• Home
  • Gear Reviews
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
    • Bike Commuting
    • Trail Running
    • Skiing
    • Outdoors
    • Water Sports
    • Vehicles
  • News
  • Trip Reports
  • Videos
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram
FeedTheHabit.com
  • Home
  • Gear Reviews
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
    • Bike Commuting
    • Trail Running
    • Skiing
    • Outdoors
    • Water Sports
    • Vehicles
  • News
  • Trip Reports
  • Videos
FeedTheHabit.com
Gear Reviews

Louis Garneau Blink RTR Jacket Review

Jason MitchellBy Jason MitchellJuly 5, 2016No Comments3 Mins Read

Visibility is always in style, so I can always appreciate advancements that will help cyclists be seen better day or night. The new Blink RTR jacket offers the best of night and day visibility and has proven to be a great lightweight shell for morning mountain descents and occasional rainstorms.

Louis Garneau Blink RTR Jacket Features:

  • Hex 02 fabric for lightweight wind/weather protection
  • Reflective and glow-in-the-dark areas
  • Lightly-lined collar for comfort
  • Underarm mesh vents
  • Standard fit
  • Colors: Bright Yellow (tested), Steel
  • MSRP: $109.99

Louis Garneau Blink RTR Jacket Review

Be bright. Be seen. Be warm.

Lightweight wind protection comes in many flavors, but the Garneau Blink RTR jacket is the “just about right” flavor since it ticks off many necessary boxes. For starters, lets talk about visibility. Typically, when a jacket is needed, so is extra visibility. It may be cloudy or early/late in the day when extra visibility is key. Luckily, Louis Garneau has designed the Blink RTR (#ReclaimTheRoad) for extra visibility, which comes in the form of highly-reflective, glowing dots covering portions of the jacket.

That extra visibility is awesome to have for bike commuters or early risers who are ascending narrow mountain roads (ahem, yours truly).

Admittedly, visibility it is a large part of the story of this jacket, but there are other chapters to this book. The cut of the Blink RTR is certainly “standard” as is stated above. Don’t expect this to be a race-fit unless you size down. For me (5’11” – 170 lbs.), the large was very generous and really flapped around on high-speed descents. On the uphill, it breathes well and doesn’t ever feel excessively bulky or oversized, but step on the gas and you’ll feel like a sail fluttering in the wind.

Getting ready for the descent from the top of the Alpine Loop.
Getting ready for the descent from the top of the Alpine Loop.

Wind and rain protection is good, but don’t expect this to be waterproof. In my experience, extended rain will saturate the fabric and overwhelm the DWR treatment. Light rain and cold wind will be just fine. When not in use, the jacket does stuff small enough to fit in a standard jersey pocket (about the size of a softball).

The rear zippered pocket is hard to access while in motion, but the silicone-lined hem is easily moved upwards to access pockets underneath. All touchpoints (sleeve cuffs and collar) are soft and comfortable next-to-skin with a collar that is borderline too tall and too wide. It’s nice for added coverage, but is honestly a touch tall. The front zipper features a nice pull, but is difficult to unzip one-handed.

And, as with most jackets, I gave this a whirl for running and the fit is awkward off the bike, so keep this one as a cycling-only jacket.

The Good

  • Highly-reflective
  • Breathes well
  • Cut provides extra coverage
  • Great wind protection
  • Easily-stuffed in a regular jersey pocket

The Bad

  • Fit is generous and flaps excessively at speed
  • Collar is a touch too tall/wide

The Bottom Line: Louis Garneau Blink RTR Jacket

With a keen focus on visibility, the Blink RTR Jacket gets the job done. You’ll certainly be seen and you’ll enjoy excellent wind protection. On-bike fit is good, but the sizing is a bit generous, so keep that in mind.

Buy Now: Available at Backcountry.com

404
SHARES
ShareTweet
jackets Louis Garneau
Jason Mitchell
  • Website
  • Twitter

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. That passion is channeled into every article or gear review he writes. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground.

You Might Also Like

Tifosi Rail Sunglasses Review

May 16, 2022

Outdoor Vitals Ventus Active Hoodie

May 12, 2022

Salomon Ultra Glide Review

May 9, 2022

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Most Popular
9.5

Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals Review

April 14, 2022
8.9

Zipp 303 S Carbon Wheelset Review

November 4, 2021
9.1

Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 TLR Wheelset Review

September 9, 2021

Hoka One One Anacapa Mid GTX Hiking Boot Review

November 2, 2021
9.4

Roval CL 50 Disc Wheelset Review

September 13, 2019
9.0

Canyon Endurace CF SL 8 Disc Di2 Review

August 13, 2020

Salomon Ultra Glide Review

May 9, 2022
9.1

Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 TLR Wheelset Review

June 18, 2020

Review: SRAM GX AXS Upgrade Kit

December 21, 2021

Ultimate All-rounder? Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket Review

February 2, 2021
Advertisement
Our Latest Posts
  • Tifosi Rail Sunglasses Review
  • Outdoor Vitals Ventus Active Hoodie
  • Salomon Ultra Glide Review
  • Pearl Izumi Expedition PRO Bib Shorts Review
  • Louis Garneau Garnott LS Jersey Review
  • Fresh Wheels: Campagnolo Levante Gravel Wheelset
  • Review: Scott Gravel Tuned Bike Shoes
  • Colnago C68 Ditches Lugs, Goes Modular
  • Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody Review
  • Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals Review
About Us
About Us

Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to review outdoor gear.

External links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers include affiliate codes that give us a small commission on each sale.

To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

© 1999-2022 FeedTheHabit.com All rights reserved // About Us // Privacy Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.