Review: ZOIC Coalition Schacket

ZOIC also sent over their Coalition Schacket for review. The Schacket is an enigma of sorts: it’s somewhat like a shirt, kinda like a jacket, but really it’s neither. If you live in a place like my hometown and the temps aren’t always short sleeve weather, this just might be the thing for you.

Specs

The Schacket uses a blend of materials that keep the chill out and feel dry: 57% recycled polyester, 40% polyester, and 3% spandex. Speaking of feel, the Schacket has a slightly thicker feel than a tech tee or a MTB jersey, but not thicker than a flannel. Inside the arms, about a third of the way up, an internal sleeve with a very soft wicking material prevents wind from blowing up and chilling you down.

Up front there are two chest pockets, with the right one doubling as the tech pocket. A silicon opening holds your headphone wire snug when riding. A nine-inch-wide centralized zip pocket in the small of your back holds bigger items if you desire, and a neat silicon-covered zip tab prevents the zip from bouncing around. Zoic calls that their E-Z grip tab.

Application

Having received the Zoic gear late in the season, I haven’t had a chance to use it in warm weather, but I have had many a day using it both indoors at Joyride 150 as well as outdoors. I even find myself using it around the house a lot. Since the shirt doesn’t blatantly stand out as a cycling-only item, it works great as a comfortable kick around shirt as well during cold days.

The Schacket, unlike other “real” shirts, does have some stretch to it, allowing for free movement without any hang ups. I ordered an XL thinking that I would have just a bit of extra room in it. Truth be told, I would have fit better in a Large, so do note that the sizing runs a bit large on these.

Bottom Line

For $85 US, the Schacket will be a nice fit for your wardrobe for those in between days when you’re not too sure about the weather, or for those days you think you’ll be going for beers right after the ride days.

A big thanks to the folks at ZOIC for sending down the Coalition Schacket for review!