Gore and Assos Jackets

gabriel959

Hi,

Trying to get my wife to get me a super-do-it-all jacket for this winter. Shame on me as I am a weird sizing (6' 6" 1/2, 40" chest and of course long arms and body).

I would really like an Assos one, I think it is the 851 but they are bloody expensive (£180 is the cheapest I have seen them) and am not so sure about the sizing. By the way, is the 851 waterproof, windproof? Has it got any fleecy bits inside?

On the other hand I have got the Gore jackets which seem to me are quite spot on in sizing for me but I am a bit confused about their range.

I am interested in the following

Gore Oxygen IV
Gore Oxygen SO
Gore AS Xenon

But I would like one that is a bit warm at least ... which one do you guys recommend?

Thanks

brownleather

Assos 851 is Windproof, not really waterproof. It has got sort of fleecy bits inside.

It's rather warm, I have not warn mine yet, as it's not been cold enough up north, and I fair rather better in the cold rather than warmth.

gabriel959

rather warm sounds good as I have got some long sleeve jerseys over a base layer that I wear at this time of the year and spring. It is just the midst of winter that I am a bit scared of! Ah, and the fact that I am taking part on the Hell of the Ashdown event at the end of January so want something that could cover almost any inclement weather conditions.

brownleather

When it's really cold I've put my Airblock Gilet over the top, with a baselayer underneath and it's been more than warm enough, at those sort of temperatures though, it's more of chance I'll not be riding because of ice, rather than not being warm enough.

I've not used any of the Gore jackets though.

cjw

The 851 is great. Very warm. I wore it last winter in the snow on MTB below 0C many times with just a base layer beneath and windproof but only showerproof - you will never get a jacket that does everything BTW, if it is waterproof you will likely boil.

I've also got the Gore Oxygen which is a waterproof very thin single layer shell (I tend to carry this in back pocket incase of heavy rain). I imagine the other Gores are windproof but will likely be lightweight and not for keeping warm - ie they would be outer shell in a layer approach.

The Hedgehog

I have the Gore Oxygen SO - its excellent for the price. Very warm, completely keeps any wind out, good fit & showerproof.

gabriel959

The Hedgehog wrote:

I have the Gore Oxygen SO - its excellent for the price. Very warm, completely keeps any wind out, good fit & showerproof.

How thick is it? Can you stash it in your back pocket? has it got any fleecy bits?

I would really like an Assos 851 but I don’t think I can justify the price!

giant_man

gabriel959 wrote:

Hi,

Trying to get my wife to get me a super-do-it-all jacket for this winter. Shame on me as I am a weird sizing (6' 6" 1/2, 40" chest and of course long arms and body).

I would really like an Assos one, I think it is the 851 but they are bloody expensive (£180 is the cheapest I have seen them) and am not so sure about the sizing. By the way, is the 851 waterproof, windproof? Has it got any fleecy bits inside?

On the other hand I have got the Gore jackets which seem to me are quite spot on in sizing for me but I am a bit confused about their range.

I am interested in the following

Gore Oxygen IV
Gore Oxygen SO
Gore AS Xenon

But I would like one that is a bit warm at least ... which one do you guys recommend?

Thanks

Yes and worth every penny!!

gabriel959

giant mancp wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

Hi,

Trying to get my wife to get me a super-do-it-all jacket for this winter. Shame on me as I am a weird sizing (6' 6" 1/2, 40" chest and of course long arms and body).

I would really like an Assos one, I think it is the 851 but they are bloody expensive (£180 is the cheapest I have seen them) and am not so sure about the sizing. By the way, is the 851 waterproof, windproof? Has it got any fleecy bits inside?

On the other hand I have got the Gore jackets which seem to me are quite spot on in sizing for me but I am a bit confused about their range.

I am interested in the following

Gore Oxygen IV
Gore Oxygen SO
Gore AS Xenon

But I would like one that is a bit warm at least ... which one do you guys recommend?

Thanks

Yes and worth every penny!!

