Craft Zero Extreme Crewneck base layer – David Arthur’s been testing one of these for two years! That’s devotion folks.
The 2013 model is called the Active Extreme, Dave’s reluctantly retired this one in its favour and has found it every bit as good.

Craft, as a Swedish company, know a thing or two about dealing with the cold, and this shows in their excellent range of clothing. The base layers are their standout products and the Extreme Crewneck is an excellent choice for winter conditions.

I’ve actually been wearing these base layers for a couple of years (previously called the Zero Extreme, but they’re the same), so it’s a proper long-term test. I’m usually a merino wool fan, but the Hexa channeled synthetic fabric that Craft use is amazingly soft next to the skin. The fabric has hollow fibres that along with the channels help to pull sweat away from the skin and pass it to the next layer to deal with. Despite the hardest riding I can manage the base layer remains dry, where other base layers would be saturated from the efforts.

The fit with Craft’s base layers is on the ‘second skin’ end of the scale. Tight but very cosy.

A base layer needs to fit well to work, the material needs to be in full contact with the skin for it to work effectively. In this regard the Craft is excellent, with a snug fit enhanced by its seamless construction and flatlock stitches. It’s not the most flattering top if you’re carrying a few extra pounds, but no one is going to see it when it’s hidden under a jacket anyway.

The arms are a good length, the waist is low enough for overlap with your shorts and it’s a bit lower at the back, plus the high neck keeps drafts out without being uncomfortable.

Hexa channeled synthetic fabric works brilliantly and is soft next to the skin.

Verdict

One of the best base layers I’ve tested. Insulating, comfortable and very effective in keeping winter conditions at bay

Price: £42.00
More information: Craft Active Extreme Crewneck

Pros

Comfortable
Wicks sweat very well
Reasonable price

Cons

None that I can think of!

What Craft say:

- Comforts your body in zones you need it
- Soft and breathable crewneck
- Seamless torso, ergonomic fit
- Thin, lightweight and extremely elastic
- Flatlock seams that follow body movement
- Perfect cool and excellent dry effect

The Dare 2b Night Hawk uses an Ared 5000 fabric pieced together with taped seams everywhere. Inside the torso is lined with mesh and the arms with a softer fabric. Worn with a long sleeve base layer on a recent ride the jacket managed reasonably well to allow perspiration to escape while also keeping us warm and insulated from the damp cold air outside.

Fit is on the baggy side but it’s well fitted and proved comfortable on the bike with no restriction of movement. It feels more like a snowboard jacket than a slim cut biking jacket, and feels bulky. It’s not heavy though at 500g. There’s plenty of space inside for a couple of extra layers making it a good choice for the winter, or can be worn with a single layer when it’s warmer.

Well thought-through features such as the reflective strips and adjustable cuffs are good to see

There’s a load of features which help to justify the price tag. Firstly it’s covered in reflective details, useful for stretches of road riding before a night ride. Or for the daily commute where its bold colour will certainly help you stand out.

You get just two pockets, both zipped. One on the chest and the other around the back. This pocket is far from generous and is best avoided. The waist has two drawcords for pulling it in a bit, as does the soft lined collar, and there are adjustable Velcro cuffs.

Mesh-lined interior with breathable Ared 5000 fabric on the exterior, but things can get hot inside due to minimal venting

In the heaviest downpour we could face the jacket proved adept at keeping us not only dry, but warm too. Breathability is good but during extended bouts of hard riding it is possible to exceed the fabric’s ability to let the warm, moist air inside escape. There are only two small vents at the back to provide ventilation.

 Verdict

Packed with features, a hard-working fabric, loose fit and at a decent price, the Dare 2b Night Hawk is a jacket worthy of consideration.

Pros

Waterproof
Loose fit
Features

Cons

Quite bulky

Price: £80

More information: Dare 2b Night Hawk

 What Dare 2b says:

“The Night Hawk jacket features D-NYT technology, which offers 360° reflectivity. Fluorescent colourway options are also available to keep you seen in lower light conditions.”

Winter is coming. (That’s enough Game of Thrones references – Ed). Clothing maker Gore Bike Wear has announced two new or revamped ranges of bike-specific clothing for the imminent cold and wet weather, Alp-X and Countdown.

For seriously bad weather, Gore has tweaked the Alp-X range with new materials such as Gore-Tex Active shell in waterproof jackets and new pieces like the Alp-X 2.0 SO Zip-Off Jacket which converts quickly from a soft-shell jacket to a gilet.

Where the Alp-X range is intended as fairly close-fitting, high performance gear, the Countdown range is freeride-inspired and intended to be functional off the bike and on.

Alp-X 2.0 Gore-Tex Active jacket in almost stealth grey and black

The popular Alp-X jacket gets upgraded to Gore-Tex Active, a two-layer fabric that’s lighter and softer-handling that the old Paclite material. Most of the other details are unchanged – there’s still plenty of reflective bits, a long tail and stretch panels in strategic places. The Alp-X 2.0 has a zip-off hood, so you can leave it at home if you never use it, and an under-zip flap replaces the  flap over the zip. The Alp-X 2.0 Gore-Tex Active Jacket, to give it its full name, costs £219.99.

Alp-X 2.0 Gore-Tex Active Pants 3/4

If you’re determined to keep riding right through the winter, then waterproof leg coverings are a must. The Alp-X 2.0 Gore-Tex® Active three-quarter length pants are also made from Gore-Tex Active with a reinforced seat so that they’ll take extended saddle time. At 149.99 you wouldn’t call them cheap, but what price fanaticism?

The Alp-X Windstopper Insulated Shell Vestlooks like just the thing to carry on cold days for tea break warmth.

The Alp-X Windstopper Insulated Shell Vest is completely new for this winter. It’s a Windstopper gilet, as the name suggests, insulated with Primaloft, an ultra-light synthetic that’s designed to mimic the feel and insulation of goose down. Intended to be packable, this is something you could stuff into your backpack to keep you warm when you stop.

As well as these outer shell items, the new Alp-X range includes Windstopper tights and pants, fleecy jerseys and tights for a toasty mid-layer and lots more.

The Countdown range is slightly less close-fitted than the Alp-X, a bit less fanatically detailed, and therefore a bit cheaper. The flagship Countdown Gore-Tex jacket, for example, is £189.99. It’s made from regular Gore-Tex fabric rather than the newer Gore-Tex Active and it lacks a few details, like the zip-off hood, that likely increase the cost of the Alp-X equivalent.

Countdown Windstopper 2 in 1 jacket for protection against very chilly days.

New items in the Countdown range include the Windstopper 2 in 1 jacket, Windstopper hoodie and Windstopper soft shell jacket. Clearly someone’s been busy in the Windstopper fabric store. The 2 in 1 combines a Windstopper outer jacket with a stretchy inner layer so you can wear either or both depending on the conditions. The outer shell has Velcro cuffs to seal out the cold, handwarmer pockets for standing around and a rear pocket for carrying stuff. RRP is £199.99.

My eyes! The Countdown Windstopper Soft Shell jacket is also available in less loud colours.

The alarmingly YELLOW jacket here is the new £129.99 Windstopper Soft Shell, which also comes in red and blue. Anything that colour is going to help you be seen, whether it’s by drivers or Mountain Rescue, and there are reflective details to help that along. One interesting feature is a pair of side-opening pockets on the back, which look like they’ll work with a backpack.

Countdown Windstopper Soft Shell hoodie for on and off bike use.

The £139.99 Windstopper Soft Shell hoodie is a bit more casual, and intended to be used on and off the bike. Nevertheless, it has lots of keep-you-warm features like a zip underflap, snug hood and a pair of front pockets to tuck your hands into.

The Countdown range also includes new thermal bib tights, thermal jerseys and Windstopper pants.

There are women’s versions of most of these garments, including the Countdown Soft Shell hoodie, and 2 in 1 jacket and the Alp-X jacket.

More information: Gore Bike Wear

A warm base layer is an essential part of any cyclist’s wardrobe in winter and the Thermolayer is made from a blend of polyamide and polypropylene fibres which also wick moisture away from your skin, so excess sweat doesn’t build up and make you cold when your riding intensity drops.

The Thermolayer (£39.95), available with long sleeves, has a seamless construction so it sits comfortably next to your skin, while areas that are likely to generate a lot of heat have mesh inserts to improve ventilation.

The Primavera, windproof and water resistant for milder conditions, is available as a jacket (£89.95) or gilet (£TBC). Both are made from the same thin and stretchy polyester material, which has a breathable membrane to keep you warm while moving moisture away from your body.

There’s a full-length lockable zip at the front with a chin guard to reduce drafts and skin irritation, while there’s reflective trim at the front to improve visibility.

www.bbbcycling.com / www.windwave.co.uk

The original MT500 Spray Baggy Shorts were awarded a top Eurobike gong in 2009 and are designed for unpredictable weather, combining the comfort of regular riding shorts with the functionality of waterproofs.

A four-way lightweight stretch Cordura fabric at the front is resistant to tears, scuffs and abrasions, while the waterproof three-layer fully seam-taped rear and waterproof crotch panel help keep your key areas dry on wet, muddy trails.

The shorts are also Clickfast compatible, while strategically placed stretch panels ensure freedom of movement and hem adjusters help give an accurate fit. Zipped front flap pockets, zipped thigh vents and reflective thigh logos complete the look.

The existing MT500 Spray Baggy Shorts retail at £64.99, while the new three-quarter version hit the shops at £72.99.

New colours for the MT500 Jacket, MT500 Burner Shirt and MT500 Overshoes

Endura have been busy updating their autumn/winter range this year – earlier we revealed news of the lightweight Pakajak jacket and Deluge overshoes – and the MT500 Jacket, MT500 Burner Shirt and MT500 Overshoes are all now come in new colours.

First up, the MT500 Jacket (£159.99) is available in a new burgundy colourway for men. The fully seam-taped jacket is made from a three-layer waterproof, breathable PTFE Protection technology body fabric, with Cordura panels for extra durability.

The MT500 Burner Shirt (£35.99) is designed for freeriding and comes in two new colours – burgundy for the long-sleeve shirt and burnt orange for the three-quarter equivalent.

Finally, the MT500 Overshoes (£25.99), made from a tough nylon-faced neoprene upper and hard-wearing kevlar-faced base, are now available in a camouflage colourway.

Head to www.endura.co.uk to view the full range.

We’re all quick to protect the rest of our body from the elements, whether that be by throwing on a base layer, waterproof jacket or arm warmers, so below the waist is no different, where it’s particularly important to protect your muscles and joints. Wearing the right clothing will help prevent injury as well as keep you warm.

But, like all mountain bike clothing, there’s an array of options. Here are the pros and cons of each…

Tights

Tights needn’t be the preserve of roadies and racers as they provide great protection against both wind and rain. Regular Lycra will provide a limited barrier but there are also tights which are windproof on the outside and fleecy on the inside, keeping your legs toasty through the worst the British winter can throw at us. You can also find water repellent tights.

We prefer bibs (pictured left) because they’re more comfortable, and have braces rather than just stopping at the waist. If full-length tights aren’t your bag, what about three-quarter tights?

You can also find tights without a chamois. This means you can wear your preferred pair of cycling shorts underneath, providing an extra layer of warmth while also reducing the need to wash the tights after each ride.

If you’re still wary about heading out on the trails decked out in Lycra, you can wear baggies over tights, although you may have the style police on your back.

Trousers

Waterproof trousers provide the ultimate protection against rain and may be the answer if you’re heading out in a torrential downpour. The same principles apply as when buying a winter jacket, and you’ll want trousers that are waterproof, durable, comfortable and breathable. The final point is key, as you generate a lot of heat while riding and your trousers will need to let that moisture escape, otherwise you’ll become a sweaty mess.

Waterproof trousers are also versatile and you needn’t start your ride wearing them. Most will pack down pretty small, so you can throw them in your backpack, ready to put on over your existing clothing when caught in a storm.

Three quarter shorts

Let’s be honest, bar a few days of snow, our winters can be pretty tame compared to many and three-quarter shorts provide a halfway house between regular shorts and trousers or tights.

They protect your knees from the chill in the air and keep most of your legs free of mud and grime, but there’s also an obvious route for heat to escape and you’re unlikely to overheat. They’re also unrestrictive, often with an articulated fit suitable for thrashing it out on the trails.

What’s more, you can also find waterproof and windproof three-quarter shorts, like those from Gore Bike Wear reviewed last month, meaning you can be assured of beating the weather on most average winter days.

What do you wear through winter? Tell us in the comments box below.

Designed to eliminate the possibility of ride comfort being compromised by water getting into the overshoe through the zip, the Deluge Zipless Overshoe is manufactured using a thermal superstretch neoprene material – no need for a zip, just pull it on.

The superstretch neoprene cuff is combined with a tough nylon-faced neoprene upper front, and the back panel at the heel is made of durable stretch rib fabric. The fabric on the sole features Kevlar stitching so it should last longer on the trails.

The Deluge Zipless Overshoe, available in sizes S-XXL for £27.99, is compatible with shoes that have either mountain bike or road cleats. Design details include a reflective heel pull tab to help taking them off, reflective logos on the heel and toe area, and orange contrast stitching.

www.endura.co.uk
Endura Deluge Zipless Overshoe Endura Deluge Zipless Overshoe Endura Deluge Zipless Overshoe