Assos × Mammut ML Hybrid Vest: the vest that goes beyond cycling

In the world of cycling apparel, sleeveless vests are often treated as secondary accessories. A small, extra windbreaker, slipped on at the top of a pass, taken off on the first climb, and often forgotten at the bottom of a pocket. And yet, when well thought out, a vest can be much more than that. It can become a central piece of equipment, a link between seasons, disciplines, and even lifestyles. This is precisely what the ML Hybrid Vest offers, the result of a collaboration between two Swiss brands that have left nothing to chance: Assos, the uncontestof cycling technology, and Mammut, pioneer of cycling equipmenttagTogether, they have created an atypical, even daring product: a hybrid vest with outdoor DNA, designed for cycling—but not only.

By Jeff Tatard – Photos: DR

Designed for action, not for the showcase

From the very first moment, we understand that this vest does not follow the standards of the classic cycling wardrobe. Here, we are far from the ultra-fitted, compressive Aero cuts, tailored for pure performance on route smooth. The ML Hybrid Vest instead takes a much more functional approach, almost mytagnarde in its spirit: a fairly straight cut, which leaves room for movement, a second layer, or a backpack. It is a strong choice, which reflects Mammut's desire to transpose its clothing codes outdoor towards bicycle use. And this is where the positioning becomes interesting: we are not in purely cycling aesthetics. We are in use.

This ML Hybrid Vest doesn't try to tick the usual boxes. It redefines them.

This vest will not suit those looking for a skin-tight garment ready to scrape off watts or minimize aerodynamic drag.. It is aimed at a different tribe: that of traveling cyclists, committed gravel riders, or simply everyday users of the bike, in varied, sometimes unforeseen contexts. It is a piece made for mixed routes, changing conditions, hybrid practices.

A multi-speed textile construction

Under its sober exterior, the ML Hybrid Vest conceals a truly complex textile architecture, where each material is selected to fulfill a specific function:

• On the torso, it is the Pertex® Quantum Air which acts as a breathable shield. This lightweight, windproof, and water-repellent fabric effectively protects against cold drafts, while allowing moisture to escape during exercise.

• Inside, there is a layer of active insulation Polartec® Alpha®, designed to regulate body heat. Unlike traditional quilted vests, this technology does not create overheating. It insulates, but adapts.

• In the back, an ultra-breathable stretch panel ensures natural ventilationThis is the vest's “thermal chimney,” which prevents any accumulation of heat and perspiration, even during an intense climb or under a backpack.

• Finally, the two-way YKK zip allows you to adjust ventilation in real time: you open it from the bottom to let air circulate without exposing your chest — a detail that seems trivial, but which makes a real difference in use.

Result: an extremely well-balanced vest, which protects without confining, which insulates without suffocating. And which above all remains usable in very varied contexts, from the Alpine pass to the urban alleyway via the singletrack forest.

Detail of the high collar and two-way zip: a discreet Assos signature, almost invisible... but always there when needed.

A sober, almost chameleon-like aesthetic

Where Assos has always excelled is in the art of technical minimalism.The ML Hybrid Vest is no exception to this logic: no ostentatious branding, no flashy style effect. The finishes are precise, the stand-up collar perfectly cut, and the laser stitching gives the garment great finesse.

But this time, the Mammut touch is also felt. The vest doesn't just look like a cycling garment. It evokes more.taga technical vest for fast hiking, or a premium urban garment, that you could put on for a weekend in mytagor a city trip by bike.

And if we had to make just one criticism regarding the design: The choice of red currently on offer is divisiveToo bright for some, a little too sporty for others. A more neutral color—black, olive, slate—would have enhanced the model's urban versatility. But that's a matter of taste, and this kind of collaboration evolves quickly: other colors are sure to follow.

This isn't a cardigan designed to break records—and that's a good thing. On this morning's commute to the office, with a cool breeze, its loose, comfortable fit did just the job.

One vest, many contexts

What is most impressive in use is the fluidity of adaptation of the ML Hybrid VestWe take it out early in the morning, when the air is still sharp. We keep it on the way up, because it wicks away heat well. We forget about it on the way down, because it protects without flapping. And we end up keeping it on once we get off the bike, to drink coffee or go shopping, because it fits so well.

It's not just for cycling. It's a piece of active living. A garment you slip into your bag without thinking, because you know it can be used in a thousand different ways:

Commute to work at dawn
Gravel outing in mytagne
Quick hike with friends
Getaway by train or van
Urban terrace, without denying its style

At €200, is it a good investment?

The price, yes, can make you wince. We're talking about €200 for a sleeveless vest. But if we judge it through the grid alone, "“It’s expensive for a windbreaker.”, we miss its true value.

It is neither an emergency windbreaker nor a down jacket. and, too. It is a product premium liquors, built with cutting-edge technical materials, designed to last, optimized for a multitude of uses, and capable of replacing several less effective layers. At this level of performance, durability, and versatility, the price quickly becomes rational. You're not buying an accessory. You're investing in a central piece of your multi-season gear.

Out of the pocket just before the tipping point: light, compact, but protective enough to withstand any small gusts of wind on the descent.

The everyday sports vest

This ML Hybrid Vest succeeds in a rare bet in the highly segmented world ofoutdoor and cycling: it connects several worlds without ever betraying anyIt will suit those who ride long, early, late, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. For those who carry a bag, who venture out on the trails, who want a garment that is as useful as it is aesthetic.

This isn't the vest for those aiming for KOMs. It's for those who choose to live by bike, bytagto mix the bitumen with the earth, and to draw their own line between route and path.