Endura FS260-Pro Slick Overshoe review

The final piece of the 'how-to-stay-comfortable-whilst-cycling-in-the-rain' puzzle was recently solved with the addition of these lovely light Endura FS260-Pro Slick overshoes to my kit.

My move from wearing full length waterproof trousers to waterproof shorts had left my feet far more exposed to the weather but these do such a good protective job they're worth their worth their weight in gold - 80g incidentally. Weight and packability were - as always - important factors for me in deciding which overshoes to go for. I'm generally pretty easy going on gear so hard wearing, ultra durable and heavy fabrics are overkill and unnecessary for me. Something that's light, does the job and takes up little space when it's not working are what I need and these fit that brief well; scrunching into a ball about the size of an apple when packed.

The best thing about these is Endura's use of a very stretchy waterproof PU fabric. This means that despite being very open at the sole a good seal is formed around the lower edge of the shoe. It also makes them suitable to fit just about any footwear you could try and pull them onto. On that note, the Lycra gusset behind the good quality zip is great and makes for very easy on/off. It's just the right amount of material too, always managing to keep out of the zip, never snagging. They also feature all the useful bits of reflective trim you'd expect to find to keep you safe on the road.

The only thing I'd change is the lack of taping on the seams. I understand why it isn't there, but I felt that water was getting into my shoes from above a little to quickly. I've had a go at solving this by performing a DIY job with a tube of silicon seam sealant. I didn't bother with all the seams (there's simply to many and the ones round the back are out of the firing line anyway) but the main one running up the centre from the toes to the ankle was given the treatment. It's worked really well but I don't see it lasting long term. The problem is that the stretch and relatively rough inner surface of the fabric makes it difficult for the sealant to bond to so it's beginning to flake off. Also, the seam - whilst well stitched - is relatively bulky so it was a tricky operation. Probably the better option would have been to apply the sealant the the smooth outer face but I didn't want to ruin the slick look with a botched job.

As you'd expect the gains made in lightness and slick looks are paid for by reduced durability. Having proclaimed my brilliantly light use of gear I have to confess it took me only a couple of outings before I'd put a small hole in the front of these. Admittedly, this was done whilst walking and I had the overshoe stretched out to far so that it was between the sole of my shoe and the tarmac. Lesson learnt, it's perfectly easy to position them so that this doesn't happen. The hole was easily closed with a little circle of waterproof repair tape.


Not a heavy use item by any stretch of the imagination, but as something you could carry in changeable weather, they're great. Treat them well and they'll last you fine.


 

Endura Superlite Waterproof Shorts review

Another lesson learnt on tour this summer was the need for a pair of waterproof shorts. I'd tried full length trousers in the form of DHB Wickhams and whilst great for what they are, I just didn't get on with them. I wear baggies when I ride so I was looking for lightweight waterproof shorts that could be carried in a jersey pocket and put on as over-shorts as required.

As with a lot of my purchases the Endura Superlites were bought online. I don't often find this a problem but with the Superlites the sizing and cut are quite neat so beware of buying blind. I have Endura Hummvee and Zyme baggies (both in the same medium size as these) and all three fit differently. The Zymes are loose on my 32 inch waist, the Hummvees are tight and the Superlites somewhere in between. They aren't large enough to wear over the baggies which at first was a disappointment. However, once I realised they were comfortable enough to wear all day, in good weather as well as bad, we got on just fine.

You certainly couldn't accuse Endura of just throwing these together, there's an awful lot of design working to keep you dry. Looking at the shorts inside out gives a good picture of how different materials have been put together to work best. Endura list these as being made from a 2.5 layer waterproof fabric (waterproof to 20,000mm and MVTR of 7,000mm) but that's only part of the story as there are two other waterproof fabrics in the mix, all used in different areas to maximum effect. The light 2.5 layer stuff sits on top of the thighs where less abrasion resistance is needed. What appears to be a tough 3 layer fabric with good stretch properties is used in the seamless gusset and the seat. An even stretchier (and beautifully soft) fabric is used cleverly in a panel at the back of the waist to improve the fit, and in little channels down the outsides of the legs meaning the shorts flex with you as you pedal. Like I said, a great deal of thought gone into these.

Another cunning feature is the cleverly cut hems which are longer at the front to cover the knees (even when seated and pedaling) but avoids bunching of excess material to the rear. This offers a great deal of protection and I've yet to encounter conditions where clamping down the openings with the neat Velcro adjusters was necessary.

Moving up there are useful reflective flashes and - slightly less useful - pockets on the outside of each leg. If they must have a pocket I'd prefer just one small one on the rear. My issue with them being on the legs is: What are you going to carry in them? A multi-tool, an innertube or keys perhaps? Such items don't need a waterproof sanctuary. A mobile phone does, but then there's the thing - would you trust these pockets to actually be waterproof? The trouble is that because the shorts fit so neatly the pocket bags are flat. This means that if you put something chunky in them, you'll distort the fit of the shorts and potentially strain the pocket zip. Therefore - despite the use of 'waterproof zips' - there's still a good chance of leakage. Pedaling constantly works the zips too so why even bother trying to make them watertight? One small pocket on the rear would most likely be protected by the hem of a jacket and negate such issues.

The waist is a nice simple elasticated/drawstring affair which again means less material to bunch up. It would be useful if the elastic had a bit more give to it though, to make getting the shorts on and off easier. Endura's Clickfast system is also present.

Despite these not being what I was looking for when I bought them (my fault) they've become a well loved item. Apart from my gripe with the pockets (which I cunningly get round by not putting anything in them) I do like them. They've kept me dry and comfortable in a broad range of conditions which is really all that should matter.

Rab Boreas Pull-on review

Some years ago I recall hearing the economist Alvin Hall talking (from a strictly fiscal point of view) about clothing. He said something like, 'I have never knowingly worn polyester'. He would rather pay a bit more for quality and bought suits made only from wool as he considered them the best value for money. He was advising someone on a TV show that they should expect the item of clothing they were musing over in a shop to last so well, that by the time they were done with it, it would equate to £1 per wear.

Looking at things from a lightweight angle (as I am want to do), the Rab Boreas Pull-on at 240g cost me just over 16p per gram. 'And why does that matter?', I hear you ask. I haven't got a clue. What I am certain of however, is that the RRP of £40 for this garment represents great value for money. I must have had it down to less than £1 per wear in the first two months and that's not something I could claim with many other bits of my outdoor gear.

The reason for this regular use is that it manages to be so many different things. It's made from a lovely, soft and stretchy material that blocks most of the wind but allows just enough through to offer good ventilation. That means it can be an effective wind shirt, a very light soft shell, or a protective base layer for walking, climbing, running or biking. As someone who always struggles to maintain a comfort zone whilst doing any of the above, the Boreas has been spot on so often that I now find myself looking for opportunities to wear it, then basing other clothing around that.

Features wise it has almost nothing to say for itself. But that's the genius of it - it's so simple! There are no elasticated openings at the cuffs or hem (just well finished stitches) which assists the fabric in letting in enough air to maintain an equilibrium. There's no brushed fleece on the inner collar (the fabric's soft enough anyway). And (shock horror), no brand name on the fabric - whatever next?...

It's main features are a zip, a small chest pocket and the hood - all perform well. The zip is a decent length, has a good positive feel to it and makes for easy on/off and venting. The pocket is big enough to fit a snack/compass/buff in, and the hood really takes the chill off when moving fast in low temperatures. It's designed to fit under a helmet and it works well, the fabric stretch meaning that even when the hood's clamped to your head under a lid, you loose no freedom of movement as the neck fabric stretches with you. Arm length and articulation is - as always with Rab gear - spot on.

Love it. It's the best 16p per gram I've ever spent.

OMM Kamleika Jacket: initial impressions

One of many things that became apparent to me when cycling through very heavy rain on a recent tour, was that unless I wanted to purchase one of those lovely dayglow helmet covers, then a cycling jacket with a hood was essential.

The main issue in trying to source a cycling cut jacket with a hood was that they mainly fall into the mountain biking category i.e. jackets made from sturdy hard-wearing fabrics designed to be worn (not carried) and featuring a 'helmet compatible' hood. This is by no means a bad thing, in fact, I think every hill walking/climbing shell jacket I've ever owned has featured a hood designed to work in the same way. My problem with this (in a cycling context) is that a hood large enough to accommodate a helmet is clearly going to have a more material in it to make it that large. More material is obviously heavier, bulkier and less packable. Such attributes aren't necessarily bad for mountain bikers or when you're wearing the jacket all day, but if you're riding in changeable conditions and carrying a shell some of the time then you want it to be as light as possible. At least I do.

So, the search began for a cycle-friendly cut waterproof jacket featuring a hood that could be worn under my helmet (a Giro Hex incidentally). OMM designed their Kamleika range for mountain marathon runners and the cut of the jacket is certainly not for the chunky. It's close fitting to reduce excess air volume within the jacket and therefore aid breathability, and also to eliminate flapping fabric (both important for performance on the bike). The arms are nice and long so they cover the back of the hands when stretched out over the bars and they have lovely soft fabric/velcro adjusters to cinch the cuffs down if the weather's really bad. They also offer no impediment to rolling the sleeves up if the weather improves. There are two chest pockets (which I could do without when cycling) and a decent smattering of reflective decals for nigh safety. The hem is adjustable with the standard bungy cord and toggles.

The above however, are an aside to the main features of this jacket; the hood and the fabric. I won't try to explain the science behind the fabric (because I couldn't) but it's a revelation to me. It's performance in the breathability stakes so far - with various materials worn underneath - has been outstanding. Even with me working hard it does well, it's sometimes felt a little damp inside but it's yet to give up completely and cook me from within. It does this whilst featuring a great deal of stretch in the fabric, and it's not your typical token gesture 'stretch' fabric. This is S-T-R-E-T-C-H fabric. I've heard it compared to a rubber glove and that's not far off. This allows the jacket to be really close fitting and yet very comfortable - it offers no restriction to the cycling position at all. It's also lovely and soft to touch, not crisp packet-esque at all.

The hood is 99% of what I was looking for. It is close fitting and adjustable at the front and rear. The rear adjuster is a little velcro flap and where this might be considered a bit basic on a hood meant to fit over a helmet, for fitting under one it's great as it's so low volume. The only negative point is the peak, I just don't need it on the bike, however, this one is so good that it makes the jacket genuinely multi-sport. It's soft enough to not be a problem under the helmet, yet when I've worn the jacket hill walking it performs admirably there too. When the drawcords are cinched down the peak doesn't flap in the wind at all and offers a very reasonable degree of protection. Great performance for a peak so minimal.

I hope to get some more hard use out of this in the very near future so I can assess how the breathability holds up when the fabric has properly wetted-out (most likely when hill walking) and also to get an indication of durability under pack straps and so on.

Initial impressions: excellent.

Check out the OMM website for full details.

Wild Stripes base layer review

Wild Stripes are pretty new to the UK market. They're a base layer made from polypropylene, a material you may well have come across before in the shape of Helly Hansen's Lifa range. The benefit of using polypro in base layers is simply that it removes sweat from the skin - through mechanical drainage, not 'wicking' - faster than any other man made material (let's leave the pros and cons of merino wool for another time!). Andy Kirkpatrick sums up the function of a base layer. He says:

'A base layer is there primarily to keep your skin dry, and so give you a feeling of warmth and nothing else. A base layer is not a ‘thermal’, it is there to move the moisture off the skin so as to limit evaporative heat....when this isn’t possible you need your base layer to have got wet warmth properties, meaning low density and close fitting fabrics that dry quickly and offer less sanctuary for moisture.'

There's no doubt that Lifa garments fulfilled this brief brilliantly, the downside of course was the awful smell that they produced in doing so. So pungent in fact, that the word Helly was seldom uttered without being prefixed with 'smelly' when they first hit the market. On one-off uses this ought not to be an issue but my problem was that my Lifa top held onto this odour, even after a good machine wash. I'd be stinking within 10 minutes of putting it on.

Enter Wild Stripes: polypro base layers for the 21st century. My crew neck shirt does everything I ask of it: it deals with all the moisture I can throw at it, keeps me comfortable as a result, and does so without turning the air green in the process. I've been wearing this on it's own through the summer months and I never fail to be amazed at how comfortable it is, even on hot days when my old Lifa top would have felt 'plasticy'. Under a shell it's the same story, it may be damp to the touch but I never feel 'chilled'. I can even get away with several days consecutive wear without washing!

Any downsides? The sleeves could do with being a bit longer and a zip neck option would be nice (that may be coming soon).

Check out the bewildering range of colours at the Wild Stripes website.

Montane Velocity DT Jacket review

Since I first became aware of breathable waterproof fabrics I (like everybody else who overheats easily) have been searching for the Holy Grail: a fabric that keeps me dry, from the inside as well as the outside. Of course it doesn't exist so compromises always have to be made and expectations lowered.

