iXS claims this is the next-gen version of the Carve waterproof with a revised cut and added detailing making it even more suited for riding and living. What that means I don’t know but it does have some sensible features and excellent build quality. It’s also heavy-duty, making it perfect for the high hills or a wild adventure. So, how does it compete with the best MTB jackets?
Design and specifications
The Carve’s 2-layer X-stretch fabric is 94 percent polyester with a 6 percent elastane content, so feels stiff but also has a bit of stretch for enhanced fit. iXS quotes waterproof and breathability figures of 20K and 20K, which is very good. The jacket also comes with a good DWR (durable water repellent) treatment. It has worn in a few areas on the sleeves and shoulders, although renewing the treatment is a quick and easy job that you can do at home with an off-the-shelf proofer.
The jacket has an adjustable over-helmet hood, with a stiffened peak to stop it from flopping over your face while riding. The hood has two side adjusters and a third on the crown of the head. These are all integrated, so have one-hand operation, and have little locking slots, to stop them from pulling back through. On the top of the hood is also a small press stud, which allows you to clip the hood onto the jacket. It’s a simple storage option but it doesn’t quite work – the hood still flaps about on the outside so will pick up the dirt.
Like most modern waterproof jackets, the Carve gets a waterproof front zipper but should anything get past that there’s also a sizeable internal storm flap. For comfort there is a zip garage at the top of the zip and toggle cords are looped through all the zips, so you can pull them up easily even wearing thick gloves.
To stash your gear the jacket has two waterproof zippered hand/side pockets, two internal stuffs and also a mini-pocket on the sleeve, which I’ve been using for my keys. The sleeves are long and roomy, so you can easily wear a set of elbow pads underneath. They are also reinforced on the elbows with a low-friction material and finished off at the cuff with adjustable chunky Velcro tabs.
To boost airflow, the jacket comes with zippered pit vents, which have a mesh liner. There’s also a large open vent across the shoulders, although how effective this is, is going to depend on whether you’re wearing a backpack or not.
Performance
With its X-stretch fabric, the Carve feels premium quality but it does have a looser fit than most mountain bike jackets I've tested. At over 500g it also weighs quite a bit more than most. With its large over-helmet hood and three-point adjusters, you can batten down the hatches but still retain good peripheral vision, but it does bulge quite a bit at the neck.
Waterproofness is good but the DWR is not quite as long-lasting as some. I noticed water wetting out on the sleeves after only two rides so this will require reproofing sooner rather than later.
The cut is very generous in the arms, and I think that added elbow reinforcement is a really nice touch if you’re a harder rider knocking out the uplift laps at the bike park. The jacket does extend quite far down at the tail, which should stop any rear wheel splatter from getting where it shouldn’t. And you can get it even tighter using an integrated waist adjuster.
For hard graft, there is a lot to like about the Carve but it’s not all plain sailing. This jacket does run hot and, while the pit vents do allow you to ditch heat, they’re pretty small, and could easily be double the length. The internal/external side pockets also add two extra layers of material across the front of the jacket, which makes it feel bulky, especially if you have a load of gear stashed.
With this much weight and volume, the Crave isn’t a jacket you can stash easily in a pack or something you’d pull on and off continually during the course of a day. It is however a great jacket for wearing on the uplift, or for a day at a soggy bike park.
Verdict
The Carve is not a flimsy lightweight cowl that offers a token resistance to wet weather – this is a heavy-duty shroud for hardcore riding. It’s not the most breathable but it offers excellent protection in foul weather and would also work pretty well as an e-bike-specific jacket when you're generating less heat.
Tech specs: IXS Carve All-Weather 2.0 Jacket
- Price: $265 / €239
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Colors: Black/taupe
- Materials: X-stretch 20k waterproof fabric
- Weight: 535g (size large tested)
