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review

dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell

9
£80.00

VERDICT:

9
10
The perfect top for those days when you don't know if you need a jersey or jacket – the dhb serves as both
Weight: 
375g

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dhb's range seems to have grown to cover virtually every single type of condition possible, but just in case there is a gap it's apparel like this Aeron Hybrid Softshell that takes out the weather-related guesswork.

  • Pros: Windproof, water-resistant, breathable, well cut...
  • Cons: Not fully waterproof

It fits and feels like a winter jersey as the fabric is soft and it's not overly heavy. It's the type of top you'd chuck on over whichever baselayer you think would suit the conditions and it'll keep you toasty warm without having to overplan your layering.

dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell - riding.jpg

It covers quite a large temperature range, as I found out when racing at the Red Bull TimeLaps. I wasn't actually supposed to be riding but after unfortunately losing one of the team to a crash I had to step in.

I was planning on riding home from the event on the Sunday, so the dhb and a short-sleeved baselayer were the only kit I had for my upper body.

dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell - chest.jpg

Racing through the Saturday night, with various stints every two or so hours from 7pm through to 6am, the temperature varied from about 12°C to 5°C and this combo worked perfectly, even into the biting northerly wind that started to rear its head as darkness fell.

The front panels and those running the length of the arms are windproof, you see, and they are water resistant too. You could certainly feel them working blocking that chilly breeze compared with other parts of my body not benefiting from the same kind of treatment.

The entire inside of the softshell is fleece lined, which is intended to trap body heat for warmth, although the rear and side panels are a much thinner fabric to allow some breathability and it works pretty well.

dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell - inside.jpg

As daylight rose at Red Bull and the temperature crept up a little towards the mid-teens, I did kept a little damp inside the dhb, but this isn't the top I'd be choosing for those kind of conditions.

When rain does fall it'll start to bead on those water resistant panels for a time until the fabric is overwhelmed, which obviously depends on how heavy the shower is. In a light shower or drizzle you'd be looking at about an hour before you start to get wet, although once the rain stops the softshell dries quickly.

The cut is form fitting so one more for the rider who likes to go fast and hard on those winter training runs or when you're out with the chaingang. It's not tight though, so you don't need to be a racing whippet to get away with wearing it.

dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell - back.jpg

You get a dropped tail for good coverage when you're stooped over in the drops, and the sleeve length is great for a stretched-out position. The forearms tend to taper in before the cuff to give a very close fit, and with those cuffs being quite thin they easily fit inside your gloves to stop any annoying draughts.

dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell - cuff.jpg

The neck offers a similar setup, with a tall, close-fitting cut and a soft fleece liner for ultimate comfort. The full zip comes to a stop in a well-padded garage so there's no throat irritation either.

The bottom front of the softshell is cut higher in the middle to avoid bunching around the midriff when you are on the bike, and the hem is kept in place with a mixture of elastic and silicone grippers.

dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell - hem.jpg

Three pockets run from side to side along the back, the two side ones dropping slightly at the opening for easier access when in the saddle. They are deep enough for even the largest of phones and taut enough too to avoid any bounce.

The right hand pocket has a zipped compartment/fourth pocket for valuables with a waterproof membrane separating the two, handy to stop sweat from getting through to any electrical devices you may be carrying.

dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell - pocket.jpg

With an RRP of £80 the dhb certainly looks good value for money when you consider the performance, and when you take into account the tidy finish and great all-round quality it looks an absolute steal (even more so at its current price of £65).

It's a very similar piece of clothing to the Sportful Fiandre Light Wind jacket with its ability to shrug off the wind and light rain, plus they are similar weights. But the Sportful costs nearly double at £150. The dhb even undercuts the Altura Podium Elite Thermo Shield jacket; okay not a softshell, but it does have a lot of the same qualities.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best winter cycling jackets

On the whole the dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell is a great piece of kit that is perfect for the changeable conditions you'll find in the UK's off-season, and with decent baselayer choice it'll span autumn through winter and back to spring again.

Verdict

The perfect top for those days when you don't know if you need a jersey or jacket – the dhb serves as both

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the jacket 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?

dhb says, "The new dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell Jacket is designed for high tempo cycling in cold conditions. Building on the success of the Aeron Full Protection Softshell, the Hybrid combines the nimble feeling of a jersey with weatherproof protection of a jacket.

Built for versatility

Taking design notes from the deep winter-ready Aeron Full Protection Softshell, dhb has created a hybrid jacket that blends protection with warmth and breathability. Paired with the right base layer, this hybrid softshell is ideal for use on high tempo rides, from when the cool temperatures start to bite right through to the depths of winter. With exceptional performance in a variety conditions, this is likely to become the jacket you reach for the most this winter.