I know I know ... but it is every penny I haven't got!!!

london-red

This went round and round in my head for weeks before I ultimately went for the Gore Phantom II. I tried on the 851 and it felt a little too stylised and tight fit for me (not to mention expensive). I'm sure it's extremely warm, but my problem is I get too warm quite easily.

The Oxygen SO was a much better option for me and the only reasons I didn't go for it was that it was £20 more expensive than the Phantom and that the Phantom could convert into a Gillet.

I might never use the armless option, but having the option is a real pull for me. While the fit isn't quite as racey as the Oxygen, it's still pretty tight fitting.

I'm commuting with it now in freezing early morning London with only a Merino vest underneath and it's the perfect temperature. It's also shower proof and has enough room to layer underneath.

In short, I was looking for a do-it-all winter jacket - and I got one for £90!

nickwill

I've just bought the Gore Oxygen SO jacket and I think it's superb. I've actually looked forward to going out in the rain , wind and 5 degree temperatures this week.
I couldn't help it, but I had to buy the flashy white one as well. Warnings from my other half about it soon looking scruffy went out of the window when I tried it on. So far it has come up spotless after washing and I can justify my choice by its greater visibility.

Monty Dog

The Gore Tool isn't on your list - it's warmer than the Assos 851 and has more than enough pockets for serious winter riding - if you shop around, you can find them for £90. Whilst the Assos is a great performance top for winter riding, it's not 100% windstopper and is really a bit over priced for what it is.

GyatsoLa

I think that when dealing with top end jackets, there is little to tell between them except fitting - and like you, I find that Gore jackets fit me perfectly (I've quite broad shoulders for my height, so most roadie brands including Assos fit a bit too tight for comfort). So I'd personally recommend finding a shop with a good range and just keep trying on jackets until you get the one that fits just right.

The big advantage Gore have is that they have such a vast range, there is jacket there for just about any particular need you want. I recently got the Cosmo windstopper and its a fantastic jacket - but its less roadie than most alternatives (I wanted it for casual wear as well). Another advantage of Gore is that if you search around online you'll often find last years designs at a fairly big discount.

gabriel959

Monty Dog wrote:

The Gore Tool isn't on your list - it's warmer than the Assos 851 and has more than enough pockets for serious winter riding - if you shop around, you can find them for £90. Whilst the Assos is a great performance top for winter riding, it's not 100% windstopper and is really a bit over priced for what it is.

You are right - it isn't as it is classified as MTB jacket and to be honest I would prefer something with a more racier cut, that is why the Phantom is not on the list either!

Monty Dog

I'm slim and find the cut of the Tool jacket fine - Gore do three cuts of jacket - slim, straight and baggy - are MTB riders always fat? It also has pit zips which make it a lot more flexible. Not mentioned are Castelli - Espresso is full windstopper, nice pockets, vent zips and a great cut - pricey though.

stagger

+1 gore tool II

Its the best thing I have for winter riding. cut is quite good on it and has lots of pockets/high neck. will keep light/moderate rain out, and underarm zips help venting as its a warm jacket

seems better value than the assos perhaps. have a bit of both gore and assos stuff and i reckon gore quality is good as and bit cheaper

this a.m. in the peak district it was 3 deg and light rain- gore tool and a very thin base layer was perfect.

rdt

gabriel959 wrote:

The Hedgehog wrote:

I have the Gore Oxygen SO - its excellent for the price. Very warm, completely keeps any wind out, good fit & showerproof.

How thick is it? Can you stash it in your back pocket? has it got any fleecy bits?

I've recently bought an Oxygen SO. It's not a packable jacket that you keep in your jersey pocket in case it rains, but a soft shell that you wear instead of a jersey. It's shaping up to be the best bit of cycling clobber I own.

As a jersey replacement, it has excellent stowage space, having 5 pockets (other manufacturers take note), and its close fit with generous sleeve length makes it the best fitting jacket I've found for my long shape. My routes involve long climbs (get hot) and descents (get cold), and the SO seems to cope well with this combo. Much better than taking extra layers on and off.

