Oxford's Continental Jacket & Trousers have been on the market for the last couple of years and we have had a set since their launch in 2019. Priced to sell at £199 RRP for the jacket and £169 RRP for the trousers, this complete set will set you back less than many rival jackets cost on their own! But is the price an indication of the quality?
Ok, so I am more Airfix model than catwalk model, but I still consider the 'look' when deciding what I am going to wear on the bike. It's far from being my first consideration with rider comfort, practicality, durability, ease of use and of course safety features being priorities before I consider 'how it looks', although some element of 'cool dude' is required even as I approach my half-century.
Visuals 9/10 First impressions count and the Oxford Continental comes in a decent range of colours but nothing too painful on the retina. The overall cut and look of both the jacket & trousers is pretty slick and business like and looks the part against more expensive sets.
The smooth lines do keep the jacket looking clean and hide some of the features so you don't look like a Paratrooper but still retain the practicalities of one. Oxford are working hard on their current image and this set does help to bring them back on to the bikers cat-walk.
Durability 10/10 It's just shy of £370 and for a complete touring/adventure jacket and trouser set that's extremely good value, so is it durable? Well after the heat of summer touring in Europe and the howling horizontal rain on the Scottish Highlands it still looks like it had not long been out of the box. Zips, seams, stitching and all relative components are of a very high quality - Oxford has given us something as tough as the proverbial coffin nail.
Practicality 8/10 Here I have to kerb my enthusiasm a little. My Alice Bands aren't the biggest in the world yet I still struggled to push them in the Davey Crockets and if you are wearing a pair of Turtle Doves, forget it. Yes you read that correctly, I had to fight a little, wiggle a bit and manipulate my hands in to the pockets at times. The angles of the pockets and the length of the zip openings just seemed the wrong side of adequate which is a real shame.
The pockets themselves also felt a little on the small side. I am used to stuffing a fair bit in to my jacket pockets and white I can hear the cries of 'you shouldn't carry too much about your person for safety reasons' I still found the reduced amount I carried awkward to place and retrieve.
Even getting small change out of my pocket seemed a bit of a faff! (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)
Then there is the ventilation. It is adequate. You won't find it allows tons of cold air to flow through in the high 30's but it will cool you enough to keep you from overheating and they aren't fiddly to use either. I think subtle and functional sums up the ventilation nicely but "It ain't no wind-tunnel!"
Ease of Use 9/10 The Continental is quick and easy to get on and the liner zips in with minimum fuss. I confess that I did not use the liner in the trousers and I prefer things on the cooler side and my disproportionally fat legs already take up too much room as it is. The liner in the jacket however was spot on and did a great job of keeping me toasty.
Waterproof 10/10 Top marks for the Oxford Continental here as I remained completely, yes completely dry even when riding through the howling horizontal downpours across Glencoe. I was seriously impressed and especially grateful. When the rain continued at a slightly less aggressive rate over my remaining ride around Scotland and the NC500 I was reassured that the suit could cope.
Features & Safety 10/10 There are some nice touches to the set. It's easy to wear and doesn't stress you out trying to zip in all the layers. A little assistance with colour coding sides help to focus the mind when matching tags to their respective loops inside, black one side, red the other. I feel, in common with many manufacturers Oxford have missed the chance to make the waterproof or thermal liner into a nice little standalone jacket which personally I love with a.n.other jacket I use. This meant I had a nifty swish zip-up thermal included and didn't have to pack 'yet another' thing into a pannier but Oxford aren't alone here and it should be a consideration for many brands.
In terms of armour, great! CE level 1 approved pads in the shoulders, knees and elbows and I didn't actually feel the need to remove for a change or have me looking like Krystal Carrington. There is also provision for a back protector but it is not supplied.
Verdict 9/10 Warm and waterproof, functional and durable and amazing value. My only big criticism remains the pockets. Just a little more opening and just a slightly larger pocket would have been perfect. The material itself is quite thick but that's a trade-off of course, meaning that you will be using those vents when things heat up in to the mid to high 30's.
At the recommended retail price, the Oxford Continental is extremely good value, in fact I would go as far as saying it is unbeatable value. A tough suit which will see everyday use, be it commuting, touring or hacking for years to come. As tough as Willys Jeep it is unlikely to let you down.
To find out more about this and their extensive range - visit the Oxford website
Moto Ventura - Maximum Smiles Per Gallon.
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