Assos Mille GT Ultraz Winter Jacket

Tell us what the jacket is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

From Assos: "An elevated take on our much-acclaimed and iconic Bonka jacket, the all-new membrane on this ULTRA winter jacket serves up the ultimate equipment for riding in the most frigid conditions. We've gone to extremes in conjuring superlative insulation, climate control and detailing in this meticulously engineered winter jacket, which we've ensured will hit winter out of the park"

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the jacket?

From Assos:

NEOS LIGHT: Our in-house developed tri-layer lightweight soft-shell constructed with a bonded PU membrane. Water-repellent and close fitting, this tech-savvy textile is waterproof to >10 m and highly breathable. Used in twinDeck on the frontal panel and upper back/carré. Waterproof >10 MT. High breathability MVP 27.000 gr/m2/24h JIS L 1099 B-1:2006.

NEOS ULTRA in twinDeck with RX: Our proprietary ultra-thin dual-layer soft-shell, constructed with a bonded PU membrane is used on the upper sleeves. Water-repellent, close-fitting and highly breathable. Waterproof >10 MT. High breathability MVP 44.500 gr/m2/24h JIS L 1099 B-1:2006.

RX: In two weights, deployed strategically as a lining and as the dorsal panel. A brushed bi-stretch warp knit fabric with wicking and thermoregulation performance.

Integrated neck protection: The latest evolution of our lauded neck protector created using our thermal RX soft-shell. Now more ergonomic than ever, the neck protector can be subtly stowed in the elastic holder when not needed or pulled out for crucial moments to provided added warmth.

'Triple ramp' concept pockets: Using all of our riding experiences we have created our new pocket design with the optimal height for ease of access. Thoroughly tested pocket design with a new, game-changing layout that ensures your contents are secure and stable regardless of your exertion. Internal seams fashion a barely there closure to keep your wares in check. For this winter jacket these now feature longer reflective stripes for enhanced visibility.

Rear stabilizer S7 knit: A mono-stretch material with minimal give in the vertical axis. The ASSOS rear stabilizer panel design allows for stable, high capacity pockets that won't sag.

2W waistWave construction: For a cleaner look and more ergonomic edges in our Sens Bicolor textile.

Raglan cut: Comfort-led sleeve design with a raglan cut for easy, free movement and reduced drag.

Full-length camLock zip: Slim, lightweight zip for individually adjusting to the conditions.

It's quickly apparent that Assos has considered each panel's design and then put the jacket together very well. The stitching is very good and nothing feels like it has changed from new.

After a hot summer, I'd forgotten just how cold it can get on a bike. This has become my go-to jacket for anything below 10°C and it doesn't feel heavy, restrictive or sweaty when riding. Put simply, this jacket performs perfectly.

So far, I've taken this out seven times and washed it after six of those rides. The waterproof coating is still going strong and the inner fabric is still perfectly soft.

This isn't a full-on waterproof, but it has seen me able to leave my rain jacket in my pocket until the heaviest stuff starts. Assos rates it to 10m but in practise, it defends you against wheel spray, light rain and a strong shower.

This breathes really well for a multi-layer winter jacket. You can tap along in zone 2 without getting soaked in sweat.

Everything feels like it's spot on. The back isn't dropped too much but it still protects well. The sleeves finish perfectly on the wrist and the collar is snug on the neck but not restrictive.

Sizing I would say is very good indeed. My medium wasn't tight but it also wasn't too loose. You'll easily get more layers on underneath and a rain jacket fits over the top.

It's a solid winter jacket.

Flawless. It allows you to move freely, doesn't feel bulky and it fits perfectly on and off the bike.

It ain't cheap… but it is £15 less than Castelli's Alpha. If you've got this kind of cash then you'll be getting a great product for your money. That sounds like good value to me.

How easy is the jacket to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

You're going to want to look after this... wash it at 30°C then hang it up to dry. But that's pretty much all cycling kit these days.

Tell us how the jacket performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It really was excellent in the cold weather. I only really got sweaty when I decided to do some climbing intervals. When rolling around the flatlands at zone 2 (basically, riding steady but able to chat), there's no overheating.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

The comfort you get is brilliant. The inner fabric is so soft and the fit means you're never restricted, on or off the bike.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

I'd rather have the snood as a separate item.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market including ones recently tested on road.cc?

I'd say that its direct rival is Castelli's Alpha jacket. They both promise the same performance and they both deliver.

Use this box to explain your overall score

Absolutely fabulous to wear and performs exceptionally on its own or as part of a layering system. The breathability is great and the temperature range is anything below 10°C. The snood annoyed me a little bit as I'm used to being able to choose when I wear one, and stowing it down your back isn't the best solution. Other than that, though, and a price that some will find hard to swallow, it's a brilliant bit of kit that will last for years.