Despite the influx of in-frame or on-bike storage options, I don’t think hydration packs will ever disappear from mountain biking. They are an excellent option for hauling a lot of water, and extra layers for cool or wet rides. This year I got to test Thule’s AllTrail 10L pack and found it to be a solid pack for hauling plenty of water and cargo.

The AllTrail 10L offers a great magnet system to hold the bladder’s straw, and I was impressed by its durable and weather-resistant fabric. Its back panel ventilation is nothing special, but it is comfortable to wear. The AllTrail 10L’s functionality and construction quality meet my expectations from an established brand like Thule.

Thule AllTrail 10L Hydration Pack – Construction and Features:

Thule’s AllTrail 10L is a mid-sized hydration pack intended for biking or hiking. For storage, this pack offers a full-length main pocket, a zippered mesh pocket inside the main cargo area, a top pocket with a key clip and mesh dividers for small items, and two stretchy mesh side pockets. The pack’s dimensions are 9x5x18.5”.

This pack features Thule’s 2.5L bladder, which has a baffle inside to reduce movement from the water. The bladder’s slide-on top closure makes for easy filling and secure closing, and the mouthpiece has a lock-off. The AllTrail 10L includes a fabric loop to hold the bladder upright inside the pack.

One nifty and unique feature of the AllTrail 10L is Thule’s ReTrakt magnetic hose holder. A sleeve on the hose contains a long cylindrical magnet, which sticks to a similar magnet on the shoulder strap. The cover on the hose also hides the lower section of hose from sunlight and heat. This pack does not offer the option of routing your hose to either side; the magnet is fixed on the right shoulder strap.

Thule’s Air Mesh back panel aims to keep you cool and comfortable on the trails. However, while that name might suggest a floating mesh panel, it’s not that deluxe. The back panel features two full-length pads that are perforated and breathable. The inside of the shoulder straps are lined with the same material, but the straps themselves are not cut out or perforated.

The AllTrail 10L’s waist strap is detachable, and the sternum strap is height-adjustable. Thule included elastic loops to wrangle the loose ends of the waist straps and sternum straps. However, the shoulder straps get a plastic slider instead, which does leave the tail ends hanging.

A top carry handle makes it easy to move this pack around pre/post-ride, or during trailside stops. One web loop for attaching a rear light is located on the lower back. There are also two rows of semi-hidden webbing loops for attaching other accessories or cargo. All the zippers get string pulls for easy operation with gloved hands.

Eco-friendly folks will be pleased to know the AllTrail 10L is made with Bluesign-certified polyester main fabric and a PFC-free DWR CO coating.

Ride Impressions:

I’ve been riding the AllTrail 10L pack since spring, so it’s been put through a good number of test rides. The pack and bladder have had no functional issues at all. The pack is still in practically perfect condition, and the bladder hasn’t leaked a drop. One thing I was happy to notice was how well the straps stayed in place. I’ve had no slippage from the buckles on the shoulder, waist, or sternum straps. 

This pack offers a good amount of cargo space, but not a ton of pockets to divide up your stuff. The largest main pocket can carry any reasonably packable midlayer or jacket, with room to spare. There is one zippered mesh pocket inside for smaller items. Aside from that, you get a top pocket with two mesh pouches inside. All in all, you have five inside pockets to divide up your tools and cargo. The pack also has mesh pockets on both sides, providing further storage for items that don’t need to be zippered up and weather-protected.

The least impressive aspect of this pack is probably the Air Mesh back panel’s ventilation. It’s nothing fancy, just two large perforated pads. The pack is perfectly comfortable, but it’s not the coolest as it does contact a fairly large area of your back. As for the shoulder straps, I’ve seen lighter and more breathable designs from other brands.

While the dangling shoulder strap ends never posed a problem, I don’t like how Thule put plastic sliders on them instead of the elastic loops they used elsewhere. The sliders tend to slide up the straps and don’t do much to keep the loose ends from dangling freely. As some of the photos show, I left the packaging tape on the straps for several weeks since it kept them bundled up.

As for water, 2.5L is enough capacity to get most riders through a recreational day on the trails. The AllTrail 10L is not a huge pack, but I like how Thule stuck with a big bladder as it provides the option of hauling lots of water. The mouthpiece provides ample flow, and even though I never locked it off it didn’t leak once while I rode. 

Thule did win me over with their magnetic ReTrakt straw attachment! This design works very well, with a slight toss in the right direction the hose easily snaps back into place as you ride. Only once or twice during my testing, the straw did not return to the magnet strip, and a quick nudge got it secured. There is a clip above the magnet strip, but I was always able to drink without unclipping the hose. I don’t mind having the straw on the right side, but if you like yours on the left you’re out of luck with the AllTrail 10L.

After many test rides, I’m very impressed with the AllTrail pack’s durability and weather resistance. There are no abrasions, tears, or excess wear anywhere on the fabric, and it fended off light rain really well. More than once I rode in light to steady rain for about an hour, mostly exposed to the sky, and the pack held the rain off perfectly. Everything inside was bone dry and there were large beads of water sitting on the outer fabric. I also noticed the fabric seems pretty resistant to mud splatter, which doesn’t stain the pack easily.

Thule’s AllTrail 10L hydration pack retails for $109.95. It is available in Black, Pond (as tested), or Faded Khaki colors.

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Off the bat, this is a review of something totally silly but fun, and it’s available for a limited time only, so if you want Sour bikes to make you a Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot, pre-order one by the end of next week or you’ll miss out.

OK, this slingshot is a toy. And it is one that can put an eye out, if not played with carefully and responsibly. But this really is fun to play with, and a nicely-crafted bit of silliness made with care and precision in Germany by the same framebuilders that craft Sour’s steel gravel, road & mountain bikes.

Sour’s first words about it are “Don’t Sue Us Please” and their parting words leave a further disclaimer:

“Please note: This is a toy. Please do not harm any animals. We love animals. And humans. And everything else on this planet.”

Sour Bicycles’ limited edition steel Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot

I think I first noticed these last winter, after the framebuilders of Sour Bicycles in Dresden, Germany decided to make themselves a slingshot to play with in their downtime. And then, everybody who saw it said they wanted one, too.

So, Sour decided to make a batch and see if anyone would actually pay for a handcrafted steel slingshot. And thus, the Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot was born. Of course, they sold out, and I thought that was it.

But now, in the lead-up to the holiday gifting season, Sour decided to resurrect the Sweet ‘n’ Sour Slingshot in all of its glory, including its built-in bottle opener – for responsible adult beverages while responsibly shooting at safe targets. So there’s a pre-order now for 2 weeks, and they’ll ship slingshots out to everyone who buys one now, in time to wrap it up and gift it to a lucky individual on your Christmas shopping list!

Review: Why a slingshot isn’t a bad idea

Yes, a 70€ hand-crafted slingshot made by professional bike frame-builders is undeniably a luxury item. And to be fair, at least a little bit dangerous.

But at the same time, this is one of the most affordable handmade products that you’ll get out of bike builder. And it is legitimately fun for the whole family.

Of course, you first need to figure out what you are shooting a Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot at before you go out and order one.

We have a couple of big old European Larch trees in our yard, so we have hundreds of their cones all over the lawn. And every time a strong wind blows, old dead branches with cones still attached fall and need to be picked up. We’ve literally got 2-3cm pinecones coming out of our ears, so the perfect ammo. Check.

We also have a couple of old metal barrels. So quickly breaking out some sidewalk chalk, and we’ve got a perfect target that produces a very satisfying gong sound the closer you get to the bull’s eye. Check, number two.

Fun for the whole family

So now my son, my daughter, and I get to spend some extra fun time together plinking pinecones at a metal barrel. And we can all work on refining our hand-eye coordination skills, with no video games or any screentime required. Plus, now the kids have a bit more incentive to help rake up the yard. Although that hasn’t seemed to help too much, yet.

But at least they are more willing to hunt around for little cones to shoot at the barrel or just a big pile of wood. We haven’t yet progressed to individual tin cans, but I think that will come soon enough when they start to get more competitive. Then, the real competition begins.

A side benefit… our young cat loves chasing after every errant pinecone as it bounces off of whatever we hit. So I guess she’s refining her hunting skills too, and won’t be turning into a fat lap cat anytime too soon.

