Which Assos jacket?
With the winter fast approaching, I am in the market for a warm jacket and of course I shall buy Assos, thing is I'm not sure which of their winter jackets to go for.
Either the AirJack 851 or the more expensive FuguJack, really not sure. For temperatures in this country would the Air Jack be warm enough? Obviously don't want to overheat whilst riding. Any users' opinions?
Either the AirJack 851 or the more expensive FuguJack, really not sure. For temperatures in this country would the Air Jack be warm enough? Obviously don't want to overheat whilst riding. Any users' opinions?
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Mine is one of those airblock ones if my memory serves correctly.
I'm not too up on the latest range,but you really don't want their coolest rated otherwise you'll only get a month or so's wear per year.I'm sure they give recommended temperature usages,& if so,don't get one rated sub zero degrees unless you are rich & can afford a full wardrobe of their kit.You can always wear a lightish weight long sleeved top under it (thats what I do on v.cold days).Mind you,by this stage I'm wearing the skullcap under my helmet
so many cols,so little time!0 -
The Fugu one looks like a bit of overkill for the average English winter. I have the airjack and find it very good, although on sub zero days I still layer up and use armwarmers.Mañana0
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The Fugu jacket looks as though it is the Airblock 851 with an extra liner on the inside - not really worth the extra £100. I have a Gator jacket, the predecessor to the Fugu and have rarely worn it in the UK.
If you combine the Airblock 851 with a merino wool baselayer I've found you can ride until it is cold enough for the road to get icy and personally I'm not interested in riding when it's that cold - too many offs :oops:0 -
So it sounds like the Airblock 851 with the Assos Powerstatic Plus base layer could be the very thing I am wondering. Thanks for your replies chaps.0
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Have to disagree, I am a fugu jacket fan, infact I was out last night doing a 40 mile ride in the dark. Fugu jacket,asos bib tights, assos winter gloves, Helly Hansen base layer, and a flurescent Gore shell on top.
It got down to -1 around Pately bridge/Ripon area last night and I remained nice and toasty. My winter night rides tend to be a bist slower than day time riding so I dont work quite as hard and I find the Fugu a superb jacket for keeping warm.
I do also wear it on weekend day rides, infact did a 60 miler on saturday in bright sunshine, quite chilly though, and I was again happy in the Fugu, it seems to do a good job of regulating my temperature.
I really do think in anything less insulating I would get cold on the 0 degree night rides.0 -
The point is that the Fugu is great for very cold conditions from -5C to +5C, but when it's warmer than that - winter temperatures are usually 5-10C, it's too warm for some. So the Airblock with some layers is a better idea, more flexible.
Riding in the winter is all about layers. And don't just think of the jacket, you need warm feet, legs etc.0 -
Bought an 851 juacket last winter, baulked intially at the price but so glad I did
With a couple of base layers underneath, never felt really cold even in near freezing conditions and I do normally feel the cold
Saw a Fugu in one shop, thought it looked too much for the conditions I'm likely to ride in, reckon you'd be better off putting the extra money towards another decent baselayer so you can grade you layers more, any colder and I'm staying in!!
By the way, looking for a new winter baselayer, is the Powerstatic Plus one OK? How does it comapre with say a Howies merino one?You can lead an elephant to water but a pencil must be lead0 -
another vote for the Airblock 851. perfect piece of kit and will last. the fugu is too much imho and i think it's best to simply put the cash towards another decent baselayer.Only the meek get pinched. The bold survive.0
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I'll add my weight behind the Airblock 851 as well
(and after completing the etape I've been off the bike and on the beers and crap food for a few months now so that's prob 3kgs more weight than it should be
:P )
Vive les All Blacks!!! [:D]0 -
another vote for the 851 airblock - unless you're the sort that hardly ever breaks into a sweat you will cook in a fugu jacket (i think the fugu is designed for the sort of conditions you would encounter in the alps during winter i.e. bloody freezing).
if it soes get that cold here i use my howies merino base layer and i'm finepm0 -
The Fugu allows you to wear just one base layer and then ride in sub-zero temperatures. I'm tempted to get one and wear it around the house, I'd save a fortune on heating bills...
