Santini Guard Neos - Jacket with Hood review

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The Santini Guard Neos – Jacket with Hood represents a crossover take on a waterproof jacket. It's part hardshell, part softshell.

This may or may not appeal to you – some will rightfully prefer a pure hardshell or softshell instead, but to others a single jacket that takes the guesswork out of picking your outer layer will be a boon.

There’s also a hood designed to be worn over a helmet, although its secondary use as a neck buff is probably its greatest appeal.

The bottom line is, though, the Santini Guard Neos is an effective and likeable waterproof garment, and one to consider before making a decision. However, at £320 / $408 / €340, it's an expensive choice.

Santini Guard Neos - Jacket with Hood details and specifications

The Santini Guard Neos jacket is constructed using Polartec's Power Shield Pro fabric, which is PFC/PFAS-free.

It’s made with a familiar three-layer construction technique (where textile layers sandwich the membrane), and is claimed to offer a 20,000mm water column and 20,000mg/m²/24hr moisture transfer rate.

This matches Pertex Shield on paper, although Gore-Tex ePE is said to be more waterproof.

Unlike many waterproof jackets, the Guard Neos features sturdy seams (these are taped on the inside), and stitched edging throughout. This gives the garment something of a softshell feel, compared to a typical hardshell.

Adding to this softshell sense are neoprene-outer cuffs and a dropped tail, both backed by a lightly fleeced textile, which hugs close to the skin. This complements the slim overall cut.

The two-way zip, with a distinctive Santini pull ring, is also notably bulky compared to the average.

As the name suggests, the jacket has a hood stashed away in the tall collar (this seals over via a magnetic tab). Santini intends this to be used over a helmet in the worst conditions, although it effectively doubles as a draught excluder when tucked away.

The dark grey inlaid panels across the chest and on the back of the neck are reflective, as is the Santini branding on the dropped tail.

The brand has also included a zipped security pocket on the left-rear flank and an external hang loop on the neck.

This all makes for a fully featured jacket – the only thing missing, arguably, is a zip garage.

It’s available in four colours and eight sizes (XS-4XL), and a women’s version is also sold.

How we tested | waterproof jackets

This group of waterproof jackets were chosen to put to the test the latest PFC/PFAS-free waterproof textile technology.

These jackets are set to be the norm, as older textiles (such as Gore-Tex Active and Shakedry) are retired in response to bans rolling out worldwide.

The jackets were tested in the rain and dry, to assess their ability to resist water as well as their breathability. Each was washed using a technical detergent product, following brand recommendations.

Jackets on test

• Gore Spinshift Gore-Tex Jacket Mens review
• Men’s Rapha Gore-Tex Rain Jacket review
• Scott RC Weather WP Men's Jacket review
• Universal Colours Mono Men's Rain Jacket review
• Santini Guard Neos – Jacket with Hood review
• Albion Men’s All Road Pertex Shield Rain Jacket
• Van Rysel Men's Long-Sleeved Road Cycling Rain Jacket Racer Ultralight

Santini Guard Neos – Jacket with Hood performance

The Santini Guard Neos is a very likeable waterproof jacket, especially if, like me, you prefer a figure-hugging cut.

It fitted me true-to-size – a size large is said to be ideal for those with a 100-104cm chest, and I have a 99-100cm chest. It’s also decently long in the body, while the figure-hugging drop tail adds extra rearguard protection – useful if your bike doesn’t have mudguards.

Combine that with the similarly hugging wrist cuffs, and the hood-filled collar, and I felt well sealed from the elements.

The hood isn’t something I’d naturally use though. Quite apart from looking a little silly (in my opinion) when fitted over a helmet, it’s going to be wet whenever you decide to tuck it away again – not something you especially want around your neck if you can avoid it.

The Polartec fabric offers a little stretch, boosting comfort, and was every bit the equal of other excellent PFC/PFAS-free fabrics when it came to waterproofness and breathability in the real world.

It has washed through effectively and the fabric and DWR treatment continues to function as intended, although I have started to notice slight discolouration on the shoulder seams of my bright orange-coloured sample.

The inner face fabric is also textile-soft against the skin, not something you tend to get in a hardshell jacket.

As a result, it’s not unreasonable to view the Guard Neos as a halfway house garment – to wear, it feels like a cross between a Castelli Perfetto (née Gabba) softshell and a Gore Spinshift or All Road Pertex Shield Rain Jacket hardshell.

The downside is it’s not packable at all. Consider this a garment you put on and keep on, not one you can take on and off as conditions change – and, likely, one for winter use rather than year-round.

I’d also argue that many might prefer to spend money on a more specialist garment for their needs, rather than one that attempts (albeit admirably successfully) to do both.

That said, the main two-way zip is easy to work to boost airflow (the top zip includes Santini’s distinctive large metal pull loop, while the second zip has a rubberised pull tab), and I’m happy to see the zipped security pocket on the rear flank.

All are left-hand accessed and operated though, which for a right-handed wearer can be slightly fiddly. That said, lefties have to deal with this the majority of the time.

There’s also no doubt the £320 / $408 / €340 price tag is extremely high – more expensive than the Men’s Rapha Gore-Tex Rain Jacket (£300 / $380 / €345).

One could argue this is mitigated by the fact that it crosses the divide between hardshell and softshell, but you must also commit to having the one jacket when having the choice of a softshell and hardshell might technically be better. You also stand to benefit by splitting wear across two garments, rather than one.

But then again, for many, a softshell (such as the Castelli Perfetto, at £260 / $279.99 / €229.95) could very well do all the job.

Santini Guard Neos – Jacket with Hood bottom line

The Santini Guard Neo – Jacket with Hood is a very good PFC/PFAS-free waterproof jacket, and it performs well in the conditions it’s designed for.

It straddles the divide between a hardshell and a softshell, which will either appeal or not. As it is, this is one of the few waterproofs I’d reach for on days where rain is guaranteed and the temperature might be cooler.

In this respect, then, it’s impressive and worth considering, especially if the crossover style appeals.

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