Assos Equipe RS jacket

The Assos Equipe RS (or SchlossHund, to give it its full name) is a lightweight waterproof jacket that will keep you dry in the heaviest downpours with impressive breathability, and decent packability for those changeable days. It's very expensive, though, and inevitably draws comparison with Gore's Shakedry jacket, which is lighter, more breathable and much more packable, and saves you £15.

• Pros: Waterproof, breathable, good fit and comfortable, durable, visible colour, big reflective stripe
• Cons: Not as light or packable as rival jackets

Hands up who likes cycling in the rain? Not many of you, I bet, but sometimes it's hard to avoid, especially if the alternative is the indoor trainer or no riding at all. And sometimes you're going to get caught out with some changeable weather. Being prepared with a suitable rain jacket is essential at this time of year.

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This Assos Equipe RS is the Swiss company's newest waterproof jacket and was developed and tested with the now-defunct BMC Racing Team. There's no beating having products tested in the white heat of professional racing to find faults and fast-forward their evolution.

Assos has a history of developing its own fabrics, and that's true here. The jacket is made from Schloss Tex, which is light – a size medium weighs 187g on our scales – but not quite in the truly lightweight realm of Gore Shakedry. It is a big step forward compared with the SturmPrinz jacket that's been in the Assos range for a while, though.

Schloss Tex employs a three-layer construction with a hydrophilic membrane and DWR (durable water repellent) treatment. The fabric has some stretch, which helps with the fit, and it's claimed to offer excellent abrasion resistance as well, something that can't be said of Gore's über-thin two-layer Shakedry. That holds up with my testing: its durability is impressive, whether brushing against overgrown hedgerows on a cyclo-cross bike or commuting with a backpack (something Gore doesn't recommend with Shakedry).

The seams are all taped internally, the zipper is waterproof and it has a large puller tab to make it easy to use when you've got gloves on. The waistband is silicone lined with an elastic band to prevent the jacket riding up.

You don't get pockets but you can access rear pockets on the layer underneath via two large flaps that also double up as vents. With some practice it's fairly easy to get at the energy bar in your jersey pocket, and a wee bit easier than the usual hoicking up of the jacket.

I found the fit, intended to be on the figure-hugging side, good. I started out with a medium but found it a little baggy, so stepped down to a size small. Much better. It compares well to others I've used, with enough space underneath to accommodate a couple of layers. The fit is aided by the shaping of the various panels, and pulling on and removing the jacket is made easier by stretchy panels at the cuffs.

If you've been put off by the black or drab colours of some waterproof jackets, you'll love this bright orange. It's an unusual colour, for sure, but does stand out well on the road. There is a plain black option as well if you're not digging it. But the best feature ensuring visibility in low light and at night is the huge vertical reflective stripe up the back. Granted, it'll be obscured if you're commuting with a backpack, but for training rides it's a big bonus.

Wearing the jacket, it's a very comfortable protective barrier from cold wind and heavy rain. As well as the shaping of the panels and the stretchy fabric, the sleeves are a good length and the dropped tail provides added protection. It's also a quiet jacket: no rustling in the wind, thank goodness.

In terms of keeping you dry, the Equipe RS stands up to the most horrible weather. It's totally waterproof; I found no ingress of water anywhere, and my long-sleeve jersey underneath remained totally dry during several particularly sodden rides.

Making a jacket waterproof is easy, but making one that is breathable as well – that is the ultimate challenge for a cycling jacket. The Equipe RS is one of the best in the category. Provided you get your layering right for the temperatures, you can ride for several hours in sustained rain and not be reduced to a sweaty mess.

When you don't need the jacket's protective qualities, it can be rolled up and slotted into a spare jersey pocket. It's not the most packable jacket – it's not in the same league as the Gore Shakedry – but it's good.

It's hard not to make comparisons with Gore's Shakedry, but if you're considering such a sizeable investment in a new waterproof jacket then it's inevitable.

Both jackets meet the same level in pure waterproof performance, but the Shakedry is more packable and much lighter because of its two-layer construction, plus, in my experience, it bests the Equipe RS in the breathability tests. The Assos does get the nod for the bright colour and huge reflective stripe for visibility, and it's a touch more durable, which will appeal if you're hard on your equipment.

> Buyer's Guide: 21 of the best waterproof cycling jackets

To conclude, the Assos Equipe RS is a very impressive waterproof jacket that will shelter you from the most horrible rain and be breathable at the same time. It's highly visible and fits very well, but it's not as packable or lightweight as the similarly priced Gore Shakedry.

There's a lot to recommend the Equipe RS, but if it was my money it would be going on the Shakedry, accepting the compromised visibility and durability.

Verdict

Very good waterproof jacket with good visibility and durability