Tech details

We know you come to Bikerumor for the deep technical details dive on everything we cover, right? So, here it is…

Sour’s limited edition Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot is a 2-piece construction, made from laser-cut steel, precision welded in the same Saxony workshop where Sour fabricates all of their made-in-Germany steel bikes. Then, they get a black powder coat, including individual multi-color splatter made by Sour’s founder Chris himself. “Please Note: Since the splatter paint job is a result mainly of luck, every slingshot will look a little bit different.“

The Sour slingshot features a 31mm diameter soft clear Frozen push-on mountain bike grip made by Freeze, also in Dresden, so you get to see more of Chris’ luck of the splatter. A tough set of tubular rubber hose bands secured with steel ball bearings hold the synthetic leather pouch to propel your ammo.

It measures 24cm long x 11cm wide (9.4×4.3″) and will weigh down your back pocket about 286g, ready for target practice and opening a brew or two when you are done.

Sour’s ltd. Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot – Pricing, pre-order & holiday delivery

Sour is taking pre-orders now until November 8th for the limited edition run of their Sweet ‘n Sour Slingshot. Each slingshot pre-order will cost you 69.69€ now.

Then, they’ll head to production in one batch in the second half of November. And Sour will ship them “right in time before Christmas” so you can give the gift of joy and target practice to someone special this coming holiday season. Express Shipping adds 6€ more in Germany, 18€ throughout the EU, or 25€ pretty much anywhere else in the world.

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When the weather gets nasty, you’ve got to cover up to stay dry and happy on the trails. I got the chance to test Patagonia’s Dirt Roamer Storm jacket and Dirt Craft pants, and I’m glad I got my hands on both. The jacket offers full protection from rain, and the pants are a versatile pair you could wear for any ride.

I’ve been riding in the Dirt Roamer Storm jacket and Dirt Craft pants since spring. The Dirt Roamer Storm jacket quickly won me over with its effective waterproofing and excellent ventilation. The Dirt Craft pants are light and breathable but also proved more weather-resistant than expected.

Dirt Roamer Storm Bike Jacket: $319

The Dirt Roamer Storm jacket is made from 100% waterproof 3-layer H2No fabric. This fabric is breathable and offers a bit of stretch. On the inside, a wicking knit backer provides comfort for bare skin. Abrasion-resistant reinforcing panels are located on the forearms, shoulders, and rear hem.

This pullover features a ¾ length front zipper, which opens up enough to easily get the jacket on or off with a helmet on. On the sides, full-length two-way zippers open up huge pit-to-hem vents from either end. Even the chest zipper can be opened from the bottom for a little extra airflow.

This jacket’s hood is large enough to fit over a helmet and has a single-pull cinch to tighten it up. If you don’t need the hood, a clip on the cinch cord can be used to tuck it away on your shoulders. The Dirt Roamer Storm jacket can be stuffed into its own back pocket and winds up about the size of a large water bottle.

Men’s models are available in Black, Pine Needle Green, or Nouveau Green. Sizes range from XS-XL. Women’s models come in black only and in XS-XL sizes.

Ride Impressions:

At 5’9” the size medium Dirt Roamer Storm jacket fits me nicely. Patagonia’s website shows a 6’1” model wearing the same size, but I wouldn’t want to go any smaller as it keeps me well covered. The tail is long enough to fully cover my butt, and the front is cut higher up but reaches down to my waist. There is ample room in the body for insulating layers, but the cut is lean enough to not feel baggy. I never had any issues with restricted mobility or lack of coverage while riding in this jacket.

The arms are long enough to easily cover my wrists and they’re roomy enough to fit layers underneath. The cuffs are on the larger side but they can be cinched down simply with their Velcro closures.

The Dirt Roamer Storm’s hood fit over my Oakley DRT5 helmet well enough to comfortably climb with it up, which is awesome on cool, rainy days. I really like this jacket’s collar, as it is high and spacious enough to easily tuck your chin inside on cold or wet rides. When opened up, the collar tends to fall off to the sides and out of the way. 

The Dirt Roamer Storm jacket doesn’t offer a ton of storage, with just one zippered pocket on the lower back. The pocket is large enough for a phone and a few other small items, and it is easy to access while on the bike. I think one or two front pockets could make this jacket more desirable to those who don’t want to ride with a pack.  

The Dirt Roamer Storm can be packed into its back pocket, but you really have to jam it in there. It easily packs up small enough to carry in any decent-sized hydration pack.  

Waterproofing and Ventilation:

After riding the Dirt Roamer Storm jacket in the spring and fall, I managed to get it wet several times. I’m pleased to say I never got wet inside it; This jacket lives up to its claim of being fully waterproof. Water beaded up on the jacket’s H2No fabric nicely and it withstood several rides in steady rain without getting saturated anywhere. This jacket is also very wind resistant, so it will keep a cool breeze at bay.

Aside from its waterproofing, ventilation is probably the Dirt Roamer Storm’s best attribute. The huge side vents on this jacket are great! They can be opened from the bottom or top, so you can use them as pit zips and/or side vents. With these vents open you can feel air flowing through them and they effectively dump body heat.

With this great ventilation, this jacket can be comfortable in a pretty wide temperature range. I’ve ridden it from roughly 8-20°, and I’m sure it could work in cooler temps with appropriate layers underneath. Beyond about 17-18°, the Dirt Roamer Storm jacket can get a bit warm once you heat up inside it. Despite the large vents, the waterproof fabric doesn’t breathe super well, so there are limits to how cool it can keep you on warmer rides. Still, I would ride this jacket on any rainy day since its waterproofing is so good. 

Dirt Craft Bike Pants: $149

The Dirt Craft Bike Pants are a thin, lightweight pair of pants constructed from stretchy, breathable fabric making them ideal for just about any spring, summer, or fall ride. Laser-cut vent holes on the inner thighs and back of the knees provide ventilation.

These pants keep their construction lean and simple, with a stretchy waistband and no cinches or adjusters. The lower cuffs feature sewn-in stretch panels at the back. At the waist, there’s a zippered fly with a one-button closure.

For storage, the pants include two zippered pockets on the thighs. Both pockets have a pass-through feature that works with Patagonia’s Dirt Roamer liner or bib shorts. The pockets on the pants and shorts/bibs line up so you can access items from the liners’ pockets right through the pants.

Men’s sizes range from 28-44, and there are five colors to choose from. These pants are also available in a women’s model, in sizes 0-22. Women’s color options are Utility Blue, Black, or Golden Caramel.

Ride Impressions:

The Dirt Craft Bike Pants are a minimalist option for those seeking full coverage. Overall the size 32 pants I tested fit me quite well. The legs are easily long enough to keep my ankles covered in the riding position, and they’re roomy but not baggy. With no waist adjusters, I was glad the elastic waistband was tight enough for me to ride them comfortably as my waist is a tad under a true 32. Given the option, I would tighten them up a bit more, but they were just snug enough.  

These pants remained comfortable in a wide temperature range. Being pants, they are an obvious choice for cooler spring and fall rides, but their light, breathable fabric handled hot summer days really well too. On one particularly warm and humid ride, I noticed my legs never felt sweaty or overheated. On cooler days I could feel air flowing into the vent holes on the inner thighs.

I rode the Dirt Craft pants with my slim Dainese Trail Skins Lite kneepads, and they fit into the pants easily with no restriction of motion. I’m sure a slightly thicker set of kneepads would be no problem with these pants.

I’d be happy to have waist pockets on these pants, but Patagonia stuck with just two pockets on the thighs. There is some opportunity for phones and keychains to bounce around a bit while you pedal, but it didn’t prove to be an annoyance.

Weather Resistance:

The Dirt Craft pants are not a waterproof pair, but they did pretty well fighting against light rain. After an hour-long ride in light but steady rain, parts of the pants were still not soaked through. Areas with direct exposure to rain and the seat of the pants did get saturated, but the pants kept me feeling dry otherwise. The fabric seems to absorb a fair bit of moisture and doesn’t turn into a slick wet blanket until it gets completely soaked. Splatter from mud and puddles is no problem for these pants.

My Dirt Craft pants have suffered no damage or excess wear during my many test rides with them. I expect to get years of use out of these versatile pants.  

