The Assos Equipe RS Shell Jersey is the best bit of wet weather gear I’ve tested in ages, but you mustn’t think of it as a jersey

I spend much of my time thinking about riding in the rain. I’ve spent the last few years curating our guide to the best waterproof cycling jackets, and in general they’ve become worse over the last couple of years as the use of PFAS gets phased out. It’s a sad fact, but it is for the greater good (any fans of the film Hot Fuzz; feel free to whisper the greater good under your breath now in a thick West Country accent).

There have been some shining lights in the waterproof landscape however, as companies stop focussing on trying to maintain a near-impossible levels of dryness, and reprioritise temperature regulation in the face of impending dampness. One such glimmer of hope was the Castelli Gabba R, and in a similar vein I’ve absolutely adored testing Assos’ Equipe RS Shell Jersey S11.

It’s called a jersey, but in my eyes it’s more like a gilet (or vest, for y’all across the pond), but with sleeves. In fact, it’s the first thing to come along that’s actually managed to supplant my Castelli Perfetto vest when summer turns to autumn, or when winter finally gives way to spring. It’s been stowed in my pockets more times than I can count, it’s come with me up mountains, and it should absolutely be on your list if you like to ride hard in the wet.

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Design and aesthetics

I’ll admit, it does look like a jersey, and while you could wear it over a base layer you’d probably struggle as it has no pockets. The Equipe RS Shell Jersey S11 (a typically wordy Assos product name, with Equipe RS denoting it’s from the brand’s most racy line, and S11 designating that this is the highest evolution of this product) takes the form of an aero jersey, but mates a VERY stretchy 2-layer softshell membrane on the front, shoulder, and down the sides of your back with the sleeves from a standard aero jersey, and a wide mesh panel running the length of the spine up to the top of the shoulder blades.

The polyurethane membrane itself boasts a hydrostatic head figure of “>25m”, which is certainly respectable, and a breathability of 40,000g/m2/24hrs, which again, on paper, is certainly impressive. This is more than the hydrostatic head of the Gabba R (5,000mm), though Castelli doesn’t offer a breathability figure for its garment. You do need to remember that breathability will be improved by having a mesh back, something that will also allow water ingress to a far greater degree than the membrane will, and the Assos doesn’t have any taped seams anywhere.

The fit is just like an aero jersey, albeit with a high collar, allowing it to fit like a second skin over whatever you’re already riding hard in, with a little more room engineered into the lower back to account for pockets stuffed full of gels.

There’s a double zip to allow access to the aforementioned pockets, and aid in temperature regulation top and bottom, and a very cropped front to reduce bunching when in a position conducive to going fast. There’s no gripper on the hem, or cinch functionality, but as I’ll get into, it isn’t really necessary. It comes in six sizes, and you should buy it in your usual jersey size. For reference, I have been testing it in a small size, tipping the scales at 137.4g (versus the 155g for my Perfetto vest, admittedly in a medium).

The branding is typically minimal for an Assos shell. You can have any colour you want as long as it's black, save for the Assos logo high on the left shoulder and the rubberised wordmark on the collar. It looks good, it’ll match basically any kit you have, and it doesn’t suffer from what the Castelli Gabba R suffers from, in that it makes you look a little like you have a latex fetish, rather than a cycling one.

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Performance

What a joy it is to have some weather protection without that incessant flapping. It’s hard to overstate how omnipresent some flapping is in almost all waterproof (or at least water-resistant) gear, but this is just like wearing an aero jersey over your aero jersey.

The fit is, as is almost always the case with Assos, absolutely perfect. It’s the right length, the right cut, with the right stretch to allow full freedom of movement and access to the pockets without ever stressing that the wind is grabbing at you. It’s tight enough that it doesn’t ride up, meaning a hem gripper is basically obsolete. You do need to be already wearing a close-fitting jersey, however, or you’ll suffer unsightly creases; this is very much a layer for the aero crowd.

The sleeves could be a half-inch longer, to avoid certain jersey sleeves poking out underneath, but that’s my only real gripe with the fit. Even the collar, so often too tight for me (and I’ve not had any Viagra pills stuck in my throat to give me a big neck as yet), is just right.

The weather protection isn’t going to compete with dedicated hardshells like the Pas Normal Mechanism Shell Jacket, or even the lightweight Maap Atmos, but that’s not what it’s for. If you’re riding hard in drizzle and light rain in anything from warm to cool conditions (basically summer, spring, and autumn, outside of downpours and storms), you’ll be golden. It occupies much the same space as the Gabba R in this respect, but works far better as a transient layer as it goes on and off far more easily, with no tacky grabbing of the flesh from the outer fabric, and stuffs into a jersey pocket far more easily.

On drizzly rides where you wouldn’t necessarily bother with anything at all, it’s perfect to throw on for a descent, and basically does whatever a light cycling vest would do, too.

If you’ve never ridden with any of Assos’ mesh-backed garments then you’re missing a trick. I’m surprised other brands haven’t picked it up yet, but in any case it’s marvellous. Much like with the Assos Equipe R Spring Fall LS Jersey S11 that I reviewed last winter, having next to nothing on your spine really helps keep you cool. The leading edges at the front and on the shoulders deal with the worst of the wetness, and this lovely central stripe, relatively devoid of airflow, can steam away quite happily.

If you still find yourself too hot, then the double zip is more than sufficient to adjust accordingly, maximising the time you leave it on before deciding, once again, to stuff it back in a jersey pocket.

It’s so good, in fact, that it has replaced my gilets entirely for road riding.

If you stop, however, you may get chilly. You cannot layer up as well underneath, so will need to be switched on regarding your base layer and arm warmer strategies, but it will cover the same basic conditions as any vest, in my opinion, while also keeping some water out.

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Value

At £215, or $315, it isn’t a cheap bit of kit. It is, however, cheaper than a Castelli Gabba R and I would argue a more versatile bit of kit, while also being nominally also aerodynamically optimised and significantly more stylish. It is more expensive than a Perfetto vest, for so long my go-to, but if you are wanting to go fast in a greater range of conditions then the Assos is going to be the better bet.

It’s expensive, but given how good it is at what it does, I actually think it’s decent value. You needn’t trudge through the truly desolate midwinter riding if you don’t want to, and you definitely shouldn’t do it in this, but it’ll certainly make shoulder season more enjoyable, and faster too, I’d wager.

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Verdict

I really like the Assos Equipe RS Shell Jersey. It has, for the most part, replaced my gilets in my usual riding wardrobe. It’s packable, protective enough to shrug off a respectable amount of water if you’re going hard, breathable and adjustable enough to avoid getting sweaty, fits like a dream, and looks good. It’s expensive, but it’s barely more expensive than an expensive gilet, and more versatile for shoulder season and summer in my view. A very good bit of kit, and one that will remain in my regular rotation for a long time to come.