Assos Equipe R Habu Winter Jacket S11 Review: An completely elegant winter jacket for these trying to keep aero within the chilly

The Assos winter jacket vary is somewhat tough to decipher. The names of the merchandise are terribly lengthy in some instances, and every product vary has some hard-to-define subcategories. In essence, you’ve ‘Equipe’, the racing line, and ‘Mille’, the endurance line, however because it’s Assos it’s nonetheless comparatively racy. The ‘R’ denotes that it’s racing oriented, however not professional spec – for that you just’d want ‘RS’. 

This winter I’ve been testing out the Assos Equipe R Habu Winter Jacket S11 as a part of my curation of my information to the very best winter biking jackets, alongside the mind-blowingly costly Equipe RS Jodah Winter Jacket S9 Targa, a £636 feat of textile engineering, however seemingly out of consideration for a lot of of you, because of the RRP. 

If you want to stay comparatively race-fit in chilly climate and lean in direction of extra intense driving then that is prone to be a fully stellar performer for you. It’s stood me in good stead in temperatures as little as -6ºC/21ºF, and as much as greater single-figure temperatures too and has quick turn into the jacket I attain for over all others. 

Design and aesthetics

There’s somewhat extra floor to cowl with the Assos Equipe R Habu than with many winter biking jackets. Compared to the likes of the Velocio Alpha Zero jacket, the place heat and room for layering have been prioritised, there are way more panels, completely different materials, and added particulars. 

To begin with the match, on paper at the very least, the Equipe R Habu jacket is designed for use as a second pores and skin, becoming excessive of a base layer and completely changing your jersey. It is softshell in building, and whereas it might cope with mist, fog, and the odd little bit of spray it’s not a water-resistant biking jacket and so is relegated to chilly and dry, until you throw a shell excessive. 

The important physique of the jacket within the entrance, and the one color portion if you happen to go for a non-black model, is ‘AIRBLOCK-EVO.888’, which is Assos’ proprietary softshell material, backed by a mushy and primarily free floating extremely breathable liner materials. The again of the jacket is a thinner textile, much like the texture of fleece-backed leg hotter material, and backed by a good thinner mesh backer designed to keep up breathability.

The sleeves are nearer in really feel to skinny neoprene than Lycra, although just for the entrance and sides of the arm. The rear is a thinner fleece-backed lycra. The cuffs are raw-edged, however there’s sufficient stretch to go over thinner gloves, or slip the sleeve beneath a glove cuff – because it’s not designed for heavy rain you are able to do this with out worrying about water working down your sleeve and into your gloves. 

The base of the entrance round your decrease stomach is a distinct, stiffer Lycra that, just like the sleeves, virtually has the texture of neoprene, although on this case there isn’t any fleece backing. 

The neck is a distinct building once more, a rolled-over double layer of thick Lycra with a tonne of stretch however no fleece backing in opposition to the pores and skin to carry sweat. The intention is, in line with Assos, to keep up the optimum microclimate across the neck with out having to resort to having to unzip, exposing the throat to chilly air. 

Finally, the pockets function an inside flap on the rear three to assist cease issues falling out (and to guard the contents from spray too). There’s additionally a single, giant mesh chest pocket into which one can stash gloves, snacks, or the rest you wish to maintain at hand extra simply.

Design and textiles apart, all of that are spectacular of their stage of element, the aesthetic does have a really Assos vibe. Personally, I prefer it, but it surely’s undoubtedly extra Euro in look than choices from the likes of Maap and Pas Normal Studios. My opinion on the aesthetics might also have been swayed by simply how properly this jacket carried out – it may appear like an absolute canine’s dinner and if it retains me heat and sweat-free in freezing temperatures I wouldn’t give a hoot. 

Performance

The variations between good and nice summer time package can at occasions be actually fairly small, however within the winter it’s very clear when one thing is nice. The Assos Equipe R Habu Winter Jacket is nice, good even. 

The match is phenomenal, although it does have the traditional Assos state of affairs the place it feels somewhat mis-tailored whereas simply standing round and getting dressed, however is totally on-the-money when really on the bike. The arms are connected in such an orientation to make sense whereas driving, so when standing round they pull the chest tight and tug on the triceps, however this instantly disappears within the saddle. If you’ve worn an unique Castelli Gabba it’s the same feeling of full-body help, with mild compression, but it surely’s a extra civilised affair. 