Weatherproof & Breathable

By using windproof and water-resistant panels across the front down the length of the arms, you remain protected in the most exposed areas from wind and showers. The soft and breathable Roubaix fabric used on the back allows any build-up of heat and moisture to escape whilst keeping you insulated from the cold.

Insulated

Fully fleece-lined, this jacket works to trap hot air and create a micro-climate around your torso, whilst letting moisture and excess heat escape. The aim is to keep you out on the road, enjoying the ride for longer.

Performance Fit

Cut to sit like a jersey with a performance fit, the Hybrid Softshell aims to give you that agile jersey feeling even whilst riding through harsh weather. Constructed with performance stretch fabrics, dhb has ensured this jacket sits close to the body without any excess material and flapping in the wind to slow you down.

Details

Like all dhb Aeron garments, the details are what bring this Jacket together. The dropped rear tail provides protection again road spray, and has been finished with a wide silicone gripper designed to widen the area of pressure for comfortable and secure fit. Ergonomic cuffs to further seal out the elements. A full length YKK zip provides an extra way of venting during the hardest efforts. Subtle reflective detailing completes this."

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

dhb lists:

Windproof and water resistant front and arm panels

Warm and breathable Roubaix fabric back panel

Full length, lock down YKK zip with chin guard

Ergonomic shaped cuffs

Performance Fit

Reflective details

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for waterproofing, based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for breathability, based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
10/10

The sizing is perfect.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for value:
 
8/10

How easy is the jacket to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

I couldn't actually find any washing instructions on the Aeron so I just washed it on a 30 degree spin cycle like most kit and it was fine.

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

Fends off the wind and keeps the rain at bay, as long as it isn't heavy.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

The close cut.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

For the money I don't really think you could ask for more.

Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes

Would you consider buying the jacket? Yes

Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

There is nothing groundbreaking about the dhb Aeron Hybrid Softshell, but what you do have here is a brilliantly comfortable jacket with a great cut and impressive performance, all at a very competitive price.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithein

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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10 comments

Avatar
Anthony.C | 6 years ago
0 likes

deleted

 

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
0 likes

Just looked on Wiggle.

Bloody thing is £90 now !?   

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
1 like

There 10 pounds off new dhb kit currently. And if you have wiggle discount then it's cheaper again. £54 in total. First outing today so let's see what it like.

Code is DHBLOOKBOOK

Update. 4 hours in around 9! degrees with a bit more wind than I planned and some dabs of rain and it worked really well. Just a thin long sleeve base underneath. Zipper down a bit on a longer climb and up the rest of the time. Very happy with it.

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
0 likes

Hmmm - do I need this? 

 

I already have the discontinued Windslam Jersey that i used this weekend when it was 8 degrees but stupidly windy 

and the Aeron Full Protection which was a bit warm but glad of it when it started raining and 7 degrees the other day.

 

Does this fill a gap or am i just looking to spend money ?

Avatar
sammutd88 replied to fenix | 6 years ago
0 likes
fenix wrote:

Hmmm - do I need this? 

 

I already have the discontinued Windslam Jersey that i used this weekend when it was 8 degrees but stupidly windy 

and the Aeron Full Protection which was a bit warm but glad of it when it started raining and 7 degrees the other day.

 

Does this fill a gap or am i just looking to spend money ?

 

I'm in a similar predicament. It only gets down to like 2-3 degrees in the depths of winter in Melbourne where I ride and I currently own a Sportful Fiandre Light Wind Jersey. With a merino base layer underneath I was a little cold, so wondering if this is a little beefier and maybe just right. I'm thinking the aeron full protection is too warm for the conditions I ride in. Or am I just doubling up on a similar piece of clothing with this and the Sportful piece.

Avatar
asdfqwerty | 6 years ago
0 likes

I was tempted by one of these. Would also like to know how suitable it is for 0C, since it looks quite thin if you can see the model's bib straps through the material.

Avatar
PeterCee | 6 years ago
1 like

Good question - The aeron full protection softshell is ridiculously warm with a long sleeve Craft baselayer underneath - so much so that I would say that if it's over 6 Deg C you will be too hot.

Avatar
check12 | 6 years ago
0 likes

How does this compare to the now discontinued dhb Windslam Long sleeve Jersey?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-windslam-blade-long-sleeve-jersey/

Avatar
sammutd88 | 6 years ago
0 likes

How much warmer is the aeron full protection soft shell? Would this go down to about 3-4 degrees with a long sleeve winter baselayer?

Avatar
Jimthebikeguy.com | 6 years ago
1 like

I totally take the credit for this review cheeky- jim.

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