Sugoi RSE Neoshell Jacket

The Sugoi RSE NeoShell waterproof jacket might be expensive but it is very, very breathable.

Sugoi say that the RSE NeoShell is “the most breathable waterproof cycling jacket on the planet”. That's a helluva claim. On what basis do they make it?

Okay, so Sugoi have teamed up with Polartec, producers of the NeoShell fabric. 

Polartec say: ”Almost all other waterproof fabrics use continuous film membrane technology and therefore rely on diffusion to move water vapour molecules. Moisture and heat have to generate enough pressure inside your jacket so the moisture vapour can finally pass through the fabric.

“With its exclusive membrane technology, Polartec NeoShell engages convection to move moisture vapour away rapidly. Even at extremely low levels of pressure, air flows in and out of the fabric. This pulls the moisture vapour out to help keep you drier during high-exertion activities.”

Polartec have a big pdf online if you want to know more about the tech. If you don't have the time or inclination to wade through it, here are Polartec's claims in short:

• NeoShell can withstand 10,000mm of water pressure in a hydrostatic resistance test. That's not massive compared to some other jackets out ther but Polartec say that going beyond this level is unnecessary.
• NeoShell has more than twice the airflow of even the very best competitor waterproof/breathable fabrics.

In short, Polartec say that NeoShell “protects like a hard shell, breathes like a soft shell”.

The tech is all very interesting but the bottom line is whether it works or not out on the road and here's the thing: it does.

With a lot of waterproofs  you quickly get sweaty inside to the point that it's sometimes not worth putting a jacket on in light rain. People often think jackets are leaking when, in fact, the dampness is caused by sweat that can't get out.

With the RSE NeoShell, you can definitely sweat quite a lot and still stay dry. How much drier than normal? Well, it's not quite amazing but it's certainly surprising. I still needed to open the offset front zip when going up a big climb or things would start to get tropical inside, but the difference is that on the flat you don't get the same level of gradual, creeping dampness that you do with most other jackets.

As well as that full-length front zip, you get Velcro tabs at the wrists that allow you to regulate the internal climate further. Oh, and there's a drawcord around the waist that you can adjust too.

I've ridden in this jacket in all sorts of wet conditions over the past few months and it has kept the water out really well. All the seams are taped, of course, and after several trips through the washing machine that taping is still looking good. A couple of little ripples have developed where rain could eventually seep in, but they're not in particularly exposed areas.

Sugoi describe the cut as a Pro Fit, designed for low wind drag. I found it slim enough, and just the tiniest amount of stretch helps with the fit, but I think that the back should be considerably longer to keep your butt dry. The tail is dropped, but I'd have preferred it to be quite a bit longer for more coverage back there when bent over and on the drops. Basically, my butt got wet when I didn't have mudguards fitted.

Speaking of the back, you get two pockets around there with water-resistant zips (like the front zip). There's another zipped pocket on the chest that'll take most mobile phones, including iPhones. Other features include a fleece-lined collar and reflective detailing front and rear. If you want more visibility than this black option provides, the jacket is also available in red.

The RSE Neoshell doesn't pack down super-small but you can roll it up and squeeze it into a jersey pocket, just about, and that's the main thing as far as I'm concerned.

Verdict

Very expensive but super-breathable waterproof