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Quick Spins – March 5, 2008Edited by James Huang Got Tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads.
Craft has a long history of creating technical wear for cycling, running, triathlon and Nordic sports for years and its new sponsorship of the number one ProTour team of the last four years, CSC, stands as ample testament to the quality of its garments. Winter hit the Midwestern United States hard this year, but North American editor Mark Zalewski was ready for the challenge with Craft's latest array of winter gear. Craft's reputation for top-notch base layers is well-earned and the foundation for our winter test kit, the Pro Zero long sleeve base layer, serves to reinforce the perception. The appropriately snug fit benefits from a seamless torso that left no crease marks or irritation over time and the high neck also had a comfortable yet protective fit. At the other end, the generously extended tail left no areas exposed when in the riding position. The textured filament yarns and ribbed construction supposedly create a sort of microclimate around your body; warm and moist air is pulled away from the skin before it condenses into sweat, but not so far away that it removes actual warmth, while moisture is transported all the way to the outer layer of the garment to keep you dry. Even after a couple hours of hard riding in cold Chicago conditions, there was hardly any moisture build-up either on the surface of our skin or the base layer itself. Thumbs up, Craft! Craft makes liberal use of Gore Windstopper fabrics for the rest of our test kit. The Gore WS Thermal Jacket uses Craft's insulating Flex Fleece material throughout with additional Windstopper panels along the front of the torso and sleeves as further protection against the cold. Out on the road, the jacket kept us warm as the temperatures went from cool to near-freezing. The windproof treatment was a definite advantage and was further augmented by the ribbed fabric at all openings, the adjustable elastic drawcord around the neck and the siliconized hem. The Flex Fleece fabric was warm without being too heavy or bulky but its relatively light insulation meant that extra layers were needed as the temperatures got colder. On the positive side, that also meant we could use the jacket in both cool and cold weather plus the Pro Zero base layer worked well in concert to transfer moisture away from the body. The three open rear pockets (and fourth zippered pocket) also provided ample storage. The Wind Control Bib Pant also uses Gore Windstopper material strategically placed along the front-facing portions along with reinforced knees for extra warmth. The front of the bib section is also made of thermal material while the rear portion uses a more breathable mesh. Once outside, the brushed thermal lining stood up well to the colder temperatures but the fit was not as ideal in all areas. The torso length was a bit short as compared to other bibs we've used and the material around the knees was a little bulky. In addition, the zippers on the ankles were a little flimsy, with one zipper malfunctioning after just two uses. As for the accessories, the best of the lot were the Tempest gloves. Also a new item, these gloves feature a windproof shell and Clarino palm covered with some of the most durable silicone grips we've ever used. Craft did not skimp on the surface area either, putting the grips on the palm and up the index and middle fingers as well. The terry cloth-covered thumb provides ample surface area for wiping away things that come with cold weather riding and the ribbing around the wrist extends plenty far up the sleeve of the jacket to create a nice seal - something that many other gloves fail to do. We found the Tempest gloves to be reasonably warm in most conditions but the windproof shell couldn't make up the relative lack of insulation as the temperature dropped. Finally, the training sock is a thermal weight, felted wool sock that, like the base layer, has air channels through the upper to facilitate air flow and moisture transfer. This feature, along with a heavier felted wool bottom, provides a very warm foot-covering extension to the entire package. As promised, our feet stayed very dry and warm even on longer rides. They're a bit pricey at nearly US$17 USD a pair, but their heavyweight construction will likely only see use during the colder months so they should last a little longer. Overall, the entire line-up functioned well throughout the descending temperatures of the winter months here in the Great Lakes region of the US. By far, the best temperatures for this entire kit fell within the 35-45 degree Fahrenheit range. Our test gear would be a bit overkill in warmer conditions but the usable range could easily extend downwards with a few extra layers. If you're like most riders whose cold weather comfort zone for outdoor riding bottoms out around that range, though, the Craft winter gear would likely more than suffice. Craft Gore WS Thermal Jacket Craft Wind Control Bib Pant Craft proZERO Long Sleeve Craft Tempest Glove Craft Bike Train Socks PhotographyFor a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com
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