks good doing it. It’s a fully seam-sealed jacket with a low weight, making it relatively packable for a rain jacket. Fox builds the jacket using a 5k/5k, 2.5-Layer waterproof/breathable fabric. The Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish helps keep moisture and debris from sticking and soaking through.
Other jacket features include a helmet-compatible hood that is quite spacious without being too big. There is a draw cord which helps keep flapping and gapping to a minimum while an elastic cuff also helps keep warmth in and water out. Two rather large zippers open up front hand pockets which can be used to store anything from spare sets of gloves, a phone and more.
Sizing – At 5’11 and 188lbs I found the size large to be a great fit for my frame. Fox offers the jacket from XS to XXL, so riders shouldn’t have any issue finding one that fits their body just right.
THE DIRT
I’ve worn this jacket in a variety of temperatures and types of activities this winter. In fact my last test session was a hike straight up a local butte with my 3 year old daughter riding on my back in a hiking backpack. It was 45-degrees and blowing sideways rain, not exactly the best weather for a daddy-daughter hike, but it turned out to be a great final test of the Ranger 2.5-Layer rain jacket.
Depending on the temperatures I could layer up or down under the jacket and still have some protection from wind and rain whereas some of my dedicated cold temperature jackets would have soaked through before I made it to the top of my first climb. My rides (and hikes) in the jacket ranged from 38-degrees to 52-degrees, sometimes with windchill dropping perceived temp to near freezing. Those days were a bit chilly, or meant I needed to stack up base layers, however I still managed to stay pretty comfortable out on the trail. With temps in the mid-40s and up just a simple base layer and long sleeve jersey would keep me comfortable and prevented excessive overheating or sweating.
For a rain jacket, the breathability was on-par with other jackets in this price range if not slightly better, at least with the cooler temps and dry air we get here in the high desert. I’ve not been able to test it in a humid environment, which could change my opinions, and I’ll update them if I get the chance.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Over the years I’ve been able to test a wide range of rain jackets from $600 top-tier designer units to actually cutting arm holes in plastic trash bags. For the price, I find the Fox Ranger 2.5-Layer rain jacket to be an easy recommendation for a lot of riders. After about an hour and ten minutes of constant heavy rain with a 15-mph wind the jacket slowly starts to lose the battle against nature. I didn’t actually get wet beneath the jacket, but I could see the material losing its water-beading properties.
If you’re not regularly spending hours in downpours that would likely necessitate a more expensive investment in rain gear, the Fox Ranger 2.5 is definitely worth a consideration. It’s a nice jacket, doesn’t weigh a lot, folds up pretty well for a rain shell and offers a nice fitting, nice feeling and good-looking barrier from the wetter elements you may encounter this winter. 
Price: $139.95
Website: Foxracing.com
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