Product test

APRIL 2008 APRIL 2008 52 53

Words Olly Crick Pictures Mark Manning

TheRmALs

Thermal properTyGetting the right underwear can make a massive

difference when riding, whatever the weather

Warmth: In a temperature controlled room, mannequins had temperature sensors taped to them in five positions – the sternum area of the chest (centre bone), between the shoulder blades, the right kidney, the groin and the front of the left thigh at the mid-point to the knee. Mannequins were then dressed in thermal suits, which had also been conditioned in the temperature-controlled room. The same two-piece suit was fitted over each set of thermals to simulate real riding conditions. The mannequins were then placed in a climatic chamber at –20°C with a fan providing a wind speed of one metre

per second. As the temperature on the surface of the mannequins dropped, sensors monitored the amount of heat loss.

That gave us two minimum temperatures, obtained after 90 minutes, one from the upper body area and one from the lower. These were used to calculate the percentage of heat lost over the 90-minute period. We awarded two points for every one percent of heat retained per garment, up to a maximum of 50. The highest scoring garment here retained 23 percent of heat, which is a very good performance. We test to tough standards

because you never know when you might need exceptional performance.

Road testing: Thermals were tested on the road by RiDE staff to back up the laboratory tests and also to check for general comfort, bagginess and/or bulkiness. Up to 10 points were awarded if our tester found the suit comfortable in general. Five additional points were available if suits didn’t feel bulky under normal riding kit, and a further five if the suit had no specific comfort problems like an uncomfortable neck or zip etc.

»In the lab«

Tester’s notesBMW’s suit comfortably outscores its rivals and thoroughly deserves its Best Buy status, despite being at the high end of the cost scale. Thermal properties are in a different league to anything else we tested and our road tester reported no problems either – but added that people asked why he was wearing a wetsuit because of the neoprene-like material.

1 BMW Phase ChangePrice £130 (£70/£60)

Contact 0800 777155

Tester’s notesThis scored second highest in the lab behind BMW, but its chances of a triangle were hit by the road testing. Our tester found the Ixon’s material quite thick and stiff compared to other suits in the test and that led to it being a little uncomfortable. The main gripe was the neck/shoulder popper, which is awkward to fasten, and a high neck.

2 Ixon XN WittyPrice £135 (£70/£65)

Contact 01923 772273

or www.thunderchild.co.uk

How we did it

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

46/50

22/50

20/20

88/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

38/50

18/50

15/20

71/120

Product test

APRIL 2008 APRIL 2008 54 55

TheRmALs

Tester’s notesThese basic thermals are the second cheapest on the test, but take average scores in the lab for warmth performance from both the shirt and pants. The road tester described them as very comfortable, but his back protector made the shirt roll up around the waist, resulting in a chilly draft. They’re very light weight compared to many of the products on test.

5 Held 9678/9674 Price £64.40 (£32.20/£32.20)

Contact 01283 820508

or www.held-biker-fashion.de

Tester’s notesThis is a four-piece, giving you a thermal base layer and a windproof shell, allowing you to choose how warm you want to be. A good score for shirt warmth score was let down by a low pants warmth result. The road test found these thermals fit really well, with no comfort issues at all, but the lab test shows they’re not as warm as other products in this test.

6 EDZ Base Layer & Inner Shell Price £110 (£40/£70)

Contact 0870 410 6112

or www.edz.biz

Tester’s notesThese offered good thermal properties in the lab testing and took a solid road testing score too. They kept our tester warm during road testing (an assertion backed up by the lab results), but the tester was left clammy after wearing them for a full day’s riding. Elastic loops at leg bottoms were sewn in a little too high for rider comfort too.

4 Frank Thomas Anti-Freeze Price £90 (£50/£40)

Contact 01933 410272

or www.frank-thomas.co.uk

Tester’s notesSimple, fleecy thermals that performed well in the warmth tests in the lab. Our road tester agreed with the findings of the lab tests, saying they were very warm and comfortable in use. The biggest criticism from the road tester was the suit’s thickness and weight and therefore bulkiness, which meant dropping three points in this test.

3 Sub Zero Factor 2Price £89 (£48/£41)

Contact 08000 276941

or www.subzero.co.uk

Tester’s notesThe most expensive suit on test took an average warmth test score for the shirt, but the equal lowest score for the pants, which is a disappointment considering the price. The road tester was happy, describing them as very comfortable and lightweight but some of the heavier, thicker thermals here are warmer, as displayed by the lab results.

10 Rukka N2SPrice £140 (£70/£70)

Contact 01425 620580

or www.tranam.co.uk

Tester’s notesThis suit managed an average warmth test score for both shirt and pants, but the road testing threw up some potential problems. The tester experienced draughts around the arms and found the suit bulky under riding kit, which affects the score. Elastic loops at the cuff, there to help keep the sleeves in place, were painful and the tester stopped using them.

8 Oxford Chill Out Price £90 (£50/£40)

Contact 01993 862300

or www.oxprod.com

Tester’s notesThese did very well in the road test with no comfort problems reported at all while riding and the road tester praising the two-piece’s performance and it collecting maximum marks, despite tight sleeves making the shirt a slight pain to remove. Lab tests proved the thermal properties of both shirt and pants to be below average in this test.

9 Bikers PerformPrice £110 (£60/£50)

Contact 0800 165165

or www.hein-gericke.com

Tester’s notesThe road tester found this one-piece suit very comfortable, but also complained that the suit wasn’t warm enough. This complaint was upheld in the lab, where the cheapest thermals on test took below average warmth test results for the upper part of the suit and only an average result for the legs.

7 Craft Pro ZeroPrice £50

Contact 0800 165165

or www.hein-gericke.com

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

34/50

18/50

17/20

69/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

36/50

14/50

17/20

67/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

30/50

16/50

18/20

64/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

34/50

10/50

20/20

64/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

26/50

14/50

20/20

60/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

30/50

14/50

16/20

60/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

30/50

10/50

20/20

60/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

32/50

6/50

20/20

58/120

Product test

APRIL 200856

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Tester’s notesRoad testing proved these thermals to be reasonably comfortable, but the neck a little too high. Thumb-loops are restrictive too and the road tester stopped using them immediately. Tester’s criticisms of warmth performance on the road backed up tests in the lab, which proved the shirt to be below average and the pants to be the equal coldest on test.

13 Cold Killers SportPrice £90 (£50/£40)

Contact 01900 825825

or www.planet-knox.com

the VerdictThere’s a runaway winner as the BMW Phase Change suit is far superior to any other thermals we tested. It thoroughly deserves a RiDE Best Buy award despite its

fairly hefty price tag and the other suits are so far behind in the lab testing that it’s not reasonable to award any Recommended triangles this month.

Tester’s notesThis one-piece suit sailed through the road test with no issues and full marks, but the lab results suggest this Alpinestars suit is lacking in the warmth department. It took the lowest score on test for upper body warmth and leg warmth, which puts it towards the bottom of the overall scores.

11 Alpinestars Thermal WindproofPrice £100 Contact

www.alpinestars.com

Tester’s notesThe high cut of the collar means these thermals are uncomfortable on the neck. The shoulder zip is also awkward to fasten and they’re slightly bulky under normal riding kit. Adding an average shirt warmth score and equal lowest pants warmth score to the lowest road test score seals this suit’s place in the lower order.

12 Wind Filter Wind shirt and trousersPrice £60 (£30/£30)

Contact www.bifax.co.uk

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

20/50

8/50

20/20

48/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

26/50

6/50

14/20

46/120

Shirt warmth

Pants warmth

Road testing

Total

22/50

6/50

18/20

46/120