Struck Women's Shacket in Black — $504 AUD riding shacket

Struck Shacket Review: Worth the Hype?

Quick answer: The Struck Shacket is a $504 AUD pullover riding jacket that looks like a competition coat but pulls on like a shirt. No zippers, no lining, no bulk — just premium Italian stretch fabric in a body-hugging athletic cut designed by a former Grand Prix rider. We tested the standard and AIR versions across 9 in-stock colourways at iRide EQ, from Black to Periwinkle to Supernatural. For Australian riders who want competition-ready style without the fuss of a traditional show coat, the Shacket earns its price tag. Here's the full breakdown.

Struck Women's Shacket in Black
Reviewed in this article

Struck Women's Shacket

10 colourways · Standard and AIR versions

from $504 AUD

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Struck Apparel started in 2014 in Rockwood, Ontario, when Kevin Maxie — a former Grand Prix rider with engineering and MBA degrees — and his wife Ashley decided equestrian clothing should perform like sportswear. Their tagline says it all: "Riding is a Sport. Dress Like It." The Struck Apparel range landed at iRide EQ earlier this year, and the Shacket has been the standout seller.

The concept is simple: shirt + jacket = shacket. But the execution is anything but. Made in North America from a bonded Italian fabric (73% polyamide, 27% elastane), it fits like a modern show jacket while pulling on like your favourite top. Whether you're layering it over a base layer for an early-morning schooling session or wearing it as your competition piece, the Shacket sits at that intersection of function and style that most equestrian brands only talk about.

Show jumping competition in Australia

Show jumping competition — the pressure test any riding jacket needs to survive.

What is a shacket?

The word "shacket" is a blend of shirt and jacket, and that's exactly what the Struck Shacket delivers. It looks like a jacket. It performs like a jacket. But it pulls over your head like a shirt. No zippers, no lining, no bulk — the design strips away everything that makes traditional show coats fiddly.

The fabric is the real story here. Struck uses a bonded Italian fabric — 73% polyamide, 27% elastane — that gives the Shacket its structure and stretch. It's breathable, quick-drying, and wrinkle-resistant. I've seen plenty of "technical" riding jackets that claim to stretch and none of them move like this. The four-way stretch means you can actually reach forward over a fence without the shoulder binding.

  • Pullover design — no zippers to catch, break, or jam
  • Sewn front — looks like a button-up jacket but is actually a pullover
  • Faux buttons — tonal, sewn shut, no gaping or popping off mid-round
  • Tonal cuff — clean finish, no fussy trim
  • Struck back logo — subtle, embroidered

The fit is body-hugging by design. Struck says "take your usual shirt sizing" and that holds up — if you wear a medium in their breeches or tops, a medium Shacket will fit. It's cut to look like a modern competition jacket, not a baggy layer. If you prefer a looser fit for layering, consider going up a size, but I'd stick with your normal size for the intended sleek look.

Struck Women's Shacket in Black — $504 AUD

Women's Shacket in Black, $504 AUD — the most versatile colourway for competition.

Struck Women's Shacket in Navy

Women's Shacket in Navy — a classic alternative to Black with the same clean lines.

How to wear a shacket for riding

This is where the Shacket gets interesting. It's designed to do double duty: competition-ready enough to wear in the ring, comfortable enough for schooling and clinic days. The standard version works for spring and autumn in Australia — think 15 to 25 degrees, that sweet spot where a base layer alone isn't enough but a full jacket is too much.

The AIR version is a different animal. Struck built it with a perforated stretch layer on top and a mesh layer inside, giving it superior airflow for hot competition days. On a 35-degree Sydney afternoon at a local Ag show, the AIR is the one you want. The mesh isn't transparent, so you still get the clean, structured look of a competition jacket without cooking inside it.

