Thoroughbred style and promising performance for a price that won’t land you in the doghouse
I'VE been after a retro wax cotton jacket for a while now and Spada’s Staffy looked like it would fit the bill, for less, er… bills than a similar garment from the likes of Belstaff.
I had wanted a jacket like this to compliment my BMW R80 café racer, and although the BMW only comes out on high days and holidays, it's been a different case for the Staffy because over the past few months I’ve really put it through its paces on my daily commute.
In keeping with the retro/casual feel, it’s got antique-style brass effect poppers and buckles which add to what I suppose you can call its ‘heritage styling’. The poppers and buckles all do what they’re meant to, but the buckles are the only clue to the price of this jacket because they don’t feel particularly robust.
Protection comes from Spada’s CE-approved soft armour. It’s designed to offer protection without the volume of traditional armour, so you can get away with wearing the Staffy off the bike. I’ve worn it out to social events and although I am aware the armour’s there, it is comfortable and doesn’t get in the way.
The shoulders have decorative leather diamond stitched panels which add to the retro flavour and contribute some additional abrasion resistance. The cuffs are fitted with poppers which meant I could easily fine tune the fit to go under or over my gloves.
So the styling hits the mark, and some of the styling elements also contribute to Staffy’s performance too – like the storm flap collar, which does a good job at keeping the wind at bay.
The main zip is also protected by a wind flap which fastens with poppers, behind which behind sits a rain gutter flap. The rain gutter flap prevents water that has seeped through and from travelling any further.
I chose the Staffy because I was after something stylish and protective, so water resistance wasn’t a key my factor in my decision but when I was caught out in the rain recently I found no water got through either of the protective flaps. That was an added bonus, but I can’t tell you how effective it will be in a proper downpour.
Storage is aplenty thanks to four sensibly sized pockets at the front, each with a rain gutter to stop moisture from getting in. There are two inside pockets as well.
The Staffy’s three-quarter length meant it kept me well insulated on the bike because it comes down enough to cover my lower back. It also didn’t ride up and allow body heat to escape. There is a detachable thermal lining that helps with warmth too, and fortunately isn’t a faff to remove because you just zip it out and undo the poppers at the sleeve.
I have worn the Staffy with a t-shirt with an ambient temperature of 12-14 degrees and I was comfortable. Recently I wore the jacket in sub-zero conditions, I used the jacket with a down mid-layer and also tested it wearing a heated vest, and was comfortable with both options.
For £169 the Staffy is stylish and quality genuine alternative to more expensive jackets from brands like Belstaff. Jackets like this can often be expensive and before I used it, I wondered if this particular Staffy might be a bit of a mongrel. I’m pleased that it’s been anything but.
Tested: Spada Staffy jacket
Price: £169
Colours: Brown and black
Contact: Feridax
- Sign up for Visordown's weekly newsletter, Bugsplat, to get the best motorcycle news, road tests and features plus exclusive competitions and offers direct to your inbox. Register as a Visordown member here and tick the box for Bugsplat in your newsletter settings here.
