Assos air jack jacket

gwillis

I'm just about to pull the trigger on buying a assos jacket after freezing my tabs off yesterday afternoon. I've seen the assos 851 jacket for £159 and whilst I appreciate it's alot of money the reviews seem to suggest it's worth it . I'm just wonder if there is any other jackets in the range that maybe could be layered up as I'm thinking the 851 is only suitable between 0 to 8 degrees . Any views / opinions would be great

grimpeur

I personally reckon that you can get away with the 851 AirJack in the -5°C to 10 °C degree range but I don't feel the cold that much. Add an extra base layer at the colder end of that range and you'll be find. It is a great jacket.

Fat Head

Gwillis, the Airjack is a do-it-all jersey for even the toughest Scottish winter (last year for instance!). I just vary what base layer I'm wearing underneath - thin long sleeve for mild days, merino for cold, heavy duty merino for arctic!

They handle rain surprisingly well as they keep you so warm. If only light rain is forecast I don't even carry a rain jacket.

You won't be disappointed.

BTW, I had the same dilemma as you two winters ago and I went for the cheaper option of a Pearl Izumi Gavia jacket only to regret it. It was good but not as good as Assos, especially in the way it fitted. Regreted not buying the Assos so I punted the Gavia and made ammends!

fleshtuxedo

After much humming and hahing I bought a Mavic Inferno jacket instead of an Assos. Too early to report on function, but features wise it's way better - zip vents on pits and sleeves, a chest pocket for keeping energy bars to hand, and a built in balaclava that stashes into the back though the collar. It feels as quality as Assos so far. I'm impressed.

Paulroth

Question to Gwillis.

Where did you see an Assos 851 at 159 pounds ?
Thats 50 pounds cheaper than Chain Reaction...
Could be interested if your source does mail order.

Thanks.
Paul

giant_man

Just get it and enjoy it lads, wonderful kit ...

ugo.santalucia

It's a very good jacket, full stop

StanwaySteve62

look forward to feedback on the Mavic.

Velonutter

Have a look on eBay, loads of companies sell them at £140, got mine at my LBS as he price matched, might be worth you trying the same?

gwillis

Thanks guys it looks like with the right layering I could use this autum and spring also so happy days. Im about a 38/39 chest and a 32 waist so im guessing im a Large is that about right?

gwillis

Thanks guys it looks like with the right layering I could use this autum and spring also so happy days. Im about a 38/39 chest and a 32 waist so im guessing im a Large is that about right?

ugo.santalucia

gwillis wrote:

Thanks guys it looks like with the right layering I could use this autum and spring also so happy days. Im about a 38/39 chest and a 32 waist so im guessing im a Large is that about right?

I'm similar to you in size and I use medium, but I like a tight fit, if you want a little more room go for large.
I find that for temperatures of 0-10 degrees a merino layer underneath is sufficient to keep you warm. I don't cycle in sub zero temperatures

Pokerface

Paulroth wrote:

Question to Gwillis.

Where did you see an Assos 851 at 159 pounds ?
Thats 50 pounds cheaper than Chain Reaction...
Could be interested if your source does mail order.

Thanks.
Paul

I just bought my brand new one for £129 shipped. Got lucky and found a shop that was selling them off (all gone now).

As for wearing them in really cold conditions - just wear a base layer underneath. Once you get riding - you heat up pretty quick in them.

plowmar

So far the sites I have looked at have sold out of my size L :oops: . - Assos but same for mavic but that does look better with pockets, unless the assos has back pockets.

Fat Head

Gwillis, think you would be better off with a medium. I'm about a 42" chest and like a tight fit and L is spot-on.

gwillis

Fat Head wrote:

Gwillis, think you would be better off with a medium. I'm about a 42" chest and like a tight fit and L is spot-on.

Thanks fathead your reply came just as I was checking my vital statistics 38 chest 32 waist so I'm going for a medium. Thanks again

Pokerface

@gwillis - I lived in Canada for 30 years - the origin of "Bubbles". Surprised to see it over here!

gwillis

I love the trailer park boys great series that sky ran a while back. Talking of Canda I picked some kit a while ago for a club in BC caled the left coasters.

Pokerface

gwillis wrote:

I love the trailer park boys great series that sky ran a while back. Talking of Canda I picked some kit a while ago for a club in BC caled the left coasters.

My family still live out in BC (I spent 10 years there myself) but don't know the club.

gwillis

Thanks for he feedback just ordered a red 851 in medium I tried on a santini jacket earlier which was a little snug but I'm told the assos sizing is a little bigger but not much. just need to sort a base layer out now and I'm sorted

AndyF16

Just a quick care question; washed mine with liquid soap on delicates 30oC and air dried which was all fine, but is it a good/bad/indifferent idea to now spray the non-airblock sections with Grangers softshell reproofer does anyone know please? Cheers

eyebee

Was trying to decide between an assos and Lecol and now since I've had a look at the Mavic range there's another contendor.,decisions,decisions....

gsk82

eyebee wrote:

Was trying to decide between an assos and Lecol and now since I've had a look at the Mavic range there's another contendor.,decisions,decisions....

i love my mavic kit but the inferno isn't ont he ame level as the airjack based on look and feel

meanredspider

I'm a +1 for the Airjack. I'm slightly concerned that a medium will be too snug. I'm 44" and 34" waist and mine is XL and perfectly snug enough. It's a great jacket and I'd agree that it will go down to -4 or -5C with a Merino baselayer. I love the windproof qualities of the front yet well vented on the back.

Take care that colour does run when washing the first couple of times even at 30C

gwillis

I tried both a medium and large and opted for the snug fitting of the medium as the fit is better on the bike across the shoulders . Great jacket though

meanredspider

Cool - I have very wide shoulders which might be the difference

gsk82

im a medium in pretty much everything but the the large airjack was the best fit when i tried them on (before deciding i didnt need another wnter jacket)

gsk82

re my above post:

i finally gave in and just ordered a large blue from primera for 163quid. they seem to have most colours and sizes. before buying i spent about 2 hours umming and ahing whether to get blue or yellow. i like blue clothes in general but i've tried the yellow in a shop and really liked it. opted for blue though due to worries over keeping the yellow clean and how much i'd like it in 12 months.

everything is 20% off with the code "NY11" at primera

also evans have the XL red for £153 atm too.

NWLondoner

The 851 is great. I wear it with a merino base layer under my bibs and a polyester base layer over my bibs and it keeps my torso warm. You'll feel cold to begin with but will warm up pretty quickly.

meanredspider

NWLondoner wrote:

The 851 is great. I wear it with a merino base layer under my bibs and a polyester base layer over my bibs and it keeps my torso warm. You'll feel cold to begin with but will warm up pretty quickly.

Holy Cats. To about -5C I only wear my summer SS jersey underneath. At -11C I had my merino baselayer on and was still toasty. I guess we all feel cold differently

NWLondoner

meanredspider wrote:

NWLondoner wrote:

The 851 is great. I wear it with a merino base layer under my bibs and a polyester base layer over my bibs and it keeps my torso warm. You'll feel cold to begin with but will warm up pretty quickly.

Holy Cats. To about -5C I only wear my summer SS jersey underneath. At -11C I had my merino baselayer on and was still toasty. I guess we all feel cold differently

I REALLY feel the cold.

My hands and feet are 90% of the time like icebergs.

Being a skinny fecker does have its disadvantages