The main things I was prioritising in a cycling jacket was light weight and packability since I was hoping to be carrying it more than wearing it - wishful thinking given I live in Edinburgh! But as the saying goes:

'Light, cheap, durable. Pick two.'

So where did this leave me? Either pay a fortune for a top end fabric/jacket that would probably perform well and be fairly durable (due to likely being a little heavier). Or aim a little lower in price and get something much lighter, but less breathable/durable. I'd been interested in trying a jacket made from Entrant DT fabric for a while so here was the perfect opportunity.

The Velocity certainly is light, only 255g on my kitchen scales. It packs away beautifully and I can easily fit it into the rear pocket of a cycling jersey, ready for deployment should the rain get too heavy for a windproof top.

Speaking of pockets it has two of them, both tape sealed: one napoleon style one on the chest (unusually on the right) and a larger one on the lower back. The one on the chest I find curious for a couple of reasons. Firstly (and please tell me if I'm missing something here), why on earth does the zip open from the bottom? To be fair, the bottom of the pocket bag is lower than the bottom of the zip but it just seems silly. It's accessed via a 'water resistant' zip which may well distort and leak if you pack the pocket with anything fatter than an iPod. And there's the next thing: it has 'audio access' for headphones (that's a hole in the pocket to you and me). What I can't understand is why you'd want such a feature on a cycling jacket. Look at the design with all it's reflective detailing and high-viz colour - it's doing all
it can to help the traffic see you. And in that traffic you want to deprive yourself of the sense of hearing by putting earphones in?! Lastly, why do you need a pocket on your chest? It just doubles up the fabric and hinders breathability.

The back pocket makes more sense in my mind. There you can keep whatever you like, it's well out of the way and it's in a position that's not key for breathability. I have sometimes worn an OMM Classic Marathon 25L rucksack (review soon) with this jacket and - although this makes the need for any pockets pointless - the pocket zip remains clear of the bottom of the 'sack. The zip does snag sometimes on it's double external storm flaps, I'd prefer it to be a vertical opening for ease of use.

All the usual features that you'd expect to find on a jacket such as this are here, along with some nice little extra details. Water-resistant zip, velcro adjustable cuffs, hem/neck drawcords to seal out the cold and an internal storm flap are all pretty standard. The 'details' include a nice micro-pile lining on the zipper-garage to stop it scratching your neck/chin, the cuff adjuster tabs being cut from the same material as the jacket (which means they are light/low profile and therefore roll-upable should you need to cool off), the cord locks on the bungees at the waist and neck are of the one-handed variety and the storm flap has poppers top and bottom to keep it in place (the bottom one failed quite quickly however). All simple things but they add up.

I love cut of the jacket. It is what I believe can now be considered 'classic Montane' - trim fitting with a generous bike specific long tail for protection. It's neat fit doesn't leave lots of dead air between the wearer and the fabric which helps breathability, stops it flapping like a flag in the wind and eliminates bunching of excess fabric around the midriff when bend over the bars. Talking of the riding position the sleeves are a good length (so as not to ride up your arms) and feature an asymmetric cut, meaning the back of the hands benefit from a little more protection. Very nice.

Finally, I'd point out that although the jacket looks great with it's contrasting dark panels and reflective strips at the sides, but these simply contribute to there being more seems. More seems = more seem-sealing tape. More seem tape = a less breathable jacket. I know it's nit picking at this price point but several manufacturers have produced great waterproof jackets in recent years that have very few extraneous seems due to a clever fabric pattern. From a breathability point of view it's a shame all jackets aren't made this way.

I've now worn the Velocity for many miles commuting and touring through all sorts of weather and I can confirm that the jacket design (barring the above noted points) is almost great, but the Entrant DT material is everything I was worried it would be: light, packable and ultimately not breathable enough for me. If I'm touring at a steady pace, it can cope. Just. If I'm commuting to work and therefore pushing quite hard the 'Dry Touch' fabric gets soaking from condensation on the inside after about 20 minutes. The 2.5 layer construction means the moisture has nowhere to hide so ultimately just lies on the inner surface. I factor this performance into what I wear underneath so it's still usable (a merino baselayer fills this role best for me). It's just not an all day/do all cycling jacket for me.



The quest for the Grail continues....

Full details on the Montane website.