More triathlon gear tests than any other website. EXPERT REVIEWS of the latest and best tri kit, including bikes, running shoes, wetsuits and clothing.
K-Swiss has carved out a niche in the traithlon market over the last few years with its new range of shoes and high-profile signings. Our initial impression of its fastest racing flat was mixed. The bowling shoe aesthetic isn’t the best, but looking closer we were pleasantly surprised. The exceptionally low profile with small section […]
Very occasionally we’re treated to a product that break the mould of traditional footwear. Even rarer is when that shoe is tri-specific. This innovative model from Scott has a collapsible heal to save you valuable seconds in transition – it’s an excellent concept. This does away with the need for elastic laces and the sloppy […]
Another helmet deemed good enough to be worn by the pros, with Bradley Wiggins and the rest of Team Sky HD protecting their noggins with this offering from Italian manufacturer Kask. Although the Vertigo comes in lighter than the Ionos at a svelte 270g, it doesn’t skimp on luxury. The internal padding is extremely plush, […]
With a striking appearance, the Anubi delivers both form and function to punch above its price point. The 260g is bang on the mark and the 25 vents provide extremely effective ventilation. Getting a perfect fit is a breeze thanks to a massive range of vertical adjustment and a positive dial ratchet for horizontal. It’s […]
You’ve got to admire the guts of Giro, not only putting forward very expensive helmets, but also offering very cheap options too. When considering the features you’ve got to remember that the Transfer is less then half the price of the next cheapest we tested. Padding is on the sparse side but the dial cradle […]
The heaviest helmet on test at 315g, the styling of the Volt is in your face and verging on garish. Fortunately Bell offer different colour and design schemes from our sample. The padding, although removable for washing, is meagre and on the thin side. The cradle is average, offering vertical and horizontal adjustment but does […]
As with all Rapha products you’re either willing to take the hit on your wallet or you’re not. You can almost guarantee that they’ll never let you down regarding either form or function, but £35 is an awful lot to pay for a woolly hat. Once on it feels delightfully comfortable against your head and […]
This is a cap that’d have people thinking you’d time-travelled from an Elizabethan seminary if you dared to wear it without a helmet. Once hidden away, though, the Barrier sits well under your helmet and, although not as comfy against the scalp and ears as some of the other caps, the brushed internal facing couldn’t […]
Highlights include HotFix technology to improve GPS signal; heart-rate facility, where you can set zones determined by your personal stats; and data transfer to Mac or PC via charging clip, which you can download to Garmin’s Training Centre for analysis, or map on software like Google Earth. So what’s different from the 110? In short, […]
At first glance it appears that Sugoi hasn’t broken the mould with the Versa. All the key components are here – a quality water-resistant and breathable fabric, a smattering of reflective detailing and a dynamic cut. There’s also a good-length tail, elastic cording to keep out the elements and plenty of pockets, all at a […]
Brooks have really upped their game in recent seasons and are now producing consistent, responsive and light shoes. The Ghost 3 is exactly that – a comfortable shoe from the second you put it on and one that goes about its business in an unobtrusive way. Some runners may find it too narrow or require […]
The company blurb from Adidas tells us that these shoes are neutral, but such is the support on offer, mild pronators would surely feel at home in these. They feel heavier than others on test as the shoe is clumpy in feel, but that’s not at the expense of performance. The Supernova Glide 2 are […]
The gold, silver and bronze scored by Mirinda Carfrae, Andreas Raelert and Julie Dibens at Ironman Hawaii 2010 confirmed K-Swiss’ position as a major player in the tri scene. The Californian brand hasn’t skimped on style, though, and the Keahou is certainly a handsome creation. More importantly, these shoes are comfortable on your feet, being […]
These aren’t the most supple tyres in Panaracer’s line-up but they come with a casing that’s tough and reasonably lightweight – hit an unexpected object in the road and chances are that the sidewalls will survive intact. There’s a puncture-breaker running underneath the tread that provides superb defence against all kinds of sharp stuff – […]
Strong and durable, Gatorskins have to be the most popular training tyres out there, and the Gator Hardshell takes things a step further with even greater toughness. We didn’t puncture once in these despite autumn thorns littering our regular routes. Conti’s dense polyester anti-puncture breaker belt – they call it Poly-X – extends right into […]
£250 may seem like a shed load of cash but this is one hell of a bike light. Even its lowest setting, which pumps out 300 lumens and has a burn time of 13 hours, is sufficient for most road cycling situations. The 850 lumens boost setting delivers a credible three hours of burn and […]
Having made a significant impact in recent time with their high-end compression tights, Australian brand Skins has launched a range of cycling kit to the same high specifications. At £150 these shorts are aimed at the Assos/Rapha end of the market with top-quality materials, fit and styling. Taking these points one at a time, the […]
For the purists out there, dedicated to the essence of cycling, a product like this is a real statement. The simple, no-nonsense application of luxurious materials in a classic cut and retro style is a two-fingered salute to our obsession with synthetic engineering. With a large dollop of Merino wool, this jacket can take on […]
A year ago we gave the X-Talon 212 a glowing 90%, so expecting the 190 to be an improvement is a big ask. At 190g per shoe, the 190 is the lightest off-road racer in the world. It’s not just the racing red colour – put these shoes on and you can’t help but run […]
?Silva has a fantastic headlamp pedigree, and there’s no doubt that the X-Trail is a top-performing and versatile product. The beam it produces strikes a perfect balance between flood and spot, is the best on test and easily copes with full-on, off-road adventures. The massive rubberised button makes operation easy, even with gloves on. At […]
The Tikka Plus 2 is perfect for winter on-road running and won’t break the bank. The beam is adequate for unlit lanes and won’t dazzle other road-users or your running mates. If you’re not planning on leaving the tarmac this winter, the Tikka has two massive plus-points beyond its price. Firstly, three AAA batteries give […]
Get your summer holiday reading sorted with these cracking books about life on two wheels…
The Tour de France may be over for another year but, from travelogues to psychological insights into road racers, here to fill the void is this veritable smorgasbord of bike books… GREAT CYCLING JOURNEYS OF THE WORLD £24.99 www.newhollandpublishers.com Spending the summer with the team in 220 Towers can be taxing enough without beautifully photographed […]
There’s a strange irony to naming a piece of safety equipment after the most dangerous person in Christendom. Then again, the Diablo does share one characteristic with its namesake – deceptiveness. It looks and feels like a lid with a three-figure price tag, but in fact costs a very competitive £75. You may not get […]
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