ABOUT THE FOX RANGER 2.5-LAYER WATER JACKET
Fox Racing’s Ranger line is aimed at being a bit more lightweight and flexible than their more rugged and weatherproof Defend line. The Fox Ranger 2.5-Layer Water Jacket is designed to be worn on the trail with lightness, breathability, and flexibility in mind.
On the waterproofing side of things, the Ranger 2.5L jacket uses a 10k/5k water-resistant and breathable fabric, with the same C0 DWR finish that they give to the more rugged Defend jacket. The hood is extra roomy to fit a helmet underneath, with some elastic cord to keep the hood tidy, and further elastic at the waist. There are zipped hand pockets on each side, letting you store the essentials safely. Other than that, Fox have kept design consistent to their contemporary styling, simple and efficient.
As for sizing, at 5ft 10 and not very wide, I usually find myself between a medium and a large. I went for large here and was glad I did. The fabric does stretch well but once I’ve put on some base layers, or even a hoodie on really cold days, I was glad for that extra room.
Coming in at £114.99 / $149.95, the Fox Ranger 2.5-Layer Water Jacket is sensibly priced, with Men’s sizing S-XXL and a Women’s cut in XS-XL.
THE DIRT
THINGS I LIKE | The Fox Ranger jacket is lightweight and packs easily into a small bag. Yet, at the same time, it doesn’t feel flimsy. I’ve had numerous lightweight jackets, and while they are often handy on a showery but warm day, I have experienced them disintegrating in a crash. The Ranger feels tougher than that, and its use case extends further than just showery and warm conditions as a result. I have been testing the Fox Ranger 2.5-Layer Water Jacket out in the depths of one of the most miserable UK winters we’ve had in a while, and it has done a commendable job of keeping me warm and dry.
The zipped hand pockets are in a convenient place, and have a generous amount of room. On occasion I’ve even stowed goggles in the side pocket to keep them dry. The flexibility of the jacket is much appreciated, and there is plenty of room under the hood for a full-face lid, without much restriction on head movement. There is a lack of insulation, but this was never meant to be an all-season jacket. Besides, I find that thick insulation makes a jacket too warm for most conditions, and there’s no harm in throwing on an extra layer on the odd occasion you need that extra warmth. Choosing your size correctly is important here to ensure you’ve got enough space to add a layer, if you foresee yourself riding in colder temperatures.
The 2.5-layer shell does a great job at striking a balance between being flexible and lightweight, but also tough and relatively waterproof. There are no vents, but the shell feels breathable enough to make the absence of any proper venting not much of an issue.
The Ranger is perfect for days when the jacket would normally be coming on and off, as you warm up on the climbs and cool down on the descents. I frequently put this jacket on at the start of the day and don’t then feel the need to adjust my layering through the ride. That said, I do really like how lightweight and packable it is, especially when it has achieved this without compromising too much performance.
THINGS I DON’T LIKE | The hood Fox Racing has used for the Ranger 2.5-Layer Water Jacket is nice and large, which is great for fitting helmets underneath, but I found it quite insecure. The elastic cords do cinch the hood into the helmet, but there is no way to secure the tension effectively, so you may find these cords just come loose again, and the hood blows back down.
Zips are something I have had fail on Fox jackets in the past. My last Ranger jacket zip entirely seized up, and that jacket is now a pullover that sits fairly unused in my cupboard. The zip is no more protected on this new Ranger jacket than it was on the old, so I would advise you to take extra care and give it a clean regularly to keep it running smoothly. The pocket zips are also a little fiddly. Small tabs mean it’s quite hard to pick them out of the fabric with gloves or cold hands.
As a final nitpick, the jacket could have benefited from some of the reflectivity Fox put on their “Lunar” version, to improve safety that little bit on the pedal back to the car park.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Lightweight, flexible and packable, whilst still holding up to some wintery punishment, the Ranger 2.5-Layer Water Jacket is a versatile offering that I can see myself relying on all year round. Whilst there may be slightly cheaper options, the Fox Ranger Jacket does enough that I don’t feel the need to look for them. 
Price: £114.99 / $149.95
Website: Foxracing.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Based in the UK’s Pennine hills, Aran is an avid enduro rider and racer occasionally dabbling in downhill and BMX. Aran has been riding bikes since he can remember but started racing in 2019. His strength is slimy corners, and his weakness will always be sprinting on the pedals, no matter how hard he trains. Lover of a 160mm do-it-all bike.
Rank: Contributing Writer
Size: 5’11” / 180cm | 160lbs / 73kg
Social: @aranfrancis
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