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review

Lusso Stealth Thermal Cycling Jacket

8
£65.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Great fitting, high performing jacket that just gets on and does the job
Weight: 
336g
Contact: 

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Lusso is proud of its British designed and manufactured garments, and after wearing this Stealth Thermal Jacket for the last month or so, I think it has every right to be. It's comfortable, well cut and, above all, very warm – the perfect race-cut jacket for the cold months. Oh yeah, it's only 65 quid as well!

I have a long torso, which means some jackets and jerseys can be a little short in the body for me, especially those of Italian origin. It was great, then, to put the Stealth on, climb aboard the bike and still have my lower back perfectly covered without it affecting the rest of the fit. In fact it was spot on elsewhere too – arm length and neck height all finished exactly where I needed them to.

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The sleeves are cut close so you don't get any material flapping in the wind, and the long cuffs keep everything in position, even at full stretch. The material is thin, too, so it fits under a glove without bulking.

Lusso Stealth Thermal Cycling Jacket - cuff

The main body offers a close fit as well, without being overly restrictive. You get room to move at the chest and midriff without it being baggy, but it's close enough for you to race or tackle those flatland Strava segments in. The front is cut shorter than the rear so you don't get any bunching when you're in the drops.

Lusso Stealth Thermal Cycling Jacket - riding

The Stealth is made from Thermal-Speed Pro, a fully synthetic fabric that seems to offer plenty of movement in all directions without being too clingy. It has a brushed back, which makes for a fleecy feel ideal for trapping body heat, though it is very breathable.

Lusso Stealth Thermal Cycling Jacket - material detail

The mercury has been dropping here, and down to around 5°C I can get away comfortably with just a summer baselayer underneath. Below that, a merino long sleeve keeps things warm enough. On warmer days it'll cope up to the mid-teens before it starts getting overwhelmed.

For temperature control the full zip runs smoothly and comes with a rubber Lusso branded gripper, which helps when you're wearing chunky winter gloves. It's not massive, but a little extra girth gives you something to grasp.

Lusso Stealth Thermal Cycling Jacket - collar

At the collar you get a zip garage to stop any cold metal digging into your neck. It's needed, too, considering the Lycra neck comes up right under your chin for maximum draught exclusion.

> Check out our guide to winter cycling jackets here

The Stealth is available in black with red or blue highlights as well as this high-vis version. I really like the yellow – there's just enough of it to make you stand out without being overly in your face.

Lusso Stealth Thermal Cycling Jacket - back

Overall, the Stealth is one of those wardrobe staples. You'll get a good three seasons use out of it with sensible layering, and while it isn't all shouty about technical fabrics it does a basic job very well. Essentially, it keeps you warm on the bike.

The value is great too: £64.99 for a jacket of this quality, cut and finish is almost unheard of, plus if you're concerned about where your products are manufactured, its 'made in the UK' label will mean a lot.

Verdict

Great fitting, high performing jacket that just gets on and does the job

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Lusso Stealth Thermal Cycling Jacket

Size tested: M, Black/Yellow

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Lusso says that the Stealth Jacket has been designed for the autumn/spring climate. It's certainly warm considering how thin it is. The close fit makes it perfect for early and late season races too.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

*Thermal Speed Pro fabric

*4 Pockets (One Zipped)

*Reflective Detailing

*Full front Zip with Zip Flap

*Made in UK

*Size S - XXL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Looks neat and tidy, nothing in the way of untidy stitching.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Warm in temperatures from five degrees up to the mid teens with just a short summer baselayer underneath, that's about its limit before things get a bit sweaty. The fit is nice and close too for performance riding.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Standing up to daily abuse so far.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Considering its thermal properties, the Lusso is surprisingly light.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

A great fit with comfortable, soft material.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

At £64.99 it's very affordable, and I can't see where quality or style has been sacrificed to achieve it.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The perfect jacket for those chilly early or late season rides.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Just the right amount of fluoro yellow to make you stand out without going full high-vis.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing really.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Lusso has been really knocking out some decent kit for many years but for me the fit and styling has really stepped up a notch in the last couple. The Stealth Thermal Jacket is a perfect example of this. The fit is close and well suited to performance riding, with the sensible balance of yellow and black providing style and safety. It may not be shouting about the latest technical fabrics and super-duper add-ons, but it does its job and for the money it's pretty stunning.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Mason Definition

I've been riding for: 10-20 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

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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