After having fun with many earlier objects from Dainese, I used to be stoked to check extra of their gear this yr. I received my palms on their HGC Shell and HGR Pants, plus a pair of HGR gloves and their Path Skins Lite kneepads.
Sadly I wasn’t too impressed with the climate resistance of the shell or pants, and had points with the match of each as effectively. Fortunately the gloves and kneepads match correctly, and after many take a look at rides I got here away fairly proud of these items.
Path Skins Lite Kneepads
The Path Skins Lite kneepads are a slim, versatile pair designed for XC or Path driving greater than enduro… however I particularly needed to see how they labored with completely different path driving pants.
The Path Skins Lites match beneath 7mesh’s Flightpath pants simply, and the pants don’t grasp up on them whilst you pedal. Additionally they match beneath Dainese’s HGR pants (pictured above), that are slimmer than the Flightpaths, and nonetheless pedal simply fantastic.
I’m carrying dimension XS pads. The decrease hems are comfortable on my calves, and the highest hems are simply comfortable sufficient on my thighs. As you’d hope given their skinny development, these are simply the least motion-restricting kneepads I’ve pedaled in. All through all my take a look at rides, I by no means skilled any discomfort from any a part of the pads.
I want Dainese had trimmed down the size of the pads’ sleeve sections extra. There’s a good bit of sleeve size above the pad itself plus some beneath, and I’m undecided it’s essential. Even with shorter socks and a chamois on, the pads virtually utterly lined my shins and effectively overlapped the chamois’ legs.
Regardless of their leg protection, the Path Skins Lites are cooler to put on than most different kneepads. I might really feel air coming by means of the perforated pads whereas driving, and the skinny sleeves don’t lure a lot warmth in.
Now in fact the worth you pay for flexibility and coolness is the Path Skins Lites’ light-duty safety. I by no means smashed a knee throughout my take a look at rides, but it surely’s secure to say these pads are restricted to the ‘higher than nothing’ class of safety.
Hems vs. Chamois
I discovered one lesson with these pads – I went for a journey with the highest hems over high of my chamois legs, giving the grippers no likelihood to seize my pores and skin. The highest hems slipped down simply, leaving the pad sitting in entrance of my kneecap as a substitute of overlaying it. Once I wore the pads beneath my chamois legs, the grippers did seize my pores and skin and the pads held their place. For the subsequent few weeks, they stayed put constantly for as much as 3-hour loops with no changes.
Nevertheless, I had one current journey the place the correct pad merely wouldn’t keep up. I used to be carrying an older chamois with loose-fitting legs, and I believe with out the legs serving to to carry up the pads’ hems, they have been in a position to slip downwards. With my tighter-fitting chamois the Path Skins Lites all the time did nice, however on this journey, the correct pad wouldn’t keep up. The left pad was fantastic for many of the journey… however then it gave up and slipped downwards too.
It’s potential the hems are stretching out, as I’ve worn these pads fairly a number of instances. Because of this I believe an adjustment strap on the highest hem could be a worthy addition. Regardless of that, I’ve discovered if I keep on with carrying my tight-legged chamois’ the pads will keep in place. And so long as they do, they’re precisely the under-pants choice I used to be on the lookout for!
The Path Skins Lite kneepads are available black solely, and in sizes XS-XL. MSRP is $75.
HGC Shell
Designed to guard you from nasty climate, the HGC Shell is constituted of a 2.5 layer, 10,000mm waterproof cloth with taped seams. The material provides some stretch, and the shell’s hood is largeenough to suit over a helmet.
For storage you get two massive mesh backed pockets/vents on the entrance, and one massive zippered pocket throughout the decrease again. Different particulars embody a silicone gripper within the decrease hem, a waist drawstring, glove-friendly pulls on all zippers, and adjustable cuffs.
