Lightweight windbreakers are often just that — wind breakers. But, the Santini Scudo Windbreaker takes that up a notch by adding a water-resistant treatment that delivers both water and wind resistance while maintaining good breathability.
Santini Scudo Windbreaker Features:
- Uses lightweight Scudo fabric
- Added DWR for water-resistance
- Unique rubber cuffs
- Single stash pocket you can also stuff the jacket into
- Colors: white (tested), black, grey
- MSRP: $125
The Scudo is a windbreaker plus more
If I’m going to stuff a light jacket into my back pocket, I want one that not only takes the chill out of long, alpine descents, but one that will come in handy during a mid-summer thunderstorm. But, if that jacket can also double as a cold-weather layer, then that means added bonus points and one less jacket I need in my kit.
The Santini Scudo Windbreaker doesn’t seem like more than another windbreaker on the surface, but it not only blocks wind, but has added water resistance and breathes well enough to use for extended periods. And, the fit is fantastic — snug enough to be aerodynamic, but not too tight so as to limit layering. As you can see, it’s certainly not skin-tight, but it feels just right.
I’ve been wearing the Scudo atop the Santini Classe LS Jersey and it’s a great combination for temperatures in the 45-55 degree range. The Scudo’s woven fabric does breathe well, but it will get a little damp inside on the back panel after a long ride. That said, it’s on the better side of the breathability spectrum and breathes better than I was expecting. There are more breathable jackets, but this one does well while maintaining a high level of weather protection.
One surprise with the Scudo are the rubberized sleeve cuffs. These get added to the “why doesn’t anyone else do this?” file. For real… these cuffs offer fantastic weather protection from wind and water and allow winter-weight gloves (like the Santini Acquazero Vega) to slip right on top of the cuff for a weatherproof seal. Honestly, I can’t say enough about these cuffs.
I’ll add a little more on the fit. I wore the size large and I’m 5’11” 173 lbs. It’s streamlined without being constricting and features 4-way stretch to move with you both in and out of the saddle. I did notice that the jacket has a slight tendency to creep upward at the shoulders, requiring me to pull it down every once in awhile. Perhaps silicon rubber at the hem might fix that. Atop the Classe LS Jersey, it did get a little challenging zipping the collar all the way up. Also, since the zippers on the jacket and jersey are identical, I did sometimes grab the wrong one.
The Good
- Wind and water protection
- Those rubberized sleeve cuffs are money
- Stretchy fabric moves with you
- Breathes reasonably-well
- Stuffs small for year-round use
- Seals out winter chill
- White color adds visibility
The Bad
- Hard to zip all the way up (that last inch, really)
- Has a tendency to creep up at the shoulders
The Bottom Line: Santini Scudo Windbreaker
For the money, the Santini Scudo Windbreaker delivers a ton of year-round value. Not only is it great for cold-weather rides with the proper layering, but it’s packable enough to stash away for summer thunderstorms. The rubberized sleeve cuffs and the 4-way stretch put this one over the top for me.
Buy Now: Available at Amazon.com (black color)
