Albion, nice and a reasonable amount of pocket locations

@CalAmor this is awesome, very kind of you - got to you just in time for the temp drop
Thanks for all the Zoa comments and feedback, also appreciated. Really pleased with all the Zoa products, completely the result of hands-on/3D development between a fantastic team and the top fabrics.
@Ndeipi They're durable, but certainly not like a hiking or climbing jacket with Cordura shoulder panels for heavy packs/straps/ropes. Backpack more suited with evenly distributed weight, than abrasion from a courier bag being pulled around one shoulder. ...this has got me thinking though, perhaps abrasion panels could be bonded on for specific purposes....
Although we're sub-zero atm, the eagle-eyed among you might have spotted the Lightweight Zoa in the vid link I posted of the hat draw ;) coming next season.
And latest on the Zoa hat; now January launch! Too much on before xmas, so held back. Keep your eyes open for a few in the wild this December.

@honk gahhh, really sorry to hear - I saw your IG post, been keeping my eyes open round Deptford :/
Alas no, the factory very recently closed down, but I'll ask about if we have anything for you!

I'd love to say I've got mine but Royal Mail being on strike has got me waiting!!!!

Ahhh thank you. Shame, they were nice material as well!

Got my Zoa Insulated and leg warmers through the post Saturday... the jacket is amazing, I wasn't going to wear the jacket out tbh as it was meant for the bike but I thought I'd see how warm it was as so many of you have raved about it. I went out shopping in the jacket and a T and was very snug indeed, infact I went out in it yesterday as well. All pockets etc are two way zips which is a great touch, the hood doesn't feel like it's going to get in the way and it's probably got room for a layer or two underneath as well if need be. Money well spent if you ask me... leg warmers feel great as well, hopefully I'll be getting out on the new bike soon so I can give you a better update then. For reference, I'm 6ft with about a 38inch chest and the medium is bang on.

Located one! Should be arriving in studio mid-week if you happen to be passing?

Oh, that's amazing, thanks so much! yes, I should be able to swing by maybe Weds or Thursday if you're still around?

Appreciate I've missed a recent Albion sale - @Chopsicle are Albion planning a post Christmas sale at all?

We are all saving and waiting for the new hat and zoa light with shoulder patches for rucksack wearers .

Having received my package in Japan the night before my Restrap Solstice Century ride last weekend, it gave me a perfect opportunity to test quite a few bits I bought:

STRAVA LINK

Insulated jacket 3.0
Three season pocket tights
Winter socks
Merino riding hat

The temperature was 4 Celsius when I set off and raining a bit (roads were pretty wet).

I combined the Albion bits with a mesh base layer and my team long sleeve jersey, Assos winter gloves and some knit overshoes (spoke to @Chopsicle that night and we were - coincidentally - almost mirroring clothing choices!). In short, with the Albion items, I was probably the most comfortably warm I’ve ever been on the bike.

The jacket didn’t get too hot at all and felt pretty breathable, likely because of the fit and placement of the baffles, plus the DWR coating meant I didn’t get wet. The three season pocket tights were also spot on for longer distance (good pad, thoughtful placement of the warmer fabrics, rear mesh “tunnel” was perfect for when I did take the jacket off later), albeit the tights got a little wet in spots and this caught the wind slightly, which meant a bit of chill.

My main mistake was knit overshoes (hadn’t been forecast to rain) that got a bit wet. Socks handled the wet very well (weren’t drenched) and with some little foot warmer pouches / patches my feet soon warmed up once dry.

Merino riding hat fitted well under my helmet and, again, was warm but not overly hot. Just about covered the tops of my ears, which is my sweet spot as I get too warm otherwise.

Anyhow, apologies for this post being so long, but just wanted to give some feedback on my first larger Albion purchase as I know some were considering the 3.0 jacket.

How windy was it and how were the gloves?

Gloves are fantastic and one of those weird ones that are so warm and allow so much mobility that they feel like they shouldn’t be so warm. Bloody pricey, mind.

It was quite windy (it’s a coastal route, so it’s unavoidable).

Assos

Are these the Ultraz or Evo gloves? Been considering some for a while.

Interesting - cheers!

They’re just called the “Winter” gloves to the best of my knowledge.

THESE

Agree on the merino riding hat, it’s really nice

Thanks for your thoughts on the 3 season cargo bibs

Working my through some new Albion kit, might post a Nerd Review in a few weeks. I will say that jackets / layering stuff without 2-way zips are kind of tyranny. I am a huge fan of the two-way zipper now.

Lovely, thank you

The black Zoa has finally given me a use for the colour zip pullers from the Tye Dye T-shirt package!

1 Attachment

Please do, I’d want to read it

you could do this as a tiktok

I have the opposite issue, pretty much two-way zip phobic (think this is almost certainly irrational but based on an experience with another two-way zip jacket - not Albion - that no matter what I did would open itself up so that I ended, on a like it or not basis, wearing a cape). Two-way zips seem to becoming increasingly popular too.

I'm really tempted by a Zoa but, and this seems crazy with a new jacket, how tricky would it be to replace the two-way zip with a similar quality one-way zip?

I have become a convert after last weeks minus 7 . Open the bottom for a bit of air and zipped up tight on the chest for warm . My now 10 year old paclite had a double zip and i didn't know until the zip broke this week . Never used it . Saying that my pedaled top never stayed shut and i got a 1 way put in.

Well their zips don't unzip themselves so IMO that would be a bit crazy. I've had my Zoa for a year.

Think about it this way: you are smarter than any jacket. One way zip is either "jacket is working" or "jacket is making me hot" [unzipped]. Two-way means you can closely regulate your temp beyond the limits of the jacket fabric without parachuting around the lanes and flapping out like a bastard

Unsure of your two way zip experience but Rapha use locking zips. If you leave the zip pullers sticking straight out, they're free to move. If they're down flat, they lock