Match
I’m carrying a dimension medium jacket – Apart from one vital problem, the HGC Shell suits me effectively. The physique size is ideal with the entrance reaching slightly below my waist and the dropped tail overlaying my butt. Sadly in my case, the HGC’s sleeves are too brief! In driving place the sleeves pull up my arms leaving a substantial hole between my gloves and the jacket. I’d want one other two to a few inches to make sure correct arm protection.
I just like the HGC Shell’s collar design, however the way it sits could be a bit unpredictable due to the shell’s stiff water resistant zipper. Absolutely zipped, the collar sits excessive sufficient so that you can tuck your chin inside on wetter or colder rides, which is nice. Nevertheless, generally the collar creeps beneath your chin and sits towards your neck. Because the zipper props up the jacket, the edges of the collar don’t fall away while you partially unzip it. Standing on their very own, they will get in your face and be a bit irritating. Dainese did embody a material hood to maintain the zipper itself from touching your chin and neck.
Temperature and Protection
Considered one of my first path rides with the HGC Shell was in damp 13° C (55º F) climate. With a skinny lengthy long-sleeved jersey beneath, I used to be sweating after quarter-hour of climbing. I opened the shell’s entrance vents and the zipper midway, and that saved me heat however not overly scorching for the rest of the journey.
I went for one more journey at 15° (59º F) with a skinny SS jersey beneath, and I received sweaty. Whereas the chest vents are noticeable, the HGC Shell’s arm and armpit air flow shouldn’t be nice. I believe pit zips or vents could be a worthy addition to this jacket; with out them, the entrance zipper turns into a necessary technique of dropping warmth (even with the entrance vents).
As winter set in I discovered the HGC Shell may very well be worn into fairly cool temperatures, paired with two skinny layers or one insulated jersey beneath. Because the cloth itself is sort of windproof and doesn’t breathe significantly effectively, protecting the zippers closed will maintain your heat inside.
Apart from the brief sleeves, the shell offered good protection for me and by no means restricted movement in any method. I normally got here house with two inches of mud spray on the underside of my jerseys at most, and solely received my jersey’s decrease hem moist within the entrance on one wet journey.
The HGC Shell’s massive hood suits over a helmet and leaves sufficient room to journey comfortably; actually, I needed to cinch it all the way down to hold it from blowing off! It could be superior for those who might button the hood down whereas not in use, because it’s fairly massive and floppy.
Water Resistance
Throughout Crankworx Whistler I received to check the HGC Shell in heat, damp circumstances. After a journey in intermittent gentle rain for practically an hour, the jacket largely saved me dry however the sleeves have been moist inside. I believe this was from my arms sweating, because it by no means occurred once more in cooler temperatures.
I lastly received an opportunity to get correctly moist within the HGC Shell, and wasn’t too impressed with its water resistance. Sadly Dainese describing this shell as ‘completely waterproof’ didn’t match my take a look at outcomes…
I rode in regular rain for just below an hour, largely in uncovered areas. This time, I made certain to journey slowly and casually to make sure I wasn’t getting sweaty. By the point I received house, many of the HGC Shell’s inside was moist. Solely the decrease again portion was dry inside – the sleeves, shoulders, hood and entrance have been soaked. I used to be solely dry as a result of my mid layer hadn’t soaked by means of but. The HGC Shell will hold you shielded from gentle showers, splashes, and splatter, however a gentle rainfall will get by means of this jacket earlier than lengthy.
The HGC Shell is obtainable in Tradewinds (as examined) or Periscope colours. Males’s sizes go from XS-XXL. Girls’s fashions can be found in Tradewinds solely and in XS-XXL sizes. The HGC Shell sells for $240.
HGR Pants:
Dainese’s HGR pants are designed with sturdiness in thoughts, and so they provide a streamlined match. I had some points with the sizing, however rode the pants regardless to see how they carried out on-trail.
