Foska have a famously eclectic range of quirky jerseys. With designs featuring everything from quintessential brands like Heinz, Marmite and Colman's Mustard to crash test dummies, pirates and Popeye, the brand commands a popular appeal, especially amongst the sportive crowd.
When they're not blowing someone else's trumpet, Foska like to emblazon their goods with their company logo, Oska the Aardvark, and last year they launched a range of hi-vis shirts and jackets that featured his silhouette. And when I say hi-viz, we're talking Everest 'hi' - none of this namby-pamby colourful streak nonsense - the only thing louder is Brian Blessed with his hand in a fish tank of iced water.
I spent the whole of last winter wearing my favourite softshell, a stupidly lairy Castelli Mortirolo. It's comfy and warm, it fits me well and it doesn't make me look fat but it's not what you'd call noticable from all angles. I haven't tried it out in rain, mainly because I'm a big wuss and won't go out if rain is actually falling - I don't mind getting wet once I'm out, just cannot get myself over the threshold when the sky cries.
Much as I like the Mortirolo, being my only all-weather jacket means that there is a risk that it might get to smell - a bit. I'd winterised my wife and daughter with some Foska Toastie jackets and they raved about them, so I thought it was time I tried one for myself, if only to stop the risk of my beloved Mortirolo becoming a bio-hazard. I bagged a bright pink Toastie Lite in Foska's winter sale and was seriously impressed right from the word go. Or should I say 'glow'.
It IS intensely bright and seems to radiate colour - if you cannot see a cyclist in one of these, you should let your guide dog take the wheel. In fact, as I was cycling behind my wife on a short trip out, I could see the reflective strips on her overshoes glowing pink in the glare of my jacket. In addition to the eye-watering brightness, the Oska logo across the back and chest is made of silver refective material to make it visible in most low light conditions.
I chose an XL and it fit me pretty well. The fit is closer than some softshells (I normally take a L in Foska) but the sleevs are not restrictive and they are long enough to accommodate the most simian of reaches. The pockets are nice and deep and they are complemented by an additonal zipped one for valuables, etc. There are no inside pockets, and the jacket has a high collar and a gated, full-length zipper.
The inside of the Toastie is fleecy without being too thick, but it's the outside material that intrigues me. As well as being shinier than the seat of a bus driver's trousers, it is extremely water repellent and I've yet to feel any kind of wind through it. That said, I haven't experienced any inner dampness and remained, well, toastie all the while I've been riding in it. It hasn't rained while I've been out, so I got my wife to turn the hosepipe on me when we got home the other day - the water just rolled off it, but sadly for me, not off my face. This was her repayment for me leading her up a 15% hill during our 'gentle' ride out.
Is it as good as the Castelli? I'm inclined to say yes, for me at least. Some may not like the colour but the Toastie is available in a range of less radioactive designs. Being Foska, these range from iconic to ironic.
With the Foska Toastie Lite in my armoury, I for one am hoping for some more inclement weather over the next few months. Maybe this jacket is what I need to get myself out for some Rule 9 action.
Foska Toastie Lite jacket, from £59.94 at www.Foska.com.
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