The Lusso Aqua Repel V2 is the UK company's latest jacket and it's an impressive piece of kit, ticking almost every box for winter riding in mixed conditions.
With a name like this, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Lusso hails from a cycling hotbed in northern Italy.
The brand is from the north, alright: north Manchester, just outside the city in Radcliffe.
It’s a region of the UK that’s not exactly known for its wall-to-wall sunshine, which explains the existence of the Aqua Repel V2, designed to be as close as possible to a one-stop shop for your winter needs.
Lusso Aqua Repel V2 specifications and performance
The best waterproof jackets will keep the rain out, but may fail to keep you warm, while a solid windproof jacket will likely achieve the reverse.
Leading all-round jackets, though, will put up stoic resistance to both wind and rain, and function as the only jacket you’ll need for much of your winter riding campaign. It’s a balance that Lusso strikes beautifully with the Aqua Repel V2.
The first thing I noticed about the Aqua Repel V2 is how light it is. At a claimed 363g for a medium size, there’s nothing bulky about it and you might wonder just how warm this jacket is going to be in chilly conditions.
Lusso makes use of a thin, lightweight but warming fabric from Windtex, called Storm Shield, which is also highly water repellent (10,000mm). It easily fended off the brief heavy showers that we tested it in on the road and, with a rating like this, will surely tolerate more.
The lack of bulk is emphasised by the inner fabric, which is dimpled like a golf ball. It makes the jacket thinner as a result, but it’s a warming fleecy material designed to take sweat away from your skin or baselayer to the outside.
The cut is performance fit, with little bunching of material. The high collar, when zipped all the way to the top, interfered slightly around my windpipe, but it’s a minor quibble and doesn’t get in the way to the degree of other jackets.
The tail of the jacket is particularly long for its type and enhances the water repellence, keeping ground spray off your backside.
There are reflective details, around the rear pockets, tail and on the Lusso logo on the chest to boost visibility, added to the fact that the pale blue design catches the eye out on the road.
Three rear pockets sit alongside a fourth zipped option – a small but welcome addition that you don’t always see on such jackets.
How we tested
A good winter cycling jacket is a valuable addition to any cyclist’s wardrobe.
Compared to a typical waterproof cycling jacket, winter jackets favour breathability and insulation over total protection from rainy weather.
This makes them a good choice for damp or cold riding conditions, where wearing a fully waterproof jacket would be uncomfortable or unnecessary.
Most will feature some kind of windproof membrane and will be treated with a durable water-repellent coating to shed off showers. Look out for fleece or fibre pile insulation if you run cold and want the cosiest jacket possible.
Our testers tried out 12 of the best winter cycling jackets on the market, racking up plenty of grimy autumn and winter miles in the Mendip Hills in the process.
Lusso Aqua Repel V2 bottom line
All in all, the Lusso Aqua Repel V2 is very effective at keeping out wind and rain, which in turn should keep you out on the road, enjoying your ride.
This is a lightweight, insulating jacket that performs like a heavyweight.
Product
| Brand | lusso |
| Price | 256.00 AUD,162.00 EUR,135.00 GBP,185.00 USD |
Features
| br_gender | mens |
| Features | Sizes: S-XXL Material: Windproof and water repellant Windtex Stormshield fabric Zip: Full length front zip with internal zip guard Pockets: Three rear plus 1 zipped Colours: Blue; Black |