As for development the HGR pants are slim within the legs however characteristic articulated knees. The legs taper down in the direction of the ankles, the place you’ll discover easy cuffs with no stretch panels or zippers. Constructed for sturdiness, the pants’ cloth isn’t significantly gentle or skinny.
The HGR Pants present two zippered hand pockets, which aren’t enormous however I’m glad to have them – they provide safe storage and remained snug with smartphones and keys inside. One ultimate contact is Dainese’sHook Button system, which lets you carry Dainese’s gloves in your waist and avoid wasting pocket house.
Match
Now, concerning sizing: The sizing information led me to request XS pants that are listed as dimension “USA-UK 32″, regardless that the identical chart lists waist dimension as 27.2-29.5”. It appears that evidently you must definitely go by the waist dimension as a substitute of the USA-UK listed dimension when ordering.
The XS pants are very tight on my waist, which is round 31”. The waist includes a zippered fly with Dainese’s Slide-Match closure that gives three notches for adjustment, however they’re not evenly spaced. Two sit shut collectively and the third appears to make sure these with smaller waists can clinch down the pants additional. I’m utilizing the most important notch and due to the material’s stretch, I can simply squeeze into the pants. After a number of rides in them, the waist isn’t loosening up in any respect.
The opposite match problem I had was the legs – they’re far too brief, although this could make sense on condition that I must be in a bigger dimension. I might simply use one other 2-3 inches of size to maintain my ankles lined up. When you can’t attempt them on, I’d positively counsel patrons leap up a dimension if ordering these pants.
Climate Resistance
Regardless of having a really lean minimize (and being too small for me) I can say the pants pedalled completely effectively, with no restriction of movement. Whereas I wouldn’t name them excessively heat, the HGRs should not the best pants. On most rides, I observed my cellphone received moist with sweat, even in temperatures all the way down to roughly 10° Celsius (50º F).
Throughout some wet rides I discovered the HGR pants should not very waterproof just like the jacket. After about half an hour pedaling absolutely uncovered to regular rain, my thighs have been soaking by means of and my legs began feeling moist. By the tip of the 50-minute journey, my thighs have been saturated. The saddle space additionally soaked by means of, so I want Dainese had made at the least that space of the pants extra waterproof. Puddle splashes and dirt splatters have been simply fended off by the pants, however they didn’t maintain as much as a lot precise rain.
The HGR Pants can be found in Tradewinds, Sand, or Black colours. Sizes go from XS-XXL. MSRP is 179.95€ (observe – these pants should not at the moment proven on Dainese’s USA web site).
HGR Gloves:
Dainese’s HGR gloves have left me with nothing to complain about, proving to be a sturdy, tactile and cozy pair. I’ve worn these gloves fairly a number of instances over this summer season and fall, and so they hardly look used.
I’m carrying dimension smalls, and so they match me very properly. They’re comfortable, however with a little bit of stretch to the material they provide a exact match. Finger size is ideal for me, and the cuffs simply cowl my wrists. The Velcro wrist closure gives a cosy, safe match, and has remained completely snug. I’ve had no points with irritating seams, stitches or bunchy areas wherever on the HGR gloves.
Even with some silicone printing for grip, the HGR gloves’ palm cloth is skinny and gives nice grip really feel. I observed these gloves have been tactile sufficient that I hardly ever eliminated them when twiddling with my cellphone or digicam. Conveniently, the fingers are very touchscreen-friendly.
Temperature-wise, these gloves are fairly typical. The perforated palms, skinny again panels and mesh between the fingers all vent warmth effectively. There are lighter mesh-backed gloves on the market, however the HGRs are completely appropriate for spring, fall, and scorching summer season rides.
I solely have one minor suggestion concerning the HGR gloves: I believe the pull tabs on the cuffs may very well be trimmed down a bit. That’s the worst I can say!
The HGR gloves can be found in Black, Navy Inexperienced, Gray, or Sand colours. Sizes XXS-XXL can be found, for the worth of $45.
