With the arrival of fall and winter on the horizon, there’s no shortage of new cycling apparel and outerwear hitting the market right now. Assos of Switzerland recently added two new rain jackets to the mix, both of which are claimed to be “engineered for the demands of riding in the wettest conditions.” Developed with input from EF Pro Cycling’s riders, these new jackets have been designed to provide “serious waterproof protection with breathability, thermoregulation, and unrestricted movement.”
The new Mille GTS Sturmprinz Rain Jacket is an evolution of the original with an updated fit and modern materials for training or racing in the harshest conditions. With the new Equipe R Hydra Women’s Rain Jacket, Assos says it did not just adapt a male jacket (aka “shrink it and pink it”) for female cyclists. Instead, it started from scratch with a women’s-specific approach to create a high-performance rain jacket for female cyclists. Let’s check them out.
Equipe R Hydra Women’s Rain Jacket S11
Assos says women’s race equipment is often just an adaptation of products originally designed for male riders. Different colors, a smaller size run, and slight modifications to fit are sometimes all that separate men’s and women’s apparel. When designing the new Equipe R Women’s rain Jacket, the brand says that it took a different approach. According to Assos, this jacket is a purpose-built piece of race equipment that was developed around the riding position, ergonomics, and performance demands of female cyclists.
“The focus was on creating a race rain jacket that genuinely works with the female body and riding position,” says Elisabetta Borghin, Head of Women’s Product Development at ASSOS. “We worked closely with female pro riders throughout the development, using their feedback from training and racing to refine the fit, stretch, protection, and breathability.”
According to Assos, this female-first approach results in a jacket that provides an aerodynamic race fit that moves with the rider. At the same time, the lightweight waterproof shell keeps rain out and allows heat and moisture to escape, helping to regulate body temperature while training or racing in challenging conditions. Assos gives it a recommended temperature range of +4° / >+21°C.
Assos says its Hydra 3L softshell provides “complete stormproof protection with impossible breathability (50900 g/m²/24h) and a low-volume construction that packs down to the size of an accessory for pocket storage.” Taped seams, an ECO DWR treatment, and coated panels of highly elastic AVANTGARDE at the wrist openings and hem seal out moisture even further. All of the materials are OEKO-Tex certified and PFAS-free.
The Equipe R Hydra Women’s Rain Jacket features a two-way zip, allowing ventilation from the top or bottom. It also features reflective details to add visibility in low-light conditions that are common during the shorter days of the shoulder seasons, or riding when it’s overcast or rainy. The Equipe R Women’s Rain Jacket comes in six sizes, XS to 2XL, and the Kosimo Granit colorway only. It retails for £280 / €330 / $370.00.
Mille GTS Sturmprinz Rain Jacket S11
This new rain jacket builds on the legacy of the original Sturmprinz and moves it into Assos’s GTS collection. Constructed with the brand’s latest waterproof materials and an updated, performance fit, the GTS Mille Sturmprinz is intended to be adaptable to changing temperatures, weather conditions, and riding intensity. It has a claimed temperature range of -8° / +20°C.
The Mille GTS Sturmprinz is made with Assos’ ATLANTIS 3L hardshell fabric with a claimed breathability rating of 42,900 g/m²/24h. That “impossible breathability” is also combined with complete protection from water and wind across the front panel, shoulders, sides, and leading edge of the sleeves. The rear-facing panels on the body and sleeves utilize a CORE Light softshell fabric; all of the seams are taped, and the wrist cuffs and hem employ a coated elastic AVANTGARDE material, sealing out the elements completely.
That said, Assos included airVents on the upper back, a smart ventilation system they say “opens to expel heat in an upright climbing position.” The two-way zipper allows riders to vent from the bottom while maintaining full rain protection for the upper torso, neck, and shoulders. The Mille GTS Sturmprinz Rain Jacket comes in Fanatic Silver only and in seven sizes, XS to 3XL. It has a retail price of £410.00 / €490.00 / $585.00.
Availability
Assos of Switzerland’s latest Equipe R Hydra Women’s and Mille GTS Sturmprinz Rain Jackets are available now. Head to the Assos website to learn more about them and the rest of the brand’s extensive lineup of cycling apparel for men and women.
