The Assos proprietary Schloss Tex fabric that makes up this jacket is as thin and light as the competition but it has stretch. The unique fabric is a competitive advantage but the lack of pockets is a miss.
Pros
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Great fit
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Excellent large tooth zipper
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You can still find the "have a good ride" tagline
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Reflective stripe down the back
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Neck protection at the top of the zipper
Cons
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Lacks pockets
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High price
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Hardshell jackets are the best way to deal with a day of rain. When the weather gets really bad, there’s just no substitute, and for a lot of brands, that means piggybacking on Gore innovation and using Shakedry fabrics. Assos goes its own way though and develops unique, proprietary, fabrics. For the Assos Equipe RS rain jacket, that means Schloss Tex.
We've spent time with not only the 2021 Equipe RS Rain Jacket Targa but also the other versions of the jacket. The previous version made our list of the best waterproof cycling jackets and now that we've got a good sense of the new version, it's there instead. After a lot of hours riding through the rain, we are ready to share our thoughts on the updated design, so keep reading to see what we think it does well and where we think it falls short.
The Propeller Orange is already bright but a bonded reflective strip bolsters the visibility even more (Image credit: Josh Ross)
Design and aesthetics
For a jacket this high-tech, the design is surprisingly simple. The star of the show is the fabric, Schloss Tex, which Assos has chosen as the only material for almost the entire jacket. The only places that you'll find a different fabric is a small piece of high-stretch material on the inside of each wrist and the elastic gripper at the bottom of the rear.
Schloss Tex is a three-layer fabric that competes with the Gore Shakedry used in jackets such as the Castelli Idro Pro 3. Although Shakedry is a two-layer fabric, the Assos solution isn't any thicker or heavier, and they both have similarly impressive waterproof properties too. The big difference is that Schloss Tex is less insulative, but it has more stretch and is less delicate.
The reflective strip at the rear is bonded so as to not allow any opportunities for water ingress (Image credit: Josh Ross)
Another big difference between Schloss Tex and Shakedry is colour. The addition of a facing layer makes it possible to add colour and Assos has done just that. Black is still available if that's your style but there is also a Propeller Orange option. Think of Propeller Orange as a sophisticated hi-viz orange. It's still very visible in low light but it's less primary than the older orange options of the same jacket. In both options, there's also a large reflective stripe bonded to the rear of the jacket which travels vertically from between the shoulder blades all the way to the tail.
Open the jacket up and take a look inside and the white interior shows off the taped seams. The bold black lines stand out against the white with a promise of waterproofness while showing off the simple textile pattern that Assos has used. It's easy to see that there's no complicated pattern but instead enough panels to make a great fit without adding unnecessary weight.
Instead of pockets, the Equipe RS Rain Jacket Targa gets dual zippers. Unzip from the bottom to access pockets in lower layers. The rear of that tag at the bottom says "Have a good ride." (Image credit: Josh Ross)
Zippers vs pockets
Previous generations of the Assos Equipe RS rain jacket featured two horizontal slits on the rear. The placement was over the area where'd you'd find pockets on a jersey and the idea was to allow access to the pockets below. In the latest generation, Assos has sealed up these access ports in favour of better water resistance. The access to pockets is now handled by the nice big double zipper, similar to the Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Shakedry jacket. Unzip the jacket from the bottom, flip the low back up, and you can reach your pockets.
I'm a big proponent of real pockets on an outer shell and this arrangement does not satisfy that for me. I never experienced water ingress through those rear slits, but the previous solution didn't work any better for pocket access and having used both solutions, one is not a clear upgrade compared to the other. However, the quality of the zipper itself is a huge upgrade compared to the first-generation jacket and the competition. It's cam-locked, large enough to grab with winter gloves, and the large teeth provide smooth snag-free zipping action.
This tag sits on the inside back of the jacket and clearly states what Assos thinks is the best use (Image credit: Josh Ross)
Performance
The lack of pockets is likely a reflection of Assos's vision for this jacket. If you pack the pockets on a jacket, you can't stash it easily. It's also added material that keeps it from folding up as tightly. Assos sees the Equipe RS rain jacket Targa as more of an emergency jacket but I think it is selling itself short.
I can't count the number of times I've left the house expecting to stash this jacket and instead left it on all day. The breathability is great and it's warmer than you'd expect, dress well underneath and it should keep you comfortable down near 55F/13C degrees. In autumn, spring, or anywhere with a mild winter, a thermal jersey underneath and a weather-appropriate base layer is a perfect pairing, or as the temperatures drop even further, pair it with one of the best winter cycling jackets and it performs dutifully as an emergency rain shell.
Whatever temperature range you end up using it for, the fit is a huge highlight. It's well-sized, it's got a great neckline, and the stretch makes everything feel better. The RS stands for Race Series so expect a race fit but if that works as well for you as it does for me, you'll be very happy with the way it hangs. Even with the tight fit, it’s not so tight that it’s uncomfortable off the bike.
The top of the zipper has protection for your neck, every seam is taped, and there's a small panel of extra stretch at each wrist. (Image credit: Josh Ross)
Verdict
The Assos Equipe RS Rain Jacket Targa is exactly the kind of jacket that can handle anything from hard rain to chilly weather. It's easily stowable if things warm up but it's far more capable than Assos gives it credit for being.
With an eye towards being more of an emergency jacket design, Assos opted to seal up the rear pocket access, but in exchange, you do get an incredible zipper and a lighter, less bulky design that improves the overall versatility of this impressive garment.
Tech Specifications: Assos Equipe RS Rain Jacket Targa
Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes.
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 140 lb.
Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx