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This year I got my first chance to try out some riding gear from Patagonia, and came away pretty impressed with all the pieces I received. I had expectations knowing this is a well-regarded brand with lots of experience making outdoor gear, and I was not disappointed.

I’ve been riding in the Dirt Craft jersey and Dirt Craft shorts since spring, and have worn these pieces countless times throughout the spring and summer. Both proved to be very durable garments, despite their lightweight, thin fabrics.

While the cut was a bit loose on me, the long-sleeved Dirt Craft jersey proved to be a great option for full coverage in a wide range of temperatures. The shorts fit great, felt cool on hot days, and the chamois included with them is very comfortable. In addition to the jersey, shorts, and chamois featured in this article, I also tested a waterproof jacket and riding pants, so watch for my review on those coming soon.

Dirt Craft Bike Jersey: $99

The Dirt Craft long-sleeved jersey features Airshed fabric on the shoulders and outer arms, and Capilene Cool Daily fabric on the main body and cuffs. The Capilene fabric offers stretch and breathability, while the Airshed fabric reinforces abrasion-prone areas.

Patagonia tailored this jersey for bike riders with a longer rear hem, long sleeves to ensure proper coverage, and hybrid panel elbows that stretch to accommodate low-profile elbow pads. The cuffs are designed to hold themselves in place if you push them up your arms.

Men’s and women’s models of the Dirt Craft jersey are available. Men’s sizes range from XS-XXL, and there are five color choices (including the Golden Caramel color I tested). Women’s sizes go from XS-XL, and Patagonia offers three color options.

Ride Impressions:

The Dirt Craft Bike Jersey is a thin, long-sleeve jersey suitable for just about any ride. I wore a size medium (matching the Dirt Roamer Storm jacket I tested), and I found the cut a bit baggy overall. Both the width of the body and the loose-fitting arms are a little excessive on my lean frame. On windy days, the arms did get a bit flappy during rides. The Dirt Craft jersey fit well under the Patagonia jacket, but it could make a better underlayer if it was a bit less baggy.

In hindsight I may have fit into a size small jersey, however, I do like the medium’s body and arm length. The body drops well below my waist in the front and back, and the arms are easily long enough to keep my wrists covered in any riding position.

I wouldn’t give the Dirt Craft jersey’s fabric top marks for breathability, as it doesn’t match the airy feel of a thin Merino jersey or something with strategic mesh paneling. I noticed once you build up body heat in this jersey it doesn’t escape as easily as other materials allow. That said, the fabric is very thin so it resists heat buildup until temperatures get pretty high. It would still be a good option for sun protection on a hot summer ride.

The tradeoff for the jersey’s OK breathability is excellent durability. I’ve worn this jersey tons of times, often with my camera pack or a hydration pack, and there is no visible wear and tear anywhere. The fabric isn’t pilling at all on the back, and the jersey hasn’t stretched out of shape.

Dirt Craft Bike Shorts with Chamois: $199

The Dirt Craft shorts are made from 82% recycled polyester, which offers durability and four-way stretch. A DWR finish provides resistance to splashes and moisture. At the waist is a zippered fly with a one-button closure, and this short comes with a chamois included.

Men’s models are available in sizes 28-40, and come in six color options (including Utility Blue, as tested). Women’s models are also available, in sizes from 0-22. Ladies get four colors to choose from.   

Ride Impressions:

The first thing I liked about Patagonia’s Dirt Craft Bike Shorts was the waist adjustment system. Having a ‘just below 32’ waist, I typically cinch down the adjusters on all my riding shorts. With metal hooks and tons of loops to connect to, Patagonia’s design offers a huge range of adjustment that won’t slip or loosen up. You will get some fabric bunching at the sides if you cinch them down a lot, but in my case it wasn’t anything excessive. 

Between two waist pockets and two zippered leg pockets the Dirt Craft shorts offer a good amount of storage. I noticed a bit of flopping from my phone when it was in the leg pocket, but not enough to become annoying.

The Dirt Craft shorts offer a 12.5” inseam length. They reached right to my kneecaps, but they would ride up on my legs after some pedaling and leave an exposed gap above my kneepads. Pedalling mobility was great; the shorts’ fabric is stretchy too, but their cut is ergonomic enough on its own. 

Like the other pieces, these shorts have proven to be highly durable. I have ridden and washed them tons of times, and they’re still in tip-top shape. That is particularly impressive since the fabric is very thin and lightweight. These shorts are definitely a good choice for a hot summer ride.

Chamois:

I was very happy with Patagonia’s chamois, which I’d now call my second favorite (only losing to 7mesh’s MK3). This chamois is only available with the Dirt Craft shorts.

I wore a size 32, and although my waist is more like a 31 they are snug on me but not tight. The body section of the chamois is a bit tall for me, leaving the waistband sitting high up my belly. On warmer rides, I folded the waistband over itself for minimal coverage and it was perfectly comfortable. When temperatures dropped I left the waistband up, and the chamois were comfy either way.

If the legs were any longer on this chamois they would touch my knees, but thankfully the hems sit just high enough on my thighs. The legs and body aren’t tight enough to offer a compression fit on me, but the lower hems are wide and snug enough to stay in place.

The chamois padding is a medium thickness, offering a good amount of saddle cushioning without feeling too thick. I found the padding sits in the right place, and it kept my butt very cozy throughout all my test rides.

Super thin mesh panels on the sides keep these chamois as cool as possible, so they’re a good choice for all temperatures. With great saddle padding, zero comfort issues, and no wear and tear to report, I’ll be gladly wearing these chamois until I’ve worn them out!

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Last winter we were invited to take a rare look inside the Ortlieb factory, where the company synonymous with ‘waterproof’ manufactures their classic touring, commuter, and bikepacking bags. Nestled in the rolling rural countryside of northern Bavaria, Ortlieb makes its signature waterproof cycling bags in Germany. For over 40 years they’ve built a reputation for quality, durability, and reliability. And while they’ve expanded their offerings far beyond their original waterproof touring luggage and those original designs, Ortlieb even continues to refine and evolve those classic bags that are still some of their best sellers…

Inside Ortlieb, behind the scenes where waterproof is made

During a less busy, but appropriately rainy part of the year, we had a chance to venture across Germany to the headquarters of Ortlieb in Heilsbronn in the Franconia region. Quite centrally located in Germany – and technically at the geographical center of the EU – it’s an easy locale to overlook. But it’s a nice, quiet part of the German countryside. And sufficiently wet for their style of gear, at least based on my winter visit.

He started the company back in 1982 in Nuremberg, but Hartmut Ortlieb brought it half an hour down the road to this new location in 1997 to set up a more efficient, more sustainable way of manufacturing their iconic waterproof gear. That’s where more than 300 international employees design and make your bags, and create all of their growing range of gear – beyond touring & bikepacking bags to include multiple racks, thru-axles & more…

All of the waterproof bags are created in-house in Heilsbronn. Their specialized waterproof zippers are made by a partner company Tizip, literally created on the same street just to make zips to Ortlieb’s high waterproof standards the year after they moved to Heilsbronn. All the injection molded plastic parts in your Ortlieb gear are also made on the same tiny dead-end street. Ortlieb built up the industry on the edge of this small, to the point that their partners literally can pull a forklift out of one factory and drop it off next door, for the most easy-to-mange supply chain logistics you’ll find anywhere.

Where Ortlieb waterproof started, and where they’ve gone

Ortlieb got its mythical start in 1982 when founder Harmut Ortlieb wasn’t satisfied with the lack of protection from the elements with touring bags of the time. On a cycle tour of the UK, he realized that the tarps covering truckers’ hauls would make better bags than the axed cotton or uncoated nylons of the day. So he returned home and started experimenting with tarpaulin fabric and his mother’s sewing machine.

He started with taped seams, that were nearly “leakproof”. But that wasn’t good enough. Within about 2 years, Harmut settled on high-frequency welding tech to physically bond two pieces of coated fabric together – creating truly waterproof gear. That’s still the core technology that sets Ortlieb apart today – although it has become much more sophisticated and refined.

It all started with Ortlieb’s first tarp-based and seam-taped Bike-Packer pannier bags. 40 years later, the general pannier bag profile is similar, even down to the 2-strap closure, and the iconic red. But the materials of the modern Bike-Packer Plus are much more refined. And the high-frequency welded seams are unmatched for their consistent waterproofness and durability.

