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review

Fat Lad At The Back Next Gen Cycling Winter Long Sleeve Jacket

8
£159.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Impressive performance and good fit from this all-season softshell jacket designed for big (and not so big) riders
Weight: 
435g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Fat Lad At The Back's Next Gen Cycling Winter Long Sleeve jacket offers great year-round ability. Get past any initial reservations about fit and you'll find it's an impressive and high-performance bit of kit dedicated towards larger riders, which should protect you from all but the very worst weather.

  • Pros: Very comfy on the bike, fantastic weather protection, fairly flattering
  • Cons: Feels and looks a bit weird off the bike, cuffs need sorting out, not cheap

I must admit, my initial impressions of the Next Gen jacket weren't favourable. On first wearing, the cut around the chest and armpit area had the same effect as a push-up bra with this particular full-bosomed gentlemen. I went from having just a relatively big chest to being fully moobed, which isn't really the look I'm going for right now. Certainly, it's significantly tighter across the chest than the FLATB Hexy Jacksey I tested recently. But – and it's a very big but – these concerns only apply off the bike.

> Buy this online here

As soon as you're in the saddle reaching for the handlebar, you forget about feeling like a Dolly Parton tribute act, because your arms are in exactly the position that the jacket has been designed to accommodate. What's 'unusual' when standing straight with shoulders back becomes absolutely perfect when you're leaning forward on the hoods or drops.

FLATB Next Gen front 2.jpg

Arm length is perfect and the fit around the lower half of the torso is good, with a bit of room for chaps with even larger tummies than me.

FLATB Next Gen bottom 2.jpg

The flap at the rear is substantial – possibly a touch large – but it protects backsides with aplomb. Effectively, this really is a well-designed high-performance jacket for larger riders and in use it feels fantastic.

FLATB Next Gen rear flap 2.jpg

Performance

Material quality is also excellent. The soft touch three-layer rain and windproof fabric doesn't feel thick but exhibits very impressive technical properties. I used it with just a long-sleeve baselayer in temperatures that hovered around 5-6°C and I think most people could easily get away with that setup. Windproofing is particularly good, with little to no chill getting through the front. Waterproofing is impressive, as well. In fact, it was so good in typical daily drizzle I had to put the jacket under the shower to see how far it would go, and it stood up to that, too. Only rain-magnet cuffs let the side down.

FLATB Next Gen cuff 2.jpg

None of this performance comes at the cost of breathability. There are vented front pockets and deep stretch panels under the arms and along the sides to aid perspiration control. These sections aren't waterproof, but their inclusion means that, with a fair idea of your personal preferences and requirements, it's easy to maintain warm but not moist riding conditions.

FLATB Next Gen side on 2.jpg

There are also some little extras that further recommend the Next Gen jacket. In terms of practicalities, there is a good selection of pockets: one zipped either side and three open at the back. FLATB's trademark inscribed soft collar makes for a comfy closure at the top.

FLATB Next Gen neck 2.jpg

The blue colourway we have here is smart – there are also high-vis yellow and ultra-reserved black options – and comes with reflective piping on the tail hem. And something that really should not be overlooked is the fact that the black stretch side panels are rather flattering and tend to slim the wearer up. Every little helps!

FLATB Next Gen back 2.jpg

Value

It's not entirely faultless, though. The biggest criticism I have with construction is something that also applies to the Hexy Jacket: those soft Lycra cuffs that are prone to getting soggy are also too loose and really could do with tightening up.

Then there's the question of value, because at a penny shy of £160 this is not a cheap option. I mentioned in my other FLATB jacket review that the Galibier Mistral offers much the same performance yet is incredible value at £72.76. And it's not just Galibier: the Sweet Protection Crossfire and the excellent Lusso Aqua Extreme Repel V2 both come in below £160.

