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review
Jackets
Sugoi HOV mens jacketSugoi HOV jacket

Sugoi HOV mens jacket

9
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Sep 11, 2009

0
£90.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Great build quality and design all for a sensible price tag
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.sugoi.com
How we test

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Sugio’s new jacket is part of their H.O.V. (Human Operated Vehicle) range designed for the fashion conscious commuter certainly fulfils what they set out to do: design a top with “technical performance with casual city style, a more leisurely, every-day look that easily switches from cycling trail to street cafe”

As a cycling jacket it works well, the tailored cut means it's close fitting without being tight or restrictive. The rear could do with being dropped slightly lower as the jacket can tend to ride up your back a bit and get a bit draughty when you’re on the drops. Reinforced shoulder panels are also a welcome idea: after a small altercation with a bus on my commute which resulted in me hitting the tarmac with my shoulder, it didn’t leave a mark (I wish the same could be said for my bar tape).

Thankfully, considering the soggy August we’ve had this year, the fabric is treated with a water repellent finish which does work reasonably well in all but the heaviest downpours. When you do happen to get caught out in a storm though, even when wet the H.O.V. jacket keeps you warm and dries very quickly once the rain stops. It's not the most breathable of jackets though and things can soon get warm when climbing or sprinting through the traffic. Early Spring and Autumn are probably where the jacket would be most comfortable, when there is a fresh chill in the air.

I ride with lights on my commute all year round so the fact that the jacket is black doesn’t bother me but I think visibility could be an issue even on sunny days especially in traffic. There are Scotchlite reflective highlights which should make you stand out when the nights draw in.

At £90 the jacket does offer good value for money, it does the job of a cycling jacket well but also looks great off of the bike and with sizes ranging from S-XXL there should be no problem with getting one to fit. I actually wore it more off of the bike than on it for popping down the pub or out for a meal. There are a few compromises due to the jacket having to fulfil its dual roles but they don’t detract from what is essentially a great jacket.

Verdict

All in all a great jacket. Great build quality and design all for a sensible price tag.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Sugoi HOV mens jacket

Size tested: M

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
10/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
10/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
10/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, a great jacket on or off the bike

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180cm  Weight: 80kg

I usually ride: Schwinn Fastback Pro  My best bike is: Dolan Chrono TT Custom

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

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Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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