The sleeves are extremely soft-backed and greater than snug sufficient to put on in opposition to the pores and skin if you happen to so want. The identical really goes for the interior, free-floating lining. The Assos Equipe R Habu jacket is designed to be worn simply over a base layer, however I tended to pop a skinny jersey beneath, typically one thing comparatively mild just like the Maap Evade Pro, however if you happen to wished to go hotter then one thing just like the Velocio Concept Merino jersey would add some further insulation with out bulking it out in any respect. 

The stiffer backside material on the entrance does wonders to help the pocket contents, which are typically fuller within the winter with layers, instruments and meals. Normally I’d mark a jacket down for less than having a one-way zip these days, however on condition that that is designed to switch a jersey, and in addition given the truth that I so hardly ever needed to undo even the highest zip, I’m going to let it slide. 

The match is actually flawless if you happen to like race-cut clothes, and this carries on into the consolation. Somehow, and this can be a hallmark of all three Assos winter jackets I’ve examined currently, it’s efficient and comfy over a staggering temperature vary. I’ve been down as little as -6ºC/21ºF and offering I wasn’t simply trundling alongside in Zone 2 I used to be completely heat. The entrance is completely windproof, and the air hole between the liner and the face material I feel provides a shocking layer of heat. 

At the opposite finish of the spectrum I’ve completed max efforts on climbs in temperatures in mid single digits and solely hardly ever have I even needed to take into account unzipping the collar. This is in distinction to my driving buddies who had been drenched in sweat internally, which is actually what you wish to keep away from if you wish to keep away from a sudden chill. The lining appears to wick and breathe in a means incomparable to most winter jackets I’ve tried. Even the excessive collar works properly to maintain the neck heat, however not be so stifling that it wants unzipping, that means besides on probably the most biting rides I tended to do and not using a standalone buff. 

While it isn’t a moist climate garment, I’ve worn it in infinite dreary fog and patchy drizzle that appears to befall the southwestx of England, and it handles it admirably. 

Even the additional particulars within the pockets are properly thought out and helpful. The inside flap means I don’t fear about my cellphone or keys making an unplanned bid for freedom each time I crest a pace bump, and the additional chest pocket is so helpful I actively miss it after I put on different jackets. I’m blessed with excellent circulation to the purpose I very hardly ever want gloves, so I have a tendency to begin winter rides carrying a skinny pair which then get eliminated after 20 minutes. My solely gripe concerning the chest pocket is that it’s too low down in order that when stuffed with gloves my legs hit it if I’m driving in an aero place. Three inches greater would in all probability make all of the distinction. 

Lastly, on the match, to deliver it again to the start. Having such a trim garment for deep winter use could appear counterintuitive. With the likes of the Velocio Alpha Zero jacket having a tonne of room for layering up beneath you may be considering “What if I get too chilly and wish one other layer?”. Well, you possibly can put it excessive. On a number of events, I’ve thrown the Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket excessive, and on a number of others, whereas I misjudged the forecast, I’ve thrown the Maap Atmos waterproof jacket over it too. Both are skinny layers, however the discount in breathability they each have an effect on on the system is adequate to extend the heat greater than sufficient. 

Value

With an RRP of £335/$420 that is an costly little bit of package, however for what it delivers I feel it greater than justifies itself. Really good winter gear, whether or not that’s winter jackets, the very best waterproof biking jackets, and even into the broader world of outside gear takes an terrible lot extra engineering to make one thing that performs exceptionally properly. 

To make a jacket that’s this snug, this well-fitting and this efficient over a broad vary of temperatures is phenomenal and a technique or one other it’s going to value you. 

Verdict 

The Assos Equipe R Habu Winter Jacket is good. Actually I’d go to date to say it’s distinctive, and solely actually bested when it comes to efficiency in chilly climate at most effort by the model’s Equipe RS Johdah jacket, which is nearly twice the worth. 

It’s supremely snug, heat sufficient for the deepest winter rides with the correct layering (inside and outside if mandatory) however in some way additionally breathable sufficient to keep away from me ever getting sweaty inside its supportive embrace. 

It’s costly, but it surely’s up there with not simply the very best winter biking jackets I’ve examined, however with the very best gear I’ve examined full cease.