Viaterra Spencer Jacket & Pants Product Review: 6 Months Update

What I liked

Now I've always been a fan of the overall fit of the Viaterra Spencer jacket and pants. With the focus fit construction philosophy, this jacket and pants allow you to blend in the office lift. This fit and the black colour ensured I didn't get those weird and curious stares in the lift – something I usually get when I wear another jacket, which tends to show its marginal baggy nature.

I have a habit of checking my phone at every signal, provided it's a long one. The design and placement of the jacket pockets ensured I had easy access to my phone and wallet. I love the fact that my expensive items are within my reach and don't have to be stowed far to the extreme sides. Also, these pockets psychologically impact me as they sit close to my body, and I can access them quickly and comfortably whenever I need them.

This year's summer was highly dusty for me, as there was heavy construction work on my route. Thus, this time around, my jacket and pants were covered with dust most of the time. Luckily, the zippers work, even with the dust settled around them. Plus, I had to wash the jacket and pants once every fortnight. I usually remove all the armour and dump the gear inside the washing machine. Spencer must have seen the inside of the washing machine three to four times in the last two months, and the gear is properly intact. There's no sign of extreme wear and tear or threads coming out loose.

What I didn't like

The focus fit works well in winter but is hell in summer, especially during long rides. The jacket sits so close to the body that there's barely any breathing space inside. And in summer, you need the insides to be airy to be comfortable. During my city commutes, the average riding speed is much lower, and in the peak summers, I was hoping to reach home as early as possible due to poor breathing space inside. The story is the same with the pants, but the jacket bothered me the most.

Plus, the adjustment straps have become difficult to use after six months. It could be due to the dust, but even after cleaning the gear, adjusting the straps takes some effort.

What's coming next?

The monsoon of 2023 is almost here, which means there will be some rides in heavy rains – a few of which will be long. This season, the Viaterra Spencer will be tested to understand its comfort and durability. Post that, we'll be wrapping up our time with the Spencers on BikeWale, but we will continue to talk about it on social channels.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi