Macna Ascent jacket review
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- The Ascent’s concept, one has to acknowledge, is brilliant. The benefits of a down jacket, combined with the benefits of an electric one.
The core electrical components of the Ascent jacket are exactly the same as Macna’s longstanding Centre jacket. The Centre jacket never generated the highest levels of heat; just 50 Watts, as opposed to the 90 Watts of, for example, the Warm&Safe heated jacket. But for those of us who don’t get up at five on a November morning to commute into work, the Centre jacket was more than enough. It was warmer than anything that wasn’t heated and, of course, as it was powered by the bike it would generate heat all day long.
The Ascent will do the same. And more. Because of the jacket’s down filling, it will trap warm air in the way that no other heated jacket does.
But let’s be clear. As a standalone down jacket, the Ascent is no Klim Maverick. it’s no Rukka Down-X. It’s no Arcteryx. It’s a down jacket, the constituent parts of which are 90% duck down and 10% duck feather. Yes it will trap heat, but at this kind of price you are not going to get the the very highest ‘fill-power’ rating.
We’ll come on to talk about all the technical aspects of the Ascent jacket, but the only downside we have come across is that it takes the jacket a little longer to warm up. With the Centre, the heating panels were almost in touch with the body. You could very swiftly feel the heat that was being generated. It takes longer with the Ascent because it’s the air inside the down that is initially being heated. This is not a problem. Ultimately, the jacket stays warmer, and for longer, because the heat is being held within the down.
It is just nonsense to suggest, as some people do, that there is anything complicated about heated gear.
All you need to do is connect a harness to the bike’s positive and negative terminals. The connecting lead then hangs down on the right hand side of the bike, poking out from under the saddle. You then connect the lead from the jacket to the lead from the battery. And that’s it.
Now with some brands you have to buy a separate Bluetooth controller to adjust the level of heat that is being generated by the jacket. But not with Macna. You can still adjust the heat, of course, but there are two simple ways of doing this. You can either use the rubber button on the right breast of the jacket. Or you can download the Macna app., and control the heat levels via your phone. Really, in the world of heated clothing, it doesn’t get cleverer or more simple than this.
One of the issues with heated jackets is making sure that the bike generates enough electrical power to power the jacket when it’s turned up to the max. The Warm&Safe, for example, should not be used on bikes much below, say 400cc, but the Ascent jacket, like the Centre, is rated at only 6 Ah, so the jacket can be used on nearly all bikes, although it might not advisable on a long ride on a 125 at night!
The good news, though, is that the Ascent can be used in conjunction with a BMW Can-bus socket, which limits the draw to 5 amps. The other option that is available with the Ascent is to use a portable, 12v battery. Now we are not always great fans of going down this route because inevitably a portable battery will run down. It doesn’t make sense, therefore, to use a portable battery if you’re riding on the bike, especially as the jacket will generate more heat if it’s connected to the bike.
But off the bike, it’s a slightly different matter. The Ascent will work just like any other down jacket, but if you can suffuse it with a little extra, electrically-generated heat you could stay warmer off the bike; and for quite a bit longer. On the lowest setting, the portable, 12v battery will generate heat for more than three hours. On the highest setting, you would get an hour and a half. Of course, you could always carry a spare battery if you needed more time.
Getting colder than you need to on the bike does not make sense. You simply cannot ride safely if you are shivering with cold. You will ride better and more safely if you are comfortable. It’s as simple as that. Remember, the Ascent is only a jacket, but what needs to be borne in mind is that if you are keeping your core warm your heart will be pumping warm blood all around the body, meaning that you will be warmer all over.
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I have this jacket and i love it! I wear this combined with heated macna glove's (wires comes out the sleeves) all year long. Also in cold summer mornings. When you used to it, you never will miss it again. I ride with this jacket in snowing Norway without any pain. Thanks for the review, you told it very well
Quality product from Holland!!👍👍
Hi Nick. I am heading to Norway from Scotland in June so your advice will be very helpful.I know it might sound like a silly question but what was the jacket you wore on top of it like? I have one of the 3in1 jackets and I am worried that even with 1 or 2 layers off the Macna jacket would be too bulky and feel too tight when wearing the main jacket. Have you got any advise on that? Many thanks!
@@alfonsoramundo6390 Hello, Yes I generally wear it under my Revit flare 2 jacket. (even with the winter lining still in it) and I also have a Revit Echelon jacket and that is much easier because it does not come standard with a winter lining. Both jackets are doing fine. If it really fits too tight, you can consider leaving your standard winter lining out. the heated jacket does its job so well that you will no longer get cold. good luck with your decision!
@@Nick-me9tlMuch appreciated!
I’ve been using this for a few months now under my Revit Trench and I love it! Most of the time I don’t even turn it on, the down filling alone keeps me pretty warm. Off the bike just hide the cables and it looks like a normal jacket.
I just wish there was a remote control for the heat settings.
Thanks Chris I emailed you a while back for this review, I ended up buying the gilet and I'm very happy, had the Centre and found it never kept me warm, tried the Gerbing one too, that was too bulky but so cosy Ascent is a thumbs up from me.
Can the macna ascent be used as a windstopper layer for the marrakech like the warm and safe jacket, so for when heat is not yet needed? The macna center is more like a base layer so i support the center jacket cant be used as windstopper.
Finally a review of this jacket :)
Loved the heating of my Macna Centre, but never like the materials. In my experience it provides almost no insulation, but takes up a lot of room under your motorcycle jacket. So as soon as you turn it off you are cold. Maybe I will sell it and pick this one up.
A good thing also, this seems really well priced for what it is. MoskoMoto's Ectotherm is similar and costs more than double, at least in my country.
The only thing I don't like, is that the button is still there on the chest. The way Moskomoto did it seems like a much better idea.
Hello Chris! Which one would you recommend between the Macna Centre and the Ascent?
Many thanks.
Hi! Great review, as usual. Can you tell me how long would it typically take for it to get warm? I ride a Tenere World Raid if it matters for that purpose. my concern is that my commuting only takes 30 minutes and I wonder whether it is enough for me to ride most of the journey warm. Thank you.
Within a minute or two. Definitely worth it for a 30 minute ride!
How does this fit over an armored shirt, for e.g. a knox urbane pro mk3? Do you need a size bigger?
Good review Chris..one question, can the jacket be folded down quite small...or will this damage the heating elements...? Cheers Steve
Yes, it’s quite foldable, but I wouldn’t stuff it into a stuff sack like a normal down jacket because I wouldn’t want to damage the connectors. So, within reason, fine. CP
@Chris @motolegends, will you be stocking the Gillet version and any chance of a review of the Gillet and how you connect this to the macna 2.0 gloves. Thank you in advance. Mo
Don’t think there is a gilet version of the Ascent? CP
Is it compatible with an Optimate lead as I already have one of those fitted to my bike ? Thanks
Are the connectors in this compatible with other brands i.e. Gerbing gloves? They look similar. Is there a standard plug across the brands?
No, not compatible; sorry! CP
Which heated jacket would you buy Chris with your own money? This one, or the warm and safe on a large motorbike
Luckily, it’s never my own money! But for maximum heat I would go Warm & Safe. However, I have the Macna for my Honda 300 CRF because I’m concerned about the draw. The Macna is great value for money. The W&S is warmer. The Macna is more comfortable. Not sure it’s a money issue; it’s about what’s important to you. CP
How does the Belstaff down jacket compare to the Klim and Rukka equivalents?
They are similar. People prefer the badge on the Belstaff. I suspect the Rukka might be the warmest. But for me the combination of on and off the bike takes me to the Klim; warm enough, but stylish enough for going to lunch in a nice restaurant. CP
I got one jacket from Macna. The quality was poor, the seems came off at the back pieces of the jacket after wearing not for long time. Won't be surprised that they were made from Bangladesh. Not gonna buy this brand anymore.