Mission Workshop made a name in the bike industry with a line of bomber bags and apparel built for urban streets.
This month the San Francisco-based company launched a new division called ACRE. Each piece is designed for riders to get away from the city and hit the trails.
“ACRE is driven to provide gear to get you farther, faster, and back,” says the brand’s website. The hydration packs and men’s apparel are designed to look good and take a beating. (The packs have a lifetime guarantee.)
We got the brand’s District shirt in house. It’s a merino wool jersey-type top that’s great looking and versatile. It fits looser than a synthetic jersey and has only one small pocket on its side and none on back.
The aluminum buttons are a nice touch to the handsome top. It costs $135, which is high. But merino is a premium material and the 18.9-micron wool is soft against the skin as well as temperature regulating, letting you wear it across a wide range of days on the trail.
Our tester also has been wearing the shirt a lot off the bike. The ACRE line hits a sweet spot with tech pieces that don’t scream “performance” when you’re just out walking around.
ACRE leans on performance and expects the gear to be used outside in any situation. A jacket in the line is made of a waterproof Schoeller fabric. The backpacks are waterproof and made in the USA. As noted above, they carry a lifetime warranty.
The first five pieces from ACRE are available online now. Prices start at $95 for a merino shirt up to $385 for the top-end jacket in the line.
—Amy Oberbroeckling is assistant editor at GearJunkie.com.