Behind-the-scenes in waterproof cycling bag production

To make all their high-performance bags, Ortlieb has to start with high-quality materials. Their fabrics are all provided by long-term trusted suppliers. And Ortlieb keeps plenty of rolls in stock, in all of their favorite colors, to maintain reliable workflow.

It’s not only the classic coated nylon & polyester fabrics, more complex construction includes various foams, foils, and other plastics that give Ortlieb’s products a wide range of applications. And all of them need to be sorted, prepped, and stored to be ready for Ortlieb’s flexible manufacturing.

In-house material testing

But trusted suppliers or not, Ortlieb doesn’t leave anything to chance. It’s their waterproof reputation on the line, after all.

So every batch of fabric coming in the door gets tested in-house. Tear resistance, ultimate tensile strength, ability to be welded together, abrasion resistance, waterproofness. Much like in their manufacturing hall, Ortlieb makes many of their own testing tools to determine the performance of their raw materials.

And if the fabric doesn’t pass any of Ortlieb’s in-house tests, it doesn’t make it into any production bags.

Material cutting & prep

Over 40 years, many steps of the manufacturing of Ortlieb’s iconic bags have evolved and become more efficient. That’s a big reason that they can continue to manufacture in Germany. While their products are by no means the cheapest on the market, customers continue to respect the added value of high-quality, durable gear that Ortlieb stands behind.

Water jet cutting lets Ortlieb accurately cut many layers of material at a time, speeding up the prep process for their higher volume bags.

But their classic stamping dies still see regular use too. For lower volume or thicker foam materials, often times the classic die-cutting process is still the best solution. And Ortlieb has a veritable library of dies to stamp out all shapes & sizes of their broad catalog of cycling-specific bags and more general application packs.

One of the games that the Ortlieb team likes to play with the uninitiated is “Guess what bag this is?”

Many are pretty easy to figure out if you are familiar with their core cycling bags. But can anyone guess which bag these yellow pieces belong to? Let us know in the comments!

What’s in the Bike Bag box?

Now, let’s dive into the birth of a single bag (or at least a single family of bags).

The Ortlieb guessing game continues. What ‘Bike Bag’ in in the box?

At various stages in the manufacturing process, Ortlieb water jet cuts (or die cuts) the individual panels that make up a bag. Then, they print or heat-transfer the graphics onto the individual panels – hi-viz reflective here. Then, they may weld on hardware like these side buckles.

Before…

The next mystery step.

Herein lies the secrets…

Ortlieb was careful not to really show us how they use their unique & patented high-frequency welding tech to bond the individual panels of their bags together. It’s literally the secret sauce that sets them apart from the competition.

I did get to see some interesting-looking, custom-made welding machines that were dormant during my time in the factory. Each was created for a specific product, like you might see with a carbon wheel or frame mold. And the general idea seems to be that these machines were developed to concentrate the high-frequency energy exclusively at the specific bag’s seams, so these are melted together, but nothing else is affected.

Interesting to note without know more about how the process works, there were warning signs everywhere so that someone with a pacemaker didn’t accidentally stray into the path of an Ortlieb waterproof bag welding machine in-process.

Consider yourself warned.

Back to conventional bag assembly…

Once Ortlieb mysteriously uses a magic microwave to bond your bag’s panels together in a waterproof construction, there’s still plenty more manual work to be done.

Skilled workers sew on finishing tape, and the special thin piece of stiffening plastic that makes their roll-top closure work so well.

Remember, Ortlieb actually is the inventor of the waterproof roll-top closure. And you must fold it a full 3 times for Ortlieb to be sure that it is truly waterproof. At least protected from 1m submersion in water for a full 30 minutes. In reality, most Ortlieb waterproof bags deliver significantly more protection than that.

After welding and that last sewing step, these bags finally resemble something that we can easily identify.

At that point, teams of two work together to finish the Ortlieb bags. They bolt on specialist hardware – like the QL2.1 quick-release rack attachment system here. And they add any remaining straps, hooks, and buckles before the complete bags get boxed up to send to the warehouse for distribution.

Did you guess which bags we were seeing be made?

The unfinished side panels were from this (potentially red) Ortlieb Back-Roller Core pannier bag. And the slightly closer to being finished petrol blue bags were these classic and slightly more complex Back-Roller panniers.

Factory seconds find a 2nd life

One casualty of Ortlieb’s insistence on absolute waterproofness and exacting quality control is that not every bag they start working on ends up passing all their internal checks.

But turning lemons into lemonade, Ortlieb puts their factory seconds aside, and then gives them a second life – here as high-quality, but not waterproof reusable shopping bags. Their dealers can place orders for as many as they want, but no choice on color, since they are only made with whatever doesn’t pass internal quality controls.

Fix It, Don’t Replace It!

That was the tagline of an Ortlieb Repair Week campaign last year as a response to industry Black Friday deals. But it’s more than just a slogan. Ortlieb offers a 5-year warranty on every product they make. But they also encourage buyers to use their gear long past that.

A big part of keeping their existing gear in service is an affordable repair program, and availability of spare parts. Ortlieb trains a huge portion of their dealers & distributors in more basic and the most common repairs, and even sets up a number of them for more complex repairs.

And if you can’t get someone local to fix your gear, Ortlieb sends it back to Heilsbronn where it was made. Off in one corner is the factory, we found a well-equipped repair technician. And he picked out what he was working on that day, everything from replacing damaged hardware to showing us how he uses a special heat gun & roller to weld patches over damaged packs to make them fully waterproof again.

Then stack it up, and ship it out

Ortlieb makes all of their waterproof touring, commuting, bikepacking, and off-bike bags in-house in Germany.

But even those newer items like tubular aluminum racks and modular thru-axles that are not manufactured in Heilsbronn, they all still end up here in the Ortlieb warehouse to get shipped out to global distributors and your local dealer bike shops.

A case in point Review: Why Ortlieb cycling bags are waterproof!

One last thing…

While visiting Ortlieb in Heilsbronn, it seemed like it would be a shame to not load up some bikes to get wet & muddy. You know, to see what waterproof cycling packs were all about.

For a quick 2-day bikepacking overnighter, I loaded up the 3T Extrema Italia test bike with my set of limited edition purple, petrol & orange Ortlieb bikepacking bags stuffed with plenty of gear to stay warm and dry this past winter. And of course, heavy rain was forecast, and the gravel route was more dirt farm tracks and singletrack, so I broke out the Maxxis Severe 29er XC mud tires for as much grip as I could muster up.

My Ass Savers Win Wing was no match for the sloppy wet German mud, although I think it did actually keep my legs a bit cleaner and drier.

So did everything stay dry?

Of course it stayed dry.

Well, at least everything inside of my Ortlieb waterproof bikepacking bags.

The first trick with riding gravel bikes in rain and mud is finding a place out of the rain when it’s time to load and unload your bags. The second is trying to keep the bags clean of mud before you have to open, or close them again.

The Seat Pack saddlebag is the hardest to deal with keeping clean, so I try to limit how often I need to get into that one – usually saving that for the end of the ride at camp. The Handlebar Pack doesn’t get as mucked up at its openings, but the end openings are generally tricky to open, then close again tightly while still on the bike. So they’re not exclusively for camp, too.

The roll-closure Frame-Pack Top Tube RC is my go-to for extra layers, tools, and bigger snacks that come out mid-ride. It’s easy to get into with a gaping wide opening, and doesn’t get dirty mid-ride.

Then lastly, this magnet snap-closure toptube Fuel Pack is excellent for smaller snacks, and to keep your phone and powerbank dry in a deluge. One-handed easy access, and it still keeps rain out. Just don’t dunk it in a lake, as it’s not immersion-proof like the rest of the Ortlieb bags are.

Ortlieb waterproof will keep dry what you love

Yes, I’m fully onboard with the “Keep Dry What You Love” mantra. Plus, I love that Ortlieb builds these bags to last. And Ortlieb backs them with repair service to keep them in use for as long as you want to keep the riding your bike on new adventures.

Now truth be told, I have already spent many hundreds of kilometers with my gear protected from the elements inside Ortlieb waterproof bikepacking bags. And I even rode to the train station in the rain this morning with my weekend’s worth of gear safely tucked away inside of Vario convertible pannier/backpack attached to a Quick-Rack Light.

So, I already knew these colorful bikepacking bags would keep my goodies dry.

But you can’t blame me for taking an opportunity to go play in the mud & rain with Ortlieb’s head of communications.

It was great to see inside Ortlieb how they manufacture these bags in Germany. But the trip was even better by taking my well-used bags back to their birthplace. And then, inundating the bags with truly the same rain and mud that Ortlieb created them to protect your gear from in the first place, for the past 42 years.

Ortlieb.com

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Early this year, Italy’s Limar launched their new Livigno full-face helmet. The Livigno is a very lightweight, well-ventilated helmet that is definitely ideal for enduro riding but is also DH-certified for racing or bike park use.

Since Spring I’ve been riding the Livigno in the bike park and on my local trails, and it has left me with little to complain about. It is very lightweight, offers a great field-of-view and easily keeps your head cool enough for mid summer enduro/trail riding.

Limar Livigno – Construction and Features:

The Livigno features a polycarbonate shell made with In-Mould construction and a chin bar built from ABS and Polystyrene. The visor is also made from flexible ABS. The Livigno’s shell is covered with plenty of vents all around, and inside is a lightweight MIPS Air liner to reduce rotational forces in a crash.

The Livigno includes Limar’s Air Fit Evo dial-operated retention system. The system’s rear cradle is height adjustable with five positions. Up front, the Livigno’s visor offers three height positions. The top setting is completely out of view but could be useful for stashing goggles on your forehead. The bottom two positions are visible in your field of view.

Other construction details include a Fidlock magnetic chin buckle, and a soft cover for the chin strap.

Goggle Fit:

At first glance I was a bit concerned about the Livigno’s goggle compatibility, as the sides of the face opening aren’t very tall. However, it proved to be less limited than expected. I tried several pairs of goggles with it and found my Smith Squad goggles and 661 Radias fit no problem.

Leatt’s 4.0 X-Flow goggles worked OK, but the helmet’s shell does keep them off my face slightly, which puts some excess pressure on the nose. My Leatt Gravity 4.0’s did fit but the shell’s sides keep their wider frames from sitting snugly against my face. The foam does make contact, so they are wearable with the Livigno.

There’s no channel or indent in the shell to indicate where your goggle strap should sit, but your fingers can find the ridge above the rear vents fairly easily. The goggle strap does sit over the two central rear vents, but it doesn’t significantly reduce airflow.

Ride Impressions – Fit:

The shape of the Livigno’s shell fits my head well, with no pressure points or uncomfortable areas. Right out of the box I wore the Livigno for a few hours in the bike park and had no discomfort at all.

The Livigno’s interior padding is slim and the cheek pads are on the small side, but they provide adequate comfort. Limar includes thicker and thinner cheek pads with the helmet, and I’m using the thinner ones. These pads are perfect for me, they’re just snug enough to hold the helmet in place but not tight on my cheeks.

Limar’s helmet sizing works out great for me. A medium fits 53-57cm heads and mine is 56cm, so the shell isn’t larger than necessary. On the trails I found the fit nice and secure, with no movement on my head even without the retention system super snug.

Air Fit Evo Retention System:

I like the open-face style retention systems found in the Livigno and some other pedal-friendly full-face lids. Adjustable retention systems in full-faces can provide a very secure fit when correctly positioned and snugged up.

That said, I did have one issue with Limar’s Air Fit Evo system. It is height-adjustable to five different positions, but it slips out of position very easily. Several times I noticed it had been accidentally bumped into its highest setting. This may have happened while putting the helmet down on the trailside, or tossing it in my car, but once I bumped the system upwards while simply putting the helmet on.

I get the best fit with the retention system in its middle height position, but luckily even when it gets pushed up the Livigno still fits my head snugly. However, with the system in its highest setting the dial is hard to access as it sits almost underneath the back of the shell.

Field Of View and Visor:

The Livigno’s field of view is excellent. The chin bar sits low enough to allow great lower visibility, so while descending in the bike park or climbing my local trails I had no problem seeing enough of the trail below. Side visibility is practically unlimited, and even with the visor in the lowest position I didn’t find it was blocking much of my view.

While I found the sun would get around the sides of the narrow visor on the bike park lifts, it did provide a useful amount of shade while I was trail riding. I always kept the visor in its lowest position, and I wouldn’t likely use the two higher settings for riding. The highest setting does leave plenty of room for goggles, if you want them off your face while climbing or hanging out.

I’m not a big fan of the visor’s height adjustment on the Livigno. There is considerable play in the top and bottom positions, but the middle position holds tight. The visor never shook around or made noise while I was riding, but it’s a bit cheesy that it can move around quite a bit in its high/low settings. This also makes it initially a bit tricky to figure out which setting you’re in.

Ventilation:

The Livigno easily earns top marks in the ventilation category. I was very happy to be wearing it on hot summer days in the bike park, and on my local trails. This helmet is one of the coolest full-faces I’ve ever worn, with very good ventilation from all sides.

In late summer the Livigno got the ultimate trail test. I spent 3.5 hours riding trails and shooting photos, in 33° C (91ºF) of pure sunshine. The Livigno remained impressively comfortable throughout! On this ride I noticed you don’t feel a lot of airflow while climbing, but heat must escape well because no part of my head ever got particularly hot in this helmet.

The only parts of the Livigno that make it warmer than an open-faced helmet are the cheek pads, and they’re not very big. Aside from exactly where your cheeks contact the pads, the rest of the helmet stays pretty cool. The heavily cut-out chin bar hardly reduces airflow at all, and there’s space inside the chin bar for air to circulate well.

Final Notes:

The nicest thing about the Livigno I haven’t yet mentioned is its impressively low 597g weight. This featherweight full-face is excellent for lengthy enduro/trail rides. Despite me usually wearing open-faced lids outside of bike parks, I never got a sore neck from riding in the Livigno.

Another big plus was how silent the MIPS Air liner was. With previous MIPS liners in certain helmets, I have noticed they produce a lot of creaking as you ride, but the Livigno’s MIPS Air system never made any noise at all.

The magnetic Fidlock chin buckle is pretty easy to use, and definitely easier to operate with gloves than a small traditional buckle. The fabric-wrapped chin strap is a nice touch – it’s more comfy than it would be without!

Limar’s Livigno full-face helmet is available in Black, Sand, Green, and Matt Deep Mint (as tested) colors. Sizes medium and large are available (each with its own shell), covering heads from 53-61 cm. MSRP is $249.95.

us.limar.com

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It’s not often that a piece of kit comes along and truly pushes against the status quo. Usually, when said piece is introduced, there is a sea of elation and discontent— the “if it’s not broke, why fix it?” attitude from detractors who would rather keep the familiar. Canyons CFR helmets with the Hi-Bar strap system aren’t flawless (listed later). However, they signal a protocol change for helmet retention, hopeful headwear progress, and maybe fewer head injuries.   

Canyon Disruptr CFR

You can check out our full tech breakdown here if you’re new to the Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet. In a nutshell, the Disruptr CFR signals Canyon’s entry into the helmet space. Like most avenues Canyon pursues, they started at the very top of the line. Canyon launched two helmets simultaneously: the Disruptr CFR, an all-around road and gravel helmet, and the Stingr CFR, which is more aero-focused. Both designs feature the new and innovative HighBar retention system.

What makes it different? Unlike classic webbing-style straps, the HighBar is rigid and uses a BOA-style (not actually BOA brand) strap instead of a buckle. This retention style is how the HighBar stays firmly on the rider’s head. You can read more about the tech and HighBar safety philosophy here.

How does the Canyon Disruptr CFR fit? 

I found the size medium Canyon Disruptr CFR to fit me well. Usually, I wear a medium in Trek, Lazer, KASK, and the like. I found the Canyon Disruptr CFR to be on par with others’ fit and sizing. The profile and shape of the Disruptr are slightly more bulbous than others in its category. Still, in a world where the (Sweet Protection Redeemer 2Vi Mips helmet) exists, this is a reasonably tame silhouette.

The elephant in the room with the Disruptr CFR is the HighBar system. 

If you played any sports that require a helmet (non-cycling), like US Football, Hockey, Lacrosse, and so on, the fit of the HighBar system will feel familiar to you. The retainment pieces follow the face contours but don’t touch the skin. The chin strap gave me intense hockey flashbacks, but not in a bad way. 

