Equi-Measures (EQM) show jacket: review

Our reviewer said that this jacket is warm for winter shows but the fit leaves a lot to be desired

I really wanted to like this jacket and give it a great review – a smart-looking show jacket for £65, what’s not to like? – but sadly I can’t. It simply doesn’t fit. And it’s not just me. Various size 10s in the office tried it on, and it didn’t fit any of us.

I don’t think I’m an unusually framed size 10 (see my other jacket review to compare) but the arms of this jacket were far too long and they were so generously sized at the top that they were gathered and went baggy around my elbows/upper arms. The jacket was too tight across my chest (at a 34 B cup I’m not particularly well endowed!) which caused the lapels to sit up rather than being flat across my collar bones. It was also fractionally too long in the body when I was sat in the saddle – again not a problem I normally experience.

Most of the comments I received while wearing the jacket related to the unflattering fit, which did not encourage me to wear it again in public, so the remainder of the testing I undertook while riding at home.

On the plus side, I like the colour and although it wasn’t a good fit, the material does have some stretch in it, so it wasn’t uncomfortable to ride in. The three big bling buttons are a bit too ‘in your face’ for my liking, but that’s down to personal preference. I do like the EQM logo embroidered on the arm. The pockets are generously sized and the zips mean you can carry lorry keys/money/phone etc while riding without worrying them are going to fly out at an inopportune moment, which is useful.

The jacket material appears to have been produced with winter shows in mind as it has a lightweight fleece lining and it is warm to wear. It wouldn’t be an ideal choice for summer shows for that reason. It is machine washable and washes well.