Ashley Watson Eversholt Jacket Review

Admin · July 25, 2022

The Eversholt MKII is CE certified at AAA, the highest level. (John Hebert/)

We’re all familiar with stylish motorcycle gear. Hell, it’s the reason some people get into motorcycling to begin with. Certain pieces of two-wheeled protection are icons in the fashion world; think of Steve McQueen in his waxed Barbour jacket or Marlon Brando in his Schott Perfecto. But something is often sacrificed, whether safety or style. Classic pieces rarely have the newest safety tech, and the newest pieces rarely have that same classic style.

Rarely, but it does happen. In the second version of its flagship jacket, the Eversholt MKII, UK designer Ashley Watson has brought together the best of both worlds. The Eversholt is a timelessly stylish jacket packed with subtle functional details. It’s comfortable, but also CE certified to AAA, the highest level, making it one of the safest, if not the safest, waxed cotton motorcycle jacket on the market.

The Eversholt’s stylish exterior hides a long list of underlying technical details. Behind the 8-ounce waxed cotton outer shell are a layer of hybrid Dyneema/aramid fabric, for abrasion resistance; a seam-sealed waterproof drop liner; and a cotton liner with pockets for D3O armor. The D3O line of flexible Ghost limb protectors and Viper back protector are included, and hardly noticeable when equipped. Of course, protection against crashing is the part of the jacket you hope to never experience. This garment is also designed to protect you against the elements on a daily basis.

A tall storm collar helps the jacket protect the rider from the elements by sealing around the base of a helmet. (John Hebert/)

The front closure of the Eversholt is double layered to cover the two-way zipper and ensure rain and wind protection. Large horn buttons look nice and are easy to use with gloves on, though there is a small break-in period while the eyelets loosen up. There’s an adjustable storm baffle at the neck to block out wind and rain; this can be taken off altogether to help venting. The collar is faced with 15-ounce canvas, which is both durable and comfortable where it touches your neck.

The cuffs have zippered gussets to regulate wind, and take that one step further with an internal adjustable “storm cuff” made of waterproof material. This storm cuff is elastic with two snaps, so it can be closed around the wrist to lock out wind and rain, or unsnapped and tucked back to allow cooling wind to enter. The same material lines the bottom of the jacket, so that the tail can go on your wet seat and deal with water if you’re riding in the rain.

Adjustable storm cuffs provide added wind and rain protection. (John Hebert/)
Snaps on the bottom of the main pockets open to increase capacity. (John Hebert/)

Two large outer pockets also hide a host of versatile features. The fabric sewn to the jacket’s body to make the pocket is sewn up along the closure flap as well, ensuring water is kept out while the pocket is shut. The bottoms of the pockets are expandable with snaps to increase volume, and inside each pocket is a smaller pocket with an elastic top. They’re the sort of pockets you can use on a run to the grocery store, but they’re not so big that they’re obnoxious or cumbersome when not in use. And even when they’re full of all your bits and bobs, the smaller internal pocket helps give easy access to important pieces. There are also two internal breast pockets with button closures.

The entire Eversholt jacket is lined with a hybrid Dyneema/aramid fabric. Every seam is engineered to take 12 Nm of force. (John Hebert/)
Inside the Eversholt jacket: a comfortable cotton liner and an opening for the included D3O back protector. (John Hebert/)

I’m 6-foot-4 and slim, so I often find myself balancing long sleeve length with slender shoulder and body fit, landing on a large or XL depending on the design and cut of a given garment. When I spoke with Ashley Watson, the designer and namesake of the company making the Eversholt jacket, he suggested I go with the XL to allow for layering. He made the right call. I still have plenty of room to put an insulating layer underneath the jacket, but it doesn’t look too big or baggy at all. I tend to like jackets that crop a little higher, around the belt line, but the two-way zipper allows adjustability in the way the coat is worn. For example, the zipper can be kept open in the middle while only fastening the two middle buttons for a nice, open, relaxed look.

The Eversholt is an excellent three-season jacket, though it gets a bit hot on warmer days, even when only partially buttoned. The first few times it’s worn will be, for most, break-in time. But as the piece wears in, which ours did beautifully, all its moto-centric design features will have a chance to prove their value. The adjustable pockets, small inside pockets, and adjustable storm pieces at the cuff have been particularly useful. The collar flap has been less so in the summer heat, but the jacket looks great without it; the collar can simply be kept in one of the pockets until needed.

Inside the Eversholt’s main pockets are smaller pockets, helping to keep important bits easily accessible. (John Hebert/)

The Eversholt MKII costs £765 on ashleywatson.co.uk, which is about $917 at the time of this writing. The best of both worlds can’t be expected to come cheap. Considering the patented technologies involved, like Dyneema and D3O, and the amount of testing that has evidently gone into this piece, the cost seems justified. Ashley Watson offers a two-year warranty on any manufacturing or material faults, and also offers repair services done at cost for the life of the jacket.

Many motorcycle jackets have passed through our gear closet over years of testing, but the Eversholt stands out as a particularly special piece. There is really nothing about the jacket not to like. The style of the piece, with its offset buttons and high collar, are extremely striking, and its modern-classic lines were achieved without any sacrifice in safety. The waxed cotton will continue to break in beautifully over time, gaining patina and character in a way unique to the experiences of the rider. Stay tuned to this spring and winter’s bike reviews to see how that’s going.

The storm flap at the jacket’s collar is removable for easier venting and a more traditional look. (John Hebert/)
Branding on the Eversholt jacket is minimal, but a small Ashley Watson logo rivet sits on the back of the collar of each piece. (John Hebert/)