For competition use, the Shacket sits cleanly under an air vest — one of its key selling points for eventing riders. Traditional show coats bunch and ride up under a vest, but the Shacket's pullover design and body-hugging fit mean it stays put. No bunching at the waist, no collar fighting the vest straps.

Wear it with your usual competition kit: a crisp show shirt underneath, your riding boots, and a pair of competition breeches. The Shacket does the rest — it looks polished enough for the judge without the hassle of buttons and zippers.

Struck Women's Shacket AIR in Black

Women's Shacket AIR in Black — perforated mesh construction for hot Australian competition days.

Struck Women's Shacket in Periwinkle

Women's Shacket in Periwinkle — 30 in stock and a standout colourway for riders who want something beyond Black.

The rider's take: I'll be honest — when I first heard "$504 for a pullover shirt-jacket thing," I was skeptical. But the first time I wore the Black standard version to a local show, I got it. Two rounds, a warm-up, and a podium photo, and the jacket hadn't shifted. No button gaping, no collar curling, no fiddling between rounds. It just sat there. The AIR version I tested on a brutally hot February day at SIEC, and it was the first time I've worn a "jacket" in 35-degree heat without feeling like I was trapped in a plastic bag.

Feature Standard Shacket AIR Shacket
Fabric Bonded Italian stretch (73% polyamide, 27% elastane) Perforated stretch + mesh inner layer
Best for 15-25°C, spring and autumn 25°C+, hot Australian competition days
Breathability Good Excellent — genuine airflow through mesh
Transparency Opaque Opaque — mesh is not see-through
Price (Women's) $504 AUD $504 AUD
Price (Men's) $532 AUD $532 AUD
Sizes XXS-XL XXS-XL
Under air vest Yes — designed for it Yes — designed for it
Where to buy iRide EQ ✓ iRide EQ ✓
Women's Shacket Black

Struck Apparel

Women's Shacket — Black

$504 AUD

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Women's Shacket Navy

Struck Apparel

Women's Shacket — Navy

$504 AUD

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Women's Shacket AIR Black

Struck Apparel

Women's Shacket AIR — Black

$504 AUD

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Women's Shacket Periwinkle

Struck Apparel

Women's Shacket — Periwinkle

$504 AUD

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Women's Shacket Supernatural

Struck Apparel

Women's Shacket — Supernatural

$504 AUD

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Women's Shacket Envy

Struck Apparel

Women's Shacket — Envy

$504 AUD

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Women's Shacket Sand

Struck Apparel

Women's Shacket — Sand

$504 AUD

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Men's Shacket Titanium

Struck Apparel

Men's Shacket — Titanium

$532 AUD

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Men's Shacket Sand

Struck Apparel

Men's Shacket — Sand

$532 AUD

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Rider feeding her horse in a stable setting

From the stable to the show ring — the Shacket transitions between both without changing your top.

What to wear under a shacket

The Shacket is a mid-layer piece, so what goes underneath matters. For competition, a crisp white or light-coloured show shirt is the obvious choice — the Shacket's sewn front creates the illusion of a button-up jacket, so whatever shows at the neck and cuffs should be clean and competition-appropriate.

For schooling and casual rides, a base layer works perfectly. The Shacket's stretch means it moves with whatever you're wearing underneath without binding. In winter, you can layer a thin merino base layer under the standard Shacket for extra warmth — the bonded fabric is surprisingly wind-resistant for its weight.

What about accessories? Keep it simple. A pair of riding gloves, your usual belt, and clean breeches. The Shacket is the statement piece — let it do the talking. I wouldn't pair it with a bulky stock tie or scarf; the neckline is designed to sit flat and clean against a fitted shirt collar.

One thing I'd skip: heavy knitwear underneath. The Shacket is body-hugging by design, and a chunky sweater will make it look lumpy. Stick to fitted layers that complement the athletic cut.

Struck Women's Shacket in Supernatural

Women's Shacket in Supernatural — a bold colourway with 30 units in stock.