It's taken me a few rides to realise that, because of its excellent wind-proofing, I need very little underneath it to stay warm (ooh err). First few rides I was too hot, and rode around with it fully unzipped half the time, but it still coped well with wicking away sweat when zipped. Seems a regular regular short sleeve base layer underneath may be all I need unless it's viciously cold, and just a vest if pushing 10 degrees or more.

Only been caught in a light shower so far, so can't comment on how it copes with hard rain. But I know that if you're riding hard when it's chucking it down then no waterproof can really cope properly with the sweat you're producing, so I think a breathable shower proof is the way to go for me (not a commuter, so can avoid setting off if weather really crap).

Gore have got basic stuff right like the zip being easy to use one handed (unlike some stuff I have which catches the material), so you can unzip and re-zip easily to adjust temperature.

Couple of improvements I'd make:-
1. have the sleeves adjustable at the wrist so they can be pulled up near the elbows or sealed at the wrist;
2. make the bottom hem of the body tighter or adjustable.

Well recommended though. Be fantastic at half the price.

The Hedgehog

gabriel959 wrote:

The Hedgehog wrote:

I have the Gore Oxygen SO - its excellent for the price. Very warm, completely keeps any wind out, good fit & showerproof.

How thick is it? Can you stash it in your back pocket? has it got any fleecy bits?

I would really like an Assos 851 but I don’t think I can justify the price!

Probably too bulky to stash in your back pocket. Its not incredibly thick and not really a fleecy lining but it has the 'windstopper' fabric built into it & it does just that - I happily wear this on top of one base layer on cold rides & never feel the cold or any wind chill. It has 3 pockets & an integrated neck 'scarf' which is stowed in the collar. I don't know what the Assos top costs but the Gore jacket is great value & does exactly what its supposed to.

Scrumple

Got:

Gore Phantom - great autumn commuter, with sleeves in the morning, without on the way home. Fantastic jacket

Gore Contest - half price bargain, and my default winter softshell.

ScottieP

I've also got a Gore Phantom and it's the best piece of cycling kit I own. I love that I can take the sleeves off (making it a multi-season piece of kit) and last winter I was out doing training rides at zero degrees wearing the Gore a long sleeved merino base layer and bigtights - I got mine for about £70 in a sale.

gabriel959

Nearly decided now – it is a close one between the Gore Xenon AS and the Gore Oxygen SO. Has anyone here got the former? Which are the main differences? I can only see the fact that the Xenon is more lightweight and can be stashed in your back pocket (at the expense of utility pockets though).

Garry H

gabriel959 wrote:

Nearly decided now – it is a close one between the Gore Xenon AS and the Gore Oxygen SO. Has anyone here got the former? Which are the main differences? I can only see the fact that the Xenon is more lightweight and can be stashed in your back pocket (at the expense of utility pockets though).

The Oxygen is made entirely from Gore Windstopper Softshell. The Xenon is made from a Windstopper hardshell (Similar to Goretex) and is therefore lighter and packs smaller. I would say that the Oxygen is more suitaed to winter riding than the Xenon, as it's more comfortable to wear all day and doesn't have as much of that boil in the bag feeling.

nickwill

The Oxygen SO is really the business! It looks really smart as well!

fastsuzi

i have 2, 851 jackets one ten years old with nothing wrong with it, and a new one a few weeks old it is the best cycling money i ever spent, just a helly inderneath from 2 to 10'c its perfect , much warmer and you are in trouble you will get hot, when it was colder last year i wore 2 base layers under it.

FHKJ

Where does the Rapha Softshell fit amongst these jackets?

gabriel959

Ho ho ho ... an Oxygen SO in red is coming to town for Xmas

Where does the Rapha Softshell fit amongst these jackets?

In the too expensive category?! £240!!!

That is more than twice the price of the Gore!

It does look good though

akkers

fastsuzi wrote:

i have 2, 851 jackets one ten years old with nothing wrong with it, and a new one a few weeks old it is the best cycling money i ever spent, just a helly inderneath from 2 to 10'c its perfect , much warmer and you are in trouble you will get hot, when it was colder last year i wore 2 base layers under it.

+1....Gore is nice stuff, and I have the Alp X as a waterproof. But Assos is Assos.....different gravy