Serious Business 

The goofiest part about the HighBar system is how to disengage it to put the helmet on. The bar straps move on a hinge located near the temple. To “unlock” the system, you have to move the bar to your forehead, put the helmet on, and then lower it. It’s no less ridiculous than putting on a skinsuit or aero-socks, but it’s new, and new can be weird/bad to cyclists (myself included).

Once you lower the chinstrap, tighten the Boa-style dial, and you’re off. The chin strap has slight padding on the inside but doesn’t interfere with the fit. It reminds me of the feel of the Rudy Project helmets with the thick buckle cover. The HighBar retention system is a different fit for everyone. Some may dislike it from the start, and others (like myself) will have no issues. 

Does it work?

If by “work” you mean staying on the rider’s head, then yes, 100% it is more effective than classic webbing straps that are poorly adjusted. Why not just adjust the straps correctly? Some new riders might not know how to properly fit a helmet (something they should learn at their local shop upon purchase). Canyon is taking that misfitting out of the equation with the HighBar design, which is seemingly unable to be improperly fitted. Plus, they lack customer touch points like a classic bike shop.  

How does it compare to the competition for weight and price? 

• Trek Velocis MIPS, 258g: $299.99
• Trek Ballista MIPS, 268g: $299.99
• S-Works Prevail 3, 271g: $300.00
• Specialized S-Works Evade 3, 272g: $300.00
• Giro Aries, 270g: $300.00
• Kask Protone Icon, 239g: $299.00
• Kask Utopia, 258g: $300.00
• MET Trenta MIPS, 250g: $260
• Canyon Disruptr CFR, 275g: $299.00
• *All weights are in size Medium

The Disruptr’s weight is more like that of an aero helmet and not an all-around, only by a few grams, but we might as well count everything while we’re at it. 

How About the Aerodynamics? 

Another claim from HighBar is that the fixed positioning of the “strap” helps with aerodynamics and is faster than traditional webbing (around 10-20 watts, but that pushing it). This claim is valid, and in most wind tunnel testing, helmet manufacturers test helmets with the webbing taped down to the dummy. Now, I’m no aerospace engineer, but that makes sense. On the other hand, wouldn’t a properly fitted webbing strap with sunglasses over the strap negate some of the flapping? 

Less wind noise? Not from what I could tell, but my eardrums are blown from playing in a punk band for most of my life. I will say that the sounds of wind and strap sensation are more consistent than with webbing. When you move your head, the webbing straps can sometimes catch wind and flap. That doesn’t happen with the HighBar system. 

Canyon Disruptr CFR Ride Impressions

I’ve been using the Canyon Disruptr CFR for quite a while and in many different conditions. It takes some getting used to, but I like the HighBar system. Some small bits that will annoy newcomers include things like glasses going under the strap and the fitting near the cheekbones being slightly intrusive. Otherwise, I felt at home with the Canyon Disruptr CFR in various conditions and temperatures. 

Most of my rides were on my gravel, road, or cyclocross bikes. Training for cyclocross in the summer is pretty cruel, and going all out in 90 degrees is rough, but Disruptr CFR was good at thermoregulation and keeping the head cool. The large vents are excellent, allowing airflow and proper sunglass retention (with pads included). The HighBar strap claims to help cool the head, and although I didn’t feel that much cooler to note a difference, it certainly did not make the helmet hotter. 

Padding and Sweat Retention

The Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet uses MIPS Air Node for the protective liner and main padding. The peripheral padding is a dense foam that doesn’t hold sweat but offers support in critical areas. I found this padding a nice feature along the cradle of the rear of the helmet. The main padding is robust and retains sweat well.

Easy Cleaning

I like the robust design of the Disruptr CFR and the HighBar system. Traditional webbing straps can get gross after muddy races or super summer training sessions, and it’s hard to wash them all out. I found the Disruptr CFR much easier to maintain (bucket washing with dish soap) and the HighBar system to hold less odor than a traditional webbing strap. 

Conclusion

Is the HighBar system a game-changer? In my opinion, yes. Why? It’s starting a conversation on how to better support helmets staying on riders’ heads. Is it perfect? Not at all, and some riders will probably not like it, but it’s starting the ball rolling toward safer helmet designs, and I’m all for that. 

Im bummed that Canyon totes the additional light option, but it’s another $27.90 if you’d like it. I understand this is a pro-level offering, but that would be an extra slam dunk for safety if they provided it at no charge. I see it as a missed opportunity for the first adopters to get something extra while taking a chance on a new safety-driven design.

Would I race the Disruptr CFR and seek it out as my only helmet? Currently, I am reaching for two helmets in my stock, the MET Trenta MIPS and the Disruptr CFR. These fit my head perfectly, and I like the breezy airflow of the Disruptr CFR. The easy-to-clean nature of the helmet is a big plus, especially going into ‘cross season. Nothing is worse than a smelly helmet before you ride.

I recommend the Canyon Disruptr CFR for any rider who doesn’t mind a spin on the traditional. The helmet fit (excluding the strap) is relatively conventional, and it’s highly recommended if you’re a caustic sweater with chalky-looking webbing straps after every ride in the heat. 

Canyon.com

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When Fizik unveiled their latest simple Venta Proxy gravel & XC racing shoes last spring in flashy orange & purple, I was pretty hyped and ready to review them. This was said to be a race-ready off-road shoe, but simpler and cheaper than the Ferox. And importantly – at least in my mind – incrementally flexier for better all-day comfort and walkability. And whether you loved or hated those bright colors (I count myself in the former), there are also classic single-color versions, too.

So, with high expectations for a Fizik Proxy review, I’ve ridden a pair hard over the summer. And I’m mostly very happy with them, except in one manner. Their single Boa design means limited fit control adjustability, which I’ve simply modified for improved comfort. You be the judge…

Review: Fizik Venta Proxy gravel & XC shoes in dirty white

Fizik describes the Proxy as a more affordable “off-road racing cycling shoe developed for competitive riders seeking race-ready features and efficient power transfer on unpaved roads“. The shoes feature a multi-layer, mostly mesh upper with polyurethane fabric, alternately laminated inside and out, for structure and durable reinforcement. Then, a single Li2 Boa dial per shoe tightens a long plastic lace that zig-zags across 3 sets of guides. Reaching from forefoot to midfoot with 2 crossings.

Compared to Fizik’s top-spec gravel, CX & XC racing Vento Ferox Carbon off-road shoes these Proxies are 23% cheaper, saving your wallet 70€ for a claimed 58g weight penalty for the pair. That extra weight mostly comes from the fiber-reinforced nylon composite sole structure with an 8/10 stiffness rating vs. the Ferox’s 10/10 carbon sole, while the upper construction is likely a bit heavier too.

My two favorite features of the Proxies are the just-right stiffness and ample ventilation.

Sweet Spot Stiffness

I’m not really a racer anymore. Although I’m happy to strap on a number plate a few times a year, especially for an adventurous race or some good old technical enduro. So, the vast majority of my riding leans toward the fun end of the spectrum. I’m always happy to go faster. But I’m unlikely to sacrifice comfort to shave seconds off any ride time. So in a pair of ‘off-road race’ shoes, the ability to comfortably do some hike-a-bikes (maybe even climb a tree?) is just as important as absolute pedaling efficiency.

So 8/10 stiffness is a great sweet spot. These Fizik Venta Proxy shoes are plenty stiff for fast gravel and cross-country riding. But I’ve also managed to scramble up some rock faces with them. I’ve comfortably saddled up to a couple of cafes & trailside restaurants. And I’ve finished every ride without feeling the need to immediately get my feet out of them.

Airy Ventilation

Equally nice, Fizik created exceptionally well-ventilated shoes with the Proxy. Cutouts in the inner layer of the PU structure of the shoe result in 9 unobstructed mesh panels along the inner and outer faces of the shoe and up across the top of the forefoot to let plenty of air in and heat out. (You can easily see darker or colored socks peering through.)

Yet a reinforced wrap-around PU layer over the toe has kept the mesh out of harm’s way, and keeps the shoes from feeling too vented on cool mornings and evenings.

But my feet have stayed comfortable and cool, even on the hottest summer days. And by simply pointing your toes down for a moment while coasting, and you get a blast of refreshing airflow for when it does feel especially hot out.

