Assos Equipe R Jersey S11 Review

Assos is best-known for their bib shorts, but after many years of testing their full kits, the matching jerseys are also among my favorites — one of those being the Equipe RS Aero SS from a few years ago. The Assos Equipe R Jersey S11 is a focused, no-frills summer jersey that will stay cool in the heat and look cool at the same time.

Assos Equipe R Jersey S11 Features:

• Built for daily training in hot conditions
• Ultralight hyper-cooling AirCell textile
• Racing fit for second-skin performance
• MSRP: $175

Equipe R S11 fit and performance

Summer riding requires lightweight and breathable jerseys. Over the years, these have been called “climber’s jerseys” and various other names, but Assos just calls it like it is, a jersey for “daily training and racing in hot conditions.” And, while black jerseys may look cool, I’m only down with black jerseys for winter training. Thankfully, Assos has us all covered with five colors — I chose flame orange.

The fit is just as expected from Assos. The Equipe R S11 is made to offer second-skin aerodynamics and added cooling from AirCell hex-knit textile. I matched my size medium Assos Equipe R S11 Bib Shorts with the size large Equipe R S11 Jersey. There’s enough stretch that I could have gone with a medium jersey, but I usually wear a sleeveless base layer, like the Pactimo Summit SL, and the size large gives that affordance. Additionally, the sleeve length is great and the diameter is just right — a medium might be a little tight on my biceps (and I’m not that strong).

Without question, the hero story with the Equipe R S11 Jersey is the AirCell fabric. Not only is it ultra-soft and comfortable, but the breathability on offer matches the marketing hype. Moisture is wicked away quickly and it always remains cool. Much of my initial testing was on the indoor trainer and I found it to be excellent for that purpose. Outdoors, the fabric always feels light and airy. And, it remains stink-free for multiple uses (which I tend to do).

The front and back use the AirCell fabric, but the pockets use a different material that adds structure and durability to prevent punctures. Each pocket is ample-sized and features a built-in “lid” material (black colored) that helps envelop items and keep them inside the pocket. Velocio folds over the pocket lid for the same purpose, but the flap design here not only helps secure items in place, but acts as added protection when placing items into the pocket. Either way, items remain securely in place.

With that built-in flap, it can be mistaken for the upper lid when reaching back there on the bike. I have, on multiple occasions, tried and tried to gain entry to the pocket, only to realize that the seam I’m feeling is the flap, not the pocket.

If you’re looking for a zippered sleeve for your phone or wallet, you’ll want to look elsewhere because there’s no frills with this jersey. The minimalist approach carries over with the hem of the jersey as well. Silicone grip is only placed below the pockets to keep the rear hem in place. for 60% of the remaining hem, there’s nothing keeping it in place. With the matching Equipe R S11 Bib Shorts, that proved problematic as a simple upward stretch turned me into Britney Spears — showing off my midsection. Luckily, on the bike, that wasn’t an issue, but I’d like to see some minimalist material to keep the front of this jersey in place better.

I appreciate the easy-to-pull zipper with narrow-gauge teeth that don’t snag on under layers or chest hair. The low-profile v-shaped collar is a good design. It’s not quite as minimalist as most summer jerseys and my one gripe about it is it creeps upwards in the back while on the bike. If you take a look at my riding photos, you’ll see that the entire jersey seems to creep upwards and back — bunching behind the neck. Maybe a medium would have eliminated that? Dunno.

Fit: I’m 5’11” and 175 lbs., wearing the size large jersey. 

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