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I dont find the Fugu that hot. Wearing just one base layer and the fugu wouldnt do me in
sub -5 temps at all. Like I said last night I went out and it got down to 0/-1 and I was ok, but any colder tha that & I would have to have another base layer on. In fact on the fast donwhills and easier stuff I still felt a chill. I would definatley be cold if I was in -5 with just a base layer & fugu on...ok going up steep hills but i would freeze going down the other side!.
I would feel comfortable in a base layer + Fugu in temps upto +5 degrees. Its a good job though that I dont need a second base layer as the Fugu is that snug I dont think Id fit another base layer underneath.
And by the way I sweat a lot, infact the biggest problem I have is when I stop i start to freeze if Im still too long0 -
What about the Rapha classic jacket...?0
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If it's one thing Assos do well, it's make fantastic winter clothing. I bought an 851 last year, and ir's a great bit of kit. Not particularly well made, but a great desgin that works really well. I've bought an Element One for early winter. Again, really good design which keeps your temperature just right, neither too hot or too cold.0
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Chris5150 wrote:I dont find the Fugu that hot. Wearing just one base layer and the fugu wouldnt do me in
sub -5 temps at all. Like I said last night I went out and it got down to 0/-1 and I was ok, but any colder tha that & I would have to have another base layer on. In fact on the fast donwhills and easier stuff I still felt a chill. I would definatley be cold if I was in -5 with just a base layer & fugu on...ok going up steep hills but i would freeze going down the other side!.
I would feel comfortable in a base layer + Fugu in temps upto +5 degrees. Its a good job though that I dont need a second base layer as the Fugu is that snug I dont think Id fit another base layer underneath.
And by the way I sweat a lot, infact the biggest problem I have is when I stop i start to freeze if Im still too long
that's fair enough but how often does it get that cold in this country? it does depend on where Giantman lives to an extent but certainly where i live, down south, the coldest it got last winter commuting at 7.30 in the morning was -2 and that was only a few timespm0 -
Jashin wrote:If it's one thing Assos do well, it's make fantastic winter clothing. I bought an 851 last year, and ir's a great bit of kit. Not particularly well made, but a great desgin that works really well. I've bought an Element One for early winter. Again, really good design which keeps your temperature just right, neither too hot or too cold.
Yes i already have an Element One which i love for autumn weather, just brilliant, but riding through the Winter makes me think i am gonna need something warmer, and yes you're right about Assos winter clothing, it is top notch stuff.0 -
The 851 will definately suit your purpose for the winter.0
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I've got a fugu jacket, used it all last winter, wasn't too hot, it has absolutely rubbish pockets though :evil: - that fact alone would make me choose an alternative.
It did strike me as a huge failure in the design since in the winter I carry more food, hats gloves etc than at any other time0 -
Totally agree on the pockets...the jacket is that tight the front pockets arent much good, nothing on the back & no internal one for keys etc.
Glad someone else though agrees that its not overkill in the UK to wear a fugu...like it says on the assos blurb its made for +7 to -5 temps...I have to agree with that banding for relevant wearing temps0 -
Well got a little discount on an AirJack 851 at the weekend so went for that. Thanks for all your comments chaps.0
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What colour did you go for ? I'm not keen on their designs really - make everyone look like a friend of Captain Scarlet (altho thats quite cool). So I got a Rapha jacket in the sale - full price is just silly money.
Nice and stylish in black. So I wear a £5 JJB fluo gilet over the top of it so I'm a bit more visible !0 -
Oh blue of course, and Captain Scarlet was always my favourite show!0
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I've got a Fugu jacket too and I love it. I live in Scotland so although we don't seem to get temperatures that plummet like we used to I happily wore it for 3 or 4 months last winter. I don't like going out like the Michelin man so it works a treat with the heavy powerstatic base layer underneath and nothing else. Fit is superb but I have to admit that i've no idea what to do with the daft half hood ....the accordian collar thing is great..and the pockets are very poor...and it isn't waterproof so you really need to take a shell with you...but where do you put it.....but apart from that it's brilliant! 0