Limited Fit Adjustability

Now, here’s the rub in my Fizik Proxy review. And it makes these shoes less than perfect out of the box for my low-volume forefoot. They have a great Boa Li2 that offers precise adjustment – fine steps tighter or looser – equally pulling each wire out of the dial. But there’s just one dial to adjust tension across the entire foot.

Fully tightening the shoe at the dial, friction in the webbing guides means that there’s almost no tension in that straight section of wire furthest away across the forefoot. And really there’s very little tension at the lowest crossing of the wires either. In variably, tightening the shoe to the correct tension at the top of your foot next to the dial means inadequate tension at the bottom. And overtightening just leads to discomfort (and likely restricted circulation).

My hack of a fit fix has been to shorten the Boa wire to exclude the lower guide loops. I replaced the lower loop with a piece of braided rope that I simply tied off for a tight fit. It is comfortable, secure, does not restrict me sliding the shoe on or off, and ultimately can be retied once I shift to thicker socks in the fall. And now tension is much more uniform across just the upper two sets of guides for much improved fine fit adjustment. Just think of it like the old shoes you have with a velcro strap at the bottom that you almost never adjust.

Real Weight

My size 43 Fizik Venta Proxy off-road race shoes weigh in at a real 624g for the pair – with the Fizik insoles but without cleats. That’s 312g per shoe, which is actually 12g lighter than Fizik’s claim, which typically would exclude the insole. I’m happy with that. And they definitely feel light on my feet.

I originally was torn between whether I should get the orange & purple Proxies that I worried wouldn’t match a lot of bikes/riding kit or the black & light blue pair that might be less shocking. In the end, Fizik sent me the all-white version, which I would not have picked, presumably to see how dirty I could get them.

But white shoes are faster anyway, right?

Fizik Venta Proxy Review: Riding Impressions

Out on the gravel roads and trails, I’ve been really happy with the feel of the shoes. The material feels good against my feet, from ultra-thin synthetic to mid-weight merino socks. The soles feel stiff and responsive, yet are still flexible enough that my feet don’t hurt after longer, steeper sections pushing a bike up something unrideable. The lugs are grippy enough, and haven’t worn too quickly. And the Proxies feel so well-ventilated that I am surprised that they don’t show significant signs of abuse, besides being dirty.

The only issue is that unfortunately insufficient fit adjustability. But, I’m actually quite satisfied with my fix. Content to the point that I now often choose these over other shoes for my regular gravel and cross-country rides. And I have plenty of other shoes to choose from.

Now, can I realistically recommend a 230€ pair of shoes that you can’t easily adjust the fit tension on properly? That’s a hard one to answer, I guess. My immediate thought is… of course not. But there’s a lot that Fizik did really well with these shoes, so someone like me who takes pleasure in fixing things or customizing them might be OK with it.

And in reality, my time with these shoes just makes me think that Fizik needs to make a pair just like this, but with 2 lightweight velcro straps like on their latest Powerstrap Aeroweave road shoes.

Fizik.com

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Whether it’s protection from the sun, mud, dust, or errant tree branches, sunglasses are a good accessory to ride with. Finding a pair that works for you isn’t always easy, so I was stoked to try Smith’s Motive and Wildcat sunglasses this summer.

The Smith Motives struck a chord with me right away. They fit my face well, stayed in place during rides, fit with some of my favorite helmets, and they provide a huge field of view. Unfortunately, the Wildcats didn’t work as well for me. They were too tall for some of my helmets and slipped down my nose after I got sweaty on a ride. I did like the Wildcat’s low-light lens, which worked great in its intended conditions.

Smith Motive Sunglasses: How They Fit

Right away I liked how the Motive sunglasses fit me. I can push them right up my nose until they touch between my eyebrows, but they still leave enough of a gap at my forehead to vent themselves really well. The lenses are wide, and there is no lower frame to interrupt your vision. The arms are slightly longer than I’d require, but that was never an annoyance.

As far as helmets go, the Motives proved a bit wide for some of mine. They wouldn’t fit with Smith’s Payroll helmet or my ABUS MoDrop, as the arms were wide enough to contact or not fit under the sides of the shells. The Motives worked great with my Oakley DRT5 and Specialized Ambush 2 helmet.

Ride Impressions

My Motives came with ChromaPop Violet Mirror lenses and clear lenses. My first ride was in drizzly conditions to light rain, so I started with the clear lenses.

The clear lenses produced no condensation during the climb, and I only got a tiny bit of fog on them while stopped twice. Both times the lenses cleared up quickly, even by just sliding the glasses down my nose. In any kind of motion, condensation was never a problem.

The field of view the Motives offer is excellent, especially from left to right. The lenses extend far out to both sides, so you can’t see the edges as you ride. Top-to-bottom visibility is also great, as the bottoms are out of view and the top clearance is very good. If you really look, the bottom outer edges of the lenses are visible, but my eyes never went there during rides. Initially, I felt like I could see the nosepiece quite a bit, but this was quickly forgotten.

The Motive’s large lenses do a great job of blocking wind, and will protect your eyes from dirt and debris. They were also very good at staying put on my nose; I never needed to adjust them during a ride. Aside from the arms feeling a bit tight on my temples after one early test ride, I had no ongoing comfort issues with the Motives.  

CP Violet Mirror Lenses

Allowing 10% light transmission, Smith’s ChromaPop Violet Mirror lenses are dark enough to provide ample shade for a fully exposed ride on a bright, sunny day. The ChromaPop lenses are also tuned to enhance color, clarity, and definition. I did notice trail surfaces looked very well defined with them.

There is a tradeoff for having enough shade for full sunshine: The Violet Mirror lenses do get a bit dark when you dive deep into the woods or if the sun goes away. They were hardly unbearable to ride within such conditions, but they’re a bit darker than you’ll need in the shady forest.  

At no point did I manage to produce one bit of condensation on the Violet Mirror lenses. Clarity is also excellent with both the clear and Violet Mirror lenses. Changing lenses is very easy with the Motives; just tug on the outer top corner of the frame and the lens literally pops right out (be ready to catch it!). Putting lenses in is just as easy.

One final note: Since I like their looks and the lenses are fairly dark, I sometimes wear the Motives causally as well as for riding.

The Motive sunglasses weighed in at just 27g.

MSRP for the Motives ranges from $175-185. There are six different frame and lens combinations available. Smith includes a hard case and soft spare lens bag with each pair.

Wildcat Sunglasses: Fit

Knowing the Wildcats are a popular sunglass I was stoked to give them a try, but they just didn’t jive with me like the Motives did. First off, the Wildcats always want to sit crooked on my face. Despite playing with the adjustable nose pads, the glasses always took a bit of fiddling to get them sitting level. This is not an issue I typically have with sunglasses.

As for compatibility with helmets, I found the Wildcat frames too tall for Smith’s Payroll helmet. It should be noted that I have a shallow skull, and the Payroll helmet fits quite deep on me. I had the same issue with my Oakley DRT5 helmet – The sunglasses are tall enough to contact the forehead. The Wildcats did work fine with my shallower-fitting Rudy Project Protera and my ABUS MoDrop.

Ride Impressions

My Wildcats came with Smith’s ChromaPop Rose Blue Mirror lens (ideal for low light conditions) and a clear lens.

My first ride was with a clear lens, and it provided crystal-clear vision. It was a warm, damp day, and I only got a bit of fogging while stopping for breaks. As soon as I got moving, the condensation disappeared quickly, and I had none whatsoever while moving up or downhill. Throughout my testing with both lenses, the worst condensation I got was during that first humid ride, and only while I wasn’t moving. Otherwise, both lenses did a great job of staying clear.

The Wildcat’s frames are visible in your peripheral vision, particularly at the outer bottom edges, but as soon as you get focused on the trail they become easy to ignore. Throughout all my test riding, the Wildcat’s arms and nosepiece remained perfectly comfortable. The length of the arms is also ideal for my head.

ChromaPop Rose Blue Mirror Lens

I first tried the Rose Blue Mirror lens in sunny conditions that were not ideal for it… and it was not ideal! The lens did offer decent shade from the bright sun, and it was clear it was helping to brighten up darker patches of the forest. However, I discovered some issues with reflections in direct sun.