> Buyer's Guide: 18 of the best winter cycling jackets

However, none of those brands go up to 52in chests (although Galibier does go to 50in and Lusso 48in). Also, there's something rather endearing about FLATB kit – it's not quite novelty, but it is certainly fun and a little quirky. Of course, it would be even more fun at a cheaper price. But if you're looking for a really solid multi-season outer layer to go round your ample frame, Fat Lad At The Back's Next Gen jacket won't disappoint.

Verdict

Impressive performance and good fit from this all-season softshell jacket designed for big (and not so big) riders

road.cc test report

Make and model: Fat Lad At The Back Next Gen Cycling Winter Long Sleeve Jacket

Size tested: 46in

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?

An all-weather jacket designed for larger gentlemen.

Fat Lad At The Back says it is: "Our next generation and most versatile crappy weather jacket yet, designed to provide the utmost flexibility across the seasons, layer up and down as the temperatures change. We've gone back to the drawing board for our new Winter Long Sleeve, combining our exceptional curve-friendly cut and flattering pattern placement with a complete redesign of this winter staple to meet the needs of today's cyclist. This will be your go to jacket whether you're riding for pleasure or training."

I think that's pretty much correct.

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

Jersey like, soft touch 180grm three-layer membrane provides protection from the wind and rain (10,000+ waterproof and 12,000+ breathability)

Deep stretch jersey panels to under arm and sides for superior wicking and breathability (not waterproof)

YKK zips

Vent front pockets for additional ventilation

3 large rear pockets

Drop tail with reflective detail

Soft Lycra cuff

Beautiful hi-vis design with flattering pattern placement

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Nicely made. No complaints at all.

Rate the jacket for performance:
 
9/10

Does everything it sets out to do very well.

Rate the jacket for durability:
 
8/10

Looks well made and durable.

Rate the jacket for waterproofing based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
9/10

Really good – only the cuffs let it down.

Rate the jacket for breathability based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
9/10

Again, excellent.

Rate the jacket for fit:
 
9/10

Feels very strange off the bike when you first put it on. Feels great once you get in a riding position.

Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
10/10

Perfect.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
8/10

Doesn't seem unduly heavy, but it's no absolute featherweight.

Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
9/10

Really good.

Rate the jacket for value:
 
7/10

Slightly on the dear side, but if you're big enough to need one of the larger sizes, you may not have many alternative choices.

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

Yup. Put it in the washing machine at 30 degrees, don't tumble.

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

Really well. Kept me warm and dry and happy.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

Technical performance is perhaps better than you'd imagine from a slightly niche brand.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

I don't like Fat Lad At The Back's cuffs – I wish they'd make them tighter!

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

Slightly expensive. The Galibier Mistral (https://road.cc/content/review/250844-galibier-mistral-foul-weather-jacket) offers much the same performance at just £72.76. The Sweet Protection Crossfire (https://road.cc/content/review/250043-sweet-protection-crossfire-jacket) costs £130 and the excellent Lusso Aqua Extreme Repel V2 (https://road.cc/content/review/241003-lusso-aqua-extreme-repel-v2-jacket) costs £150.

Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes

Would you consider buying the jacket? Yes

Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Fat Lad At The Back's Next Gen jacket is something of a revelation, offering very accomplished technical performance from a brand better known for its niche focus. There are a couple of improvements that could be made, and it's not cheap, but if you want a proper cycling jacket for bigger chaps, this is it.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 6'0  Weight: 16 stone

I usually ride: Islabikes Beinn 29  My best bike is: 25-year-old Dawes Galaxy

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mountain biking, leisure

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1 comments

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huntswheelers | 5 years ago
0 likes

I have one of these excellent jacket/jerseys.... Wore it last weekend when it was -2c and with only a long sleeve base layer underneath. I agree about the cuffs but it's a small price to pay. I purchased this at £112  so a bargain... I do have a previous FLAB jacket which was a jacket to be worn over a jersey, this jacket is more of a jersey. The materials are as good as or better than in many cases to the usual rated "brands" . Windproofing is superb as is water proofing.... Top jersey imho and with a steath look rather than bold Fat Lad branding. Bonus for me was too that cycling has allowed me to drop a size too....

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