Best Manufactorer For Road Cycling Clothing?

SunnyBiker

Hi Cyclists

Well i am new to road bikes and i have been looking around for cycle clothing to buy and i have seen a few things from Altura, Endura and Lusso, and i wanted to ask you guys which manufactorer makes the best clothing for road biking but at an affordable price?

i am looking for a complete road biking clothing kit, i.e bib tight with foot loops and padding, thermal base layer, thermal jersey, thin waterproof, windproof jacket, shoes, gloves, other clothing accessories etc etc.

i would like to hear your thoughts on the Altura, Endura and lusso clothing as i have heard good things about lusso but not much about Altura.

thank you for your time

Monty Dog

Also look at DHB from Wiggle which gets good reviews. However, a lot depends on how well it fits you as some are cut differently from others.

fernholt

It does depend on the item, and things do change from brand to brand as you'd expect, but I think Altura, Endura are good brands as you mentioned, I don't know about Iusso.

As Monty Dog said, DHB are very good value. Only sold by Wiggle I think. Very good indeed. Probably not top-end, but very good for training and Sportives etc. I have quite a few DHB things and they do hit the spot.
Well that's my view anyway.
If you visit Wiggle's site and read the reviews you might get people's thoughts.

Phill Thom

I always wear Gore Bike Wear bibs, long and short. Very comfy but a bit more expensive than DHB.

Old Tuggo

I have always found Lusso good value for money. However the Aldi rain jacket for £14 was excellent - pity I have lost it (must have been because it was so compact.

Mr Dog

Gore.. if you have cash. Sizing is spot on. Endura kit is great , and little cheaper, warmer if you live 'up north'.

meanredspider

Endura is the worst kit I've ever bought (with the possible exception of SealSkinz) - only the merino stuff has actually been fit for purpose - the rest has been rubbish. Another vote for DHB and Gore (though, if you are considering Gore, then also look at ShuttVR). My advice is to buy the best you can afford and shop around for it - I hardly ever pay anything close to full price for anything.

TyeBag

I have a couples of bits from altura and can't fault it,I'm quite new to cycling and my dad told me about altura

I have a windproof/waterproof jacket and waterproof over trousers and both very good and at a very good price

ShutUpLegs

I have some Altura gloves and they are brilliant, but some of their other clothing seems to have an odd sizing/ fit.

I have plenty of endura and some of the more recent gear is not of the quality it use to be.
Overshoes and gloves have fallen apart, but gilets and baselayers/ jackets are well recommended.

amaferanga

Craft stuff is excellent. Not the cheapest, but then far from the most expensive.

tedwards

ASSOS but only if you can get it on special, otherwise 80% of my kit is DHB from wiggle, excellent value

RDB66

1- Assos
2- Gore
3- Endura Equipe

I own bits from all three of the above and thats how i'd rate um. 1-2-3

Brass

Speaking from experience I can recommend Gore, but as others have said it's not particularly cheap! I started off with a mix of manufacturers and found that the Gore bits were best quality and most comfortable so now I'll buy Gore when I can.

fungus_the_muffin_man

I bought some Giordana bib shorts last year. Superb quality and so so comfy.

Other stuff I have are endura, aldi, santini. All decent quality for the price I paid

redjeepǃ

+1 for the Giordana bib shorts. Superb.

I've also used dhb (good for the price), Craft (v good), I'm also using the Aldi windproof cycling jacket but will probably order a replacement from Altura in the next few days. Pearl Izumi is also very good as is Castelli, Montane and Sugio.

furrag

Our club kit is made by Nalini, and I find it better than the Gore stuff, which is also good.

Got DHB stuff too and really like it for its affordability:quality. Got some Endura arm warmers and they're shite in the cut.

Gonna try some Rapha out soon. Like Castelli, the cuts look nice, and the jerseys look snug. Very very expensive (£140 for jersey), but every market has a high priced top end.

Philby

I've got Gore, dhb, Altura, 2XU, Shutt VR and Giordana kit.

Most of the Altura stuff I have bought has generally either fallen apart or material has bobbled.