One day I wore the Wildcats while driving to work, and I noticed the lens produced reflections of bright lights (like oncoming car headlights). I could also see blue dots on the lens with both of my eyes, and a blue haze appeared at the outer edges of the lens. Once I noticed this, it became pretty distracting!

Of course, these sunglasses aren’t designed for driving in bright sunshine, so I rode with them in sunny conditions. Even on the trails, when the sun was behind or beside me it created reflections on the lens. Fortunately, the lens proved to be great in the conditions it was intended for…

One day I got a perfectly ideal overcast, dimly lit summer day. The Rose Blue Mirror lens is great in these conditions. The yellowish hue makes the deep forest appear brighter (especially yellows and greens) and helps your eyes see with better definition. To my naked eye, the woods seemed duller and the colors looked more muted. Also, in low light conditions, there were no issues with reflections on the backside of the lens.

Swapping lenses on the Wildcats isn’t really difficult, but it involves a bit of tugging and pulling. It’s hard to change them without getting your fingers all over the lenses so be ready to wipe them clean!  

Another issue I had with the Wildcats was they didn’t stay in place well. As soon as my skin got sweaty the Wildcats would slide down the bridge of my nose. On a bumpy trail, they would slip downwards within a few seconds of riding.

After one ride like this, I realized I had the nose pads pushed outwards, and my skin was touching the frames more than the rubber pads. However, I rode again with the pads pushed inwards and the glasses hardly did any better at staying in position. Also, I’m confident my helmet wasn’t pushing downwards on the frames, the nose pads just weren’t providing much grip.

The Wildcats hit my scale at 31g.

The Wildcat sunglasses retail for $215-255 depending on the model. Smith offers a large assortment of frame colors and lens options. A hard case (with a slot for an extra lens) and soft bag are included with each pair. 

SmithOptics.com

The post SMITH Motive And Wildcat Sunglasses Review: Steve Finds One Clear Winner for His Face appeared first on Bikerumor.

When I started riding MTB, it seemed like most riders would never consider wearing pants instead of shorts. Even in the winter, I’d see photos of riders in shorts slashing through the snow! Nowadays, riding pants have become commonplace and we have a lot of high-quality options to choose from.

I got the chance to try out 7mesh’s updated Glidepath pants this year, and they proved to be a versatile pair. They remain comfortable through a vast temperature range, offer room for kneepads, and are non-restrictive as you pedal.

Along with the pants, I was able to test Arcade’s new A2 belt. The A2 is a stretchy belt with a slim, lightweight plastic buckle. The belt held my pants in place perfectly, but stretched enough to remain comfortable on the trails.

7mesh Glidepath Pants:

After covering the updated Glidepath pants earlier this year, I’ve been riding them since Spring. Initially, I got to ride them in cooler weather and really enjoyed wearing them on chilly Spring days. The Glidepaths are a thin, lightweight warm weather pant, but they still hold heat in more than shorts so I’d ride them in anything down to near-freezing temperatures. A little mud and splash resistance is also nice for your legs on those cooler days.

Since they are intended for warm weather riding, I tested the Glidepaths in summer temperatures too. I can’t say they’re as cool as shorts, but they are the coolest pair of pants I’ve ridden in yet. I’ve done a few three-hour rides in temperatures from the mid-teens to the low 20’s (Celsius) and remained perfectly comfortable. I’m sure they would be quite tolerable up to higher temperatures, so the Glidepaths would be a good choice for racers who are required to cover up.

These pants have no vents so they rely on their thin fabric to keep you from overheating. Some venting could be a nice addition for really hot rides, but the Glidepaths do stay comfortable in a wide temperature range without them. At no point during my summer rides did I ever stop and think “My legs are too hot!”.

The Glidepaths have a relaxed fit to help ensure free motion, and they did fantastic in this regard. There is no restriction whatsoever to leg motion with the Glidepaths, and they don’t fit tight around the waist area either. The lower legs do taper down, and they never once got caught in my chain. The bottom hems are snug enough that they pop over my heels when I pull the pants on, but a small stretch panel makes that easy to do.

One thing 7mesh nailed with the Glidepaths was leaving generous room for kneepads. I was able to wear my POC Oseus VPD knees under these pants without them feeling crammed inside, and with no annoying hang-ups as I rode. Opting for a good level of knee protection is possible with these pants.

7mesh gave the Glidepaths a great set of waist adjusters. The clips are small and lightweight, but they are easy to use and they don’t slip. If somehow these adjusters don’t work for you, the Glidepath pants do include belt loops. I didn’t need to, but I used the loops to test out Arcade’s new A2 belt… more on that below. The Glidepaths’ two-button waist closure ensures a secure fit, and I like the traditional zippered fly.  

As for fit, I am 5’10” and the medium Glidepaths fit me very well. The waist easily cinched down enough for my slightly under 32” waist, and the legs are long enough that they look a bit bunchy near the bottoms, but that ensures full ankle coverage in any riding position.

One thing that didn’t impress me about the Glidepaths was their level of water resistance. On an early misty ride, water was beading up on the DWR-coated pants nicely but in direct rain, they didn’t last long before getting soaked. I should note that the Glidepaths are not advertised as a waterproof pant, but I had to see how they fended off rain anyway.

In light rain, it only took about 20 minutes for water to start soaking through the tops of my knees. Areas of the pants that didn’t get directly hit by rain stayed dry, so they do protect from puddle splashes and light mud splatter. In any kind of actual rain, however, these pants will get saturated fairly quickly. I tried one ride in steady rain for 30-40 minutes and came home with my thighs soaked.

Another thing I like about the Glidepaths is their pocket layout. You get a fair amount of storage between two hand pockets, which are quite deep, and two zippered side pockets. The zippered pockets will carry a phone or wallet without excessive bouncing or movement, they’re easy to access, and they keep items away from your saddle.

I haven’t taken any nasty spills in the Glidepath pants, but mine aren’t showing any kind of damage or wear and tear—the Glidepath pants retail for $180. Men’s and women’s models are available in sizes XS-XXL. Men’s color options are Black, Midnight Blue, or Shale. Women’s color choices are Black or Shale.

Arcade A2 Belt:

Conveniently, right after I agreed to test the Glidepath pants I got the offer to try Arcade’s new A2 belt. If you’re not familiar with Arcade they make stretchy belts with lightweight plastic buckles, ideal for active people like hikers and bikers. I’ll tell you now, I formerly would have said I’d never ride with a belt, but Arcade’s A2 belt was comfortable enough to forget about completely while riding.

Arcade offers the A2 belts in a wide range of color and graphic options. The style I tried out is called the ‘Out of Range’, and it features an embroidered mountain landscape.

The A2 belts feature a redesigned buckle that’s easier to slip through belt loops versus Arcade’s previous design. I have two of Arcade’s Ranger Slim belts with the old buckles, and they are prone to catching on belt loops. The new buckle is far easier to work with.

The A2 belt’s buckle is also slightly curved to sit flush against your body. Another nice feature is how the tail of the belt runs along the inside, and is held securely with an elasticized loop so there’s nothing left dangling.

On the trails, I quickly realized the A2 belt was indeed perfectly comfortable to ride with. There’s enough stretch in the fabric that you never feel any significant tightening, let alone that lock-up point around your waist that normal belts allow.

The standard width A2 belt (1.5” wide) has a good amount of holding power, and can easily keep a lightweight pair of riding pants in place. I noticed it did better at holding up a heavier, looser-fitting pair of casual jeans I own. The slim belts I have (1.25” wide) struggled with these pants a bit, but the wider belt held them up just fine. The A2 belt is available in both widths, and if you’re buying one for riding shorts I’m sure the slim style would do the job.

On my first ride with the Glidepath pants, I actually forgot I was wearing the A2 belt. Through all my test rides the buckle always worked easily and reliably, I’ve had no problems with the belt stretching out, and without wearing it too tightly it keeps my pants perfectly in place at my waist.

If you have a pair of shorts or pants that have belt loops and fit a bit loose, or have waist adjusters you don’t like, Arcade’s A2 belt will keep them up with no discomfort or restriction.

The A2 belts retail for $34.95 – $37.95. The Standard belt fits up to 40” waists, and some models are available in a Long model that fits up to 50”.  

The post A Spring And Summer With 7mesh’s Glidepath Pants And Arcade’s A2 Belt appeared first on Bikerumor.