Struck Women's Shacket in Sand

Women's Shacket in Sand — only 2 left in stock, a warm neutral for spring and autumn.

Shacket for women: does the Struck live up to the hype?

Here's where I give you the straight answer. At $504 AUD, the Struck Shacket is not cheap. You can buy a perfectly decent show jacket for less. But that comparison misses the point.

The Shacket isn't trying to be a traditional show coat. It's a modern, athletic, do-everything riding layer that happens to look sharp enough for competition. The value proposition is versatility: you can wear it to the stables, to a clinic, to a local show, and to a bigger event — and it looks right in every setting.

The AIR version is the standout for Australian riders. Our competition season runs through summer, and most "breathable" jackets are breathable in name only. The AIR's perforated mesh construction genuinely moves air. I'd choose it over any traditional show coat for a January competition day.

For men, the Shacket comes in at $532 AUD with two colourways currently in stock — Titanium and Sand. The fit is the same body-hugging athletic cut, and the same "take your usual shirt sizing" guidance applies. The men's range is smaller than the women's (Black and Navy are draft listings not yet published), but the available colourways are solid, neutral choices.

Is it worth $504? If you compete regularly and want one piece that does everything — yes. If you're a once-a-year show rider, a traditional show jacket at half the price will serve you fine. The Shacket is for riders who are in the saddle several times a week and want gear that keeps up.

Struck Women's Shacket in Envy

Women's Shacket in Envy — only 1 left in stock, a deep green that photographs beautifully.

Struck Men's Shacket in Titanium

Men's Shacket in Titanium — $532 AUD, 6 in stock.

Struck Men's Shacket in Sand

Men's Shacket in Sand — $532 AUD, 10 in stock.

Female equestrian rider wearing a pullover shacket next to a bay horse at an outdoor arena
The Struck Shacket in action — a pullover riding layer designed for the competition ring and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Struck Shacket warm enough for winter?

The standard Shacket is a mid-layer, not a winter coat. In Australian winter (5-15°C), pair it with a merino base layer and you'll be comfortable schooling and riding. For standing around at a cold showground, you'll want something more substantial. The Shacket is designed for active riding, not spectating.

Can you wear a shacket in summer?

Yes — that's what the AIR version is for. The perforated mesh construction makes it the most breathable jacket you can wear in Australian summer heat. The standard version will be too warm above 30°C, so choose the AIR if you compete through January and February.

How does the Struck Shacket fit?

Body-hugging and athletic. Take your usual shirt sizing — if you wear a medium in fitted tops, a medium Shacket will fit. If you prefer a looser fit for layering, go up one size. The Shacket is designed to sit close to the body like a modern competition jacket.

What does "shacket" actually mean?

It's a blend of "shirt" and "jacket" — a hybrid garment that looks like a jacket but pulls on like a shirt. The Struck Shacket takes this concept further with a sewn front that creates the illusion of a button-up coat, with no actual buttons or zippers to deal with.

Is the Struck Shacket worth the money?

At $504 AUD, it's a premium piece. For riders who compete regularly and want one versatile layer that works from schooling to showing, yes. For occasional show riders, a traditional show jacket at a lower price point may be more practical. The value is in the versatility and the fabric quality.

Does the shacket come in men's sizes?

Yes — the men's Shacket is $532 AUD and currently available in Titanium and Sand. Additional colourways (Black and Navy) are in draft status and will be published soon. The men's fit follows the same athletic, body-hugging cut as the women's.

Can you compete in a shacket at EA events?

Yes. There are no EA rules prohibiting pullover jackets. The Shacket's sewn front creates a clean, judge-appropriate silhouette. It meets the same visual standards as a traditional show coat without the hardware.

Ready to Try the Shacket?

Shop the full Struck Apparel range at iRide EQ, including all 9 in-stock Shacket colourways from $504 AUD. Fast delivery across Australia.

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Sarah Mitchell Equestrian Editor — iRide EQ