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review

Assos Mille GT Wind Jacket

9
£110.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Compact, windproof and a really great fit – it's worth the high price
Super compact and light
More fitted than most other jackets
Windproof
Showerproof
Pricier than some
Weight: 
90g
Contact: 
road.cc Recommends

This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Assos Mille GT Wind Jacket is super compact in your pocket and more closely fitted than most wind/emergency jackets once on. That makes it ideal for donning before an Alpine descent or, in the UK, just keeping out the chilling winds, road spray and even light showers. It's expensive, though, so be prepared to spend extra to avoid flapping material.

Dressing for mixed conditions has always been tricky, hence low-bulk wind-blocking layers that can easily be removed being so popular. Unfortunately, during testing I didn't locate many Alpine descents – for which this would be ideal – so instead wore it for early starts and to and from the local group ride.

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The key to a great wind jacket is that it can be easily stashed away, and here the Mille GT excels. The foil ultra-ripstop fabric is super thin and packs down into a tiny parcel, but still delivers the required protection once you need it.

2021 Assos Mille GT Wind Jacket - bundled.jpg

It's cut to Assos' regular fit, but even so I found it less baggy than just about any other wind jacket I've tried. I'm normally towards the bottom end of a size medium, and this medium fits well over a few layers, but it's definitely more Italian sizing than Swiss. If you're on the cusp, size up.

Hunched in an aero position and bombing down descents, the jacket is mysteriously quiet. Obviously, a lot of that is down to its slim fit, but Assos actually says it's designed to be 'acoustically innocuous'. Happily, it is noticeable rather than just marketing guff.

2021 Assos Mille GT Wind Jacket - back.jpg

The camlock on the full-length zip means it can be locked partially open; this might sound trivial, but lightweight jackets do have a tendency of opening themselves if left slightly undone.

2021 Assos Mille GT Wind Jacket - collar.jpg

It's surprisingly breathable for a windproof jacket, though, so you may not need to. The material under the arms and down the sides is more breathable than the main stuff, the elasticated cuffs keep the elements out without being restrictive (even over layers or gloves), and the collar offers decent protection without feeling claustrophobic.

2021 Assos Mille GT Wind Jacket - hem.jpg

The Durable Water Resistant (DWR) coating does a good job of keeping road spray out, and can even fend off patchy drizzle.

2021 Assos Mille GT Wind Jacket - shoulder logo.jpg

You won't find any pockets or access slots on the rear, which improves the fit but won't be for everyone. There are a few reflective tabs, but if you're after more visibility it's also available in bright orange or green.

2021 Assos Mille GT Wind Jacket - tail.jpg

Value and conclusion

With an RRP of £110, the Mille GT is certainly not cheap; we've tested plenty of more affordable wind jackets just this year. The Bontrager Circuit, for example, is now £74.99, while the Altura Icon Rocket is £80.

Nevertheless, for me the premium is well worth paying as it's far more breathable than many, the close fit doesn't flap around, and it's extremely packable. For performance it's on a par with the Rapha Classic Wind Jacket, and that's actually a fair bit more at £145.

> 11 of the best windproof cycling jackets – packable outer layers to keep out the chill

So while this is pretty expensive for a windstopper, the performance, usability and quality mean it earns the price tag. You can easily buy cheaper, but they just won't be as good.

Verdict

Compact, windproof and a really great fit – it's worth the high price

road.cc test report

Make and model: Assos Mille GT Wind Jacket

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?

Assos says, "A windproof, lightweight shell jacket engineered for maximum protection and minimum bulk."

I agree. The price and close fit mean it's best suited to keen cyclists worried about being aero and putting the miles in.

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

Assos lists:

Foil Ultra: A windproof, water-repellent, ripstop, lightweight and hyper-stretch woven fabric.

Rustle-free: This piece of apparel has been designed to be as quiet as possible with a rustle-free fabric

DWR: Treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellency) to protect you from rainfall

Full-length camLock zip: Slim, light zip for individually adjusting to the conditions

Ultra lightweight, ultra-packable: Designed with the lowest possible weight and great packability

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for performance:
 
9/10

Great at keeping chilling winds out, is an excellent fit and packs down small.

Rate the jacket for durability:
 
8/10

The stretch means it stands up to rough handling. As with most garments, the DWR will wear off over time.

Rate the jacket for waterproofing based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
8/10

It's water resistant but not waterproof.

Rate the jacket for breathability based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for fit:
 
10/10
Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
6/10

It comes up quite small; if you're a big build or between sizes, go up.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
10/10
Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for value:
 
5/10

It's more expensive than many, but does a better job.

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

No issues.

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

Very well: the fit is excellent, it doesn't rustle, it's breathable and it packs down tiny.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

How small it packs down.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

Nothing really.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market including ones recently tested on road.cc?

As mentioned in the review it is expensive for a windproof, but the quality and performance justify the price – it outperforms cheaper alternatives.

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 overall score

This is a great bit of kit. The quality of its fabrics and fit – plus its first-rate breathability and tiny bulk – justify the price tag, even though it's on the high side.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 23  Height: 6ft  Weight: 74kg

I usually ride: Specialized venge pro 2019  My best bike is:

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

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb,

Jamie has been riding bikes since a tender age but really caught the bug for racing and reviewing whilst studying towards a master's in Mechanical engineering at Swansea University. Having graduated, he decided he really quite liked working with bikes and is now a full-time addition to the road.cc team. When not writing about tech news or working on the Youtube channel, you can still find him racing local crits trying to cling on to his cat 2 licence...and missing every break going...

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