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On test: Campagnolo Racing Waterproof Textran Convertible Jacket & Thermo Textran Bib Body, April 5, 2006
Campy fights the cold, and wins, part 1
Mark Zalewski reports from a winter's-worth of testing Campagnolo's jackets, tights and socks, kicking off with this high-zoot combination of jacket and tights.
It has been a long, cold winter for many in the Cyclingnews readership. Dealing with the cold and all of the elements that go along with winter weather is an exercise in effective layering, proper clothing selection and a little bit of insanity. Because much of cycling is done in the warmer months and climates, the amount and quality of clothing dedicated for cold and nasty weather has not always kept pace with the 'normal' weather clothes. Campagnolo is answering the call for more options in this area in a huge way with a number of items guaranteed to keep you warm and toasty - and stylish too!
Campagnolo clothing is a relatively new venture for the company known for its high-end components, but it has quickly established itself as a significant player in high-end clothing as well. This line-up of cold weather gear is no exception, consisting of items from three separate lines: Racing, Raytech and NEXT.
Racing Waterproof Textran Convertible Jacket
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The top o' the pile is the flagship Racing line, and Campy sent us two nice items from it -- a waterproof jacket that serves many purposes and a very warm set of bib tights. First the jacket... wow. This silver bullet of cycling jackets looks fast just sitting on a hanger, and the unique material makes me think of fighter jet more than anything else. The colour scheme is very eye-catching and works well with the other items in the Campy line, with hints of red and black as well as bits of reflective piping. The badging on the jacket is done with typical Campagnolo subtly and class.
Turning to the features, one notices the velcro closes at the ends of the sleeves immediately, a must for creating a tight seal around the gloves in cold weather. This adjustability rates high in my book. But the jacket has many more feature up its... err, sleeve. For example, it is listed by Campagnolo as waterproof, windproof yet breathable. More on that later in the actual test. An item that is even more impressive is the removable inner thermal shell, that zips and snaps into place with the outer water-and-wind-stopping shell. This results in three jackets in one! (And for the price, it better be.) Suddenly, this jacket has use in all four seasons -- combined it tackles the cold, thermal alone is useful for the temperatures in between summer and winter, and the shell is handy when it gets wet.
Other useful features include ample pockets, both with and without zippers in the right places. The outer shell has a ample rear storage pocket that is secured with a waterproof zipper -- so it is safe to store the mobile phone, as well as other valuables. Additionally, there is a handy pocket located on the upper-left arm. It is not very big, but seems to be designed to hold a piece of identification and some cash for that pre-ride latte. Inside, the thermal liner has the typical three pocket design that works well for use by itself or carrying additional items when used with the shell. Finally, the jacket closes and seals with a waterproof zipper and silicone gripper around the waistband.
Putting the jacket on, the softness of the internal thermal jacket was quite nice, and I certainly noticed the warmth it provided. Previous reviewers of clothing from Campagnolo have cited the zippers as a drawback, but I had not problems using my zipper and found that is provided a good seal against wind and water. The fit of the jacket was very good on me with both components together and just a winter base layer underneath. With another jersey added the bulkiness increased some, but I found that the jacket performed well on its own to rather low temperatures. Individually, the shell and liner worked very well with other clothing underneath.
On the bike, the jacket performed best in temperatures down to the upper 30s (Fahrenheit.) However, I rode comfortably in temperatures below that with a proper baselayer, even down to the mid-teens. Separately, the jacket(s) work well in their respective temperature ranges. I also found that the internal liner fits well into the rear pocket of the shell -- a nice feature when the cool air of the morning warms as the day progresses.
My only complaint of the jacket was the use of metal pulls on the zippers, specifically the internal zippers joining the shell with the liner. While I like the look of the stylish, logo pulls, the placement of them when the two items are combined means that they dangle around your neck, which can make for some cold metal on bare skin. I applaud the aesthetics here, but being cold is always worse than looking bad any day.
I suppose another slight drawback from this jacket is the price. At nearly $240 USD, this jacket might be out of the range for some. However, when taking into account the three jackets it really is and the quality of construction and material, the price becomes much more reasonable.
Fabric: External - Light Textran; Internal - Thermal polypropylene
Colour: Carbon, Platinum
Sizes: S-XXL
MSRP: €199
Pro: Three jackets in one!
Con: Cold metal on skin.
More information: www.campagnolo.com
Cyclingnews rating: 
Racing Thermo Textran Bib Body
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The complementary lower-half to the Racing jacket is the Thermo Bib Body tights. Like the jacket, they are made with the Textran fabric that is listed as 'a waterproof, windproof, breathable, and stretchable fabric.' I have to agree with the description -- the fabric was a good barrier against the wind and water that is often present on cold weather rides, and the fabric was about as stretchable as one could expect from the other two attributed being fulfilled.
These bib tights are a solid black colour with accents of red and silver to match the jacket, giving a well-rounded appearance together. The upper-half of the bib also features a zipper-closure to give the bibs more protection in the upper-body region as well as a snugger fit -- both of which I appreciated. On the back, a lighter fabric insures more transfer of excess heat and perspiration away from the body.
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Down a little lower, the eight-panel construction is the industry average for comfort, which these bibs do deliver. But even better is the anatomical 3-layer EPP chamois with COOLPAD™ thermal regulating foam. The COOLPAD™ contains micro capsules that cool by absorbing excessive body heat produced during activity. At first this seemed like the usual marketing terminology, but after riding in these bibs I admit that something in the chamois made my rides rather comfortable, whether that be the three layers or those micro capsules. The unique Campagnolo logo is tastefully emblazoned on the rear panel and a smaller rubber Racing logo is placed on the side.
Another comfortable design feature is the flat, external stitching which reduces the pressure against the skin. This is particularly important when much more of your body is covered by the clothing. Finally, the bottom is finished with a heel stirrup to keep the tight well below any shoe covers for a complete seal.
Fit for tights is a relative scale for me. Because fabric is covering the entire leg, including the knee, complete fit is difficult. You are adding in many more size variables between the thigh and calf regions, plus the bend at the knee. This creates a tall order to fill. Sure, leg and knee warmers fit better because they can adjust better to different sizes, essentially sliding at the overlap with the shorts -- but you lose the warmth of this specific fabric. It's a tradeoff that is well worth it when you ride in temperatures below fifty degrees.
On my person, the bib fit well in some areas and acceptably in others. There was the usual bunching and spacing around the knees, but I did not find it to hinder performance. The lines were not as clean with some gaps in the fabric, but this is purely an aesthetic issue. When battling the elements, the fabric did its job in keeping me warm and dry, while preventing the wind from reaching my skin. Again, the internal chamois was on par with the best riding shorts I have worn.
For the price point, I think a multiple size variation for above and below the knee would be an interesting option to explore, but not a necessity. Also, a ten-panel design might increase the comfort more and be more in line with this price. But if you are looking for a good, cold weather bib tight, then you cannot go wrong with this selection.
Fabric: Thermo Textran Anatomical 3-layer EPP chamois with COOLPAD™
thermal regulating foam
Cut: 8-Panel, Alien (Euro)
Colour: Carbon, Platinum, Racing
Sizes: S-XXL
MSRP: €180
Pro: Warm and dry
Con: Fit not quite perfect
More information: www.campagnolo.com
Cyclingnews rating:
See also: NEXT Thermo Textran Jacket & Raytech Thermo Textran Bib, Multi-season System Long X-S Sock
