Spada Ascent V3 Jacket Review: Great Value, But Don’t Get it Too Wet
This textile jacket from Spada impressed in many ways, but the wet-weather performance was a disappointment
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54 years 8 months
UK brand Spada is undergoing something of a rejuvenation, with radically overhauled branding and a new range of products. The Spada Ascent V3 you see here, though, is more of a legacy product - it’s been around a while and, for the time being at least, carries the old logos.
Having tested the textile motorcycle jacket for thousands of miles, incorporating both on and off-road riding in a variety of weather conditions, I reckon it’s still well worth a look.
Key features:
- CE level 2 armour
- Removable thermal layer
- Removable water-resistant layer
- Double-stitched construction
The Ascent V3 scores well in terms of value - at £229.99 it won’t break the bank - and yet it comes with thicker CE2-level armour. You get a five-piece set including a back protector, shoulder, and elbow armour. Despite the chunkier armour, the jacket doesn’t feel bulky to wear and is on the whole very comfortable. After some long days in the saddle wearing the jacket, I’ve never had any noticeably sore bits anywhere on my person.
The sizing is on the bigger side - the size small sample I requested was roomier than expected, so bear that in mind when ordering. It’s definitely worth trying on in a brick-and-mortar store if you can.
My six-month test of the jacket included wearing it for some trail riding in the Peak District and the Sweet Lamb Ducati DRE Offroad Experience on Ducati Desert X and Desert X Rally models. It received a good splattering of muddy water on the latter, which meant the jacket did have to go through the wash.
After all that riding and a trip through the washing machine (as per the label instructions and with the armour taken out), there’s minimal fraying, but the finish on the black parts of the jacket is looking a bit second-hand in places, as seen in the below image.
Ventilation hasn’t been an issue, so it’s a jacket you can wear quite happily on warmer days, and there’s a zip-in thermal liner which is easy to attach. It’s a three-layer jacket, with an additional layer described as ‘water-resistant’.
I suppose it is ‘water-resistant’...for all of about five minutes. The jacket doesn’t feature a laminated water-proof layer like Gore-Tex or Aquashell - instead, it just gets drenched, with the zip-in water-resistant layer expected to keep the wet from getting any further. However, on one wet ride on the way back from BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch, southern Germany, dampness started seeping in through the arms after about five minutes, and the chest area after about 10.
After a while, my baselayer was pretty wet, so I ended up having to pull into a petrol station, switch to a dry one and don a cheap raincoat between that and the wet jacket. My advice? Don’t expect the Ascent to be an all-in-one solution - if there’s even the slightest chance of rain, bring a separate, external waterproof layer to throw on top.
Should you buy a Spada Ascent V3 jacket?
So long as you aren’t expecting it to keep you dry in a downpour, the Ascent V3 is worth a look. While the wet weather performance left me disappointed (and soggy), in most other areas the jacket has impressed, particularly in terms of value. It’s an aesthetically pleasing jacket, and there’s also a corresponding pair of trousers if you want to complete the look. Those are pretty good value, too.