Gore seems to be the right combination of good quality at reasonable prices. I like the designs on Shutt VR stuff and can see more of that being bought in the future.

bakerstreet

I have been commuting since October in an Altura Night Vision Waterproof jacket and an Altura jersey underneath. Can't fault either item of kit. The jacket has survived many showers and is quite warm too

I have Endura gloves. The sizing is a bit odd, but they have been reasonably warm down to about 2C. They are holding together well though

petemadoc

Whatever you do DO NOT buy the crap that Aldi sell

The jerseys are ok except for the pockets that seem to let stuff fall out of them (how hard can it be to make a pocket for Christ sakes

The bib tights I wasted my money on feel ok for about half an hour but after that they feel terrible.

I'd recommend DHB stuff and Shutt, people say Assos are top notch but the prices are way to high IMO

fenski

I've got a few DHB things which do the job and are good value. My favourite riding top for summer is the Ground Effect Median Strip merino top. Although maybe not the most environmentally friendly option, seeing as they ship from New Zealand!

thegreatdivide

I've got plenty of kit from loads of manufacturers but the two items I feel have given me 100% value for money are my 2011 dhb Pace Roubaix bib tights and my Giordana Body Clone FR Carbon Light Windproof Long Sleeve Jersey. The former has kept me toasty during the winter and my back side has been sitting on amazing padding - for 50 quid or less - and IMO the jersey is off the charts. We did a 55 mile run yesterday and most of it was into freezing side or head winds. All I had on were some Santini knickers, a thermal compression base and the Girodana. The extremities took a beating from the wind but my core was fine for the whole run. It's also cut perfectly. I'm a total Giordana convert now. Next purchase will be the Body Clone bib shorts.

Bar Shaker

Nalini, Pearl Izumi and Assos are my favourites, in that order.

But I also have a Nike set in the Livestrong logo (bib and jersey) and that's really comfortable stuff too.

Rich Hcp

Shutt VR for shorts and DHB for jearseys

XJR-Joe

I have some Endura kit. Some good, some not so. Watch the stitching. Also Northwave

Can put in a good word for Lusso. Pretty good quality. Progel shorts nice and comfy as are their knee warmers. Windtex jacket is a bit plain but works a treat.
Endure size on the small side and lusso slightly larger. Tried some Nalini once. Looks good but way to small. I am a large in most kit just now, think xxxxl would have been too small

pianoman

Anything aerodynamic is good, don't worry if you have a beer belly because I've seen plenty of big people in Assos jerseys :P

With that said, want something equivalent to the Assos SS Uno range? Then there's only one option: Endura Equipe. Never looked at their stuff before it came in my LBS last June and it's easily the best jersey I've ever had. Though I wish there were more than four colours in the range (two of which aren't exactly flattering).

glasgowbhoy

Another vote for Gore. Have the Phanton II jacket that has served me well all winter with just a base layer amd also the gore winter bib tights with the windstopper panels. So warm. Never paid anything like the full price for any gear. Check the bay and online sales.

Mavic kit is also very good. Just picked up am espoir long sleeve jersey in the sales and it's a fantastic spring/ autumn bit of kit.

Craft and Shutt too

Steve_F

Endura make our club kit and I can't say I'm overly impressed. Fit is definitely on the small side and wouldn't say the quality is any better than Aldi/Lidl gear. Wouldn't say stay away if you find a good deal but it'd have to be a very good deal.

greasedscotsman

Steve_F wrote:

Fit is definitely on the small side

Err, buy a larger size?

Steve_F

greasedscotsman wrote:

Steve_F wrote:

Fit is definitely on the small side

Err, buy a larger size?

I'll take the moral high ground and not answer in a sarcastic manner ;-)

Easy to say buy a larger size once you know (which I know have) but for anyone buying Endura gear for the first time hopefully they'll find the info, that other people find the fit to be a bit small, useful to them.

greasedscotsman

Steve_F wrote:

I'll take the moral high ground and not answer in a sarcastic manner ;-)

Ahh go on, it's much more fun!

incog24

Endura definitely have an 'athletic' fit, but then again, it is sports kit...