Esther Yu Sumner

Here's a highlight of some bike kits I was able to test recently.

These aren't a perfect 1:1 comparison but I DID test all of these kits in the last 8 months.

Pactimo kit

Pactimo MTB baggies

Top 3 Pros:

1. Most flattering and comfortable fit on the baggies I usually wear for mountain biking.
A lot of baggy brands, even when I size up, pull tight on my slim but muscular thighs. These fit just right.

2. The baggies have deep pockets.
They are the only ones where I felt my cell phone would stay in the pocket.

3. Best waist cinching design.
I have a small waist and muscular thighs so I size up from my usual XS that I normally wear in street clothing to S in baggies. Then, I use the waist cinch that comes with any decent baggy, to keep the shorts on my waist. The cinch on most baggies are velcro hidden inside the band. This one is a stretch elastic with button holes. I love that I can just pull it to the button that sits where I want it to on my waist!

Top Con:

1. I'd love a zipper in one of the front pockets. There's a zipper on the back pocket but if I had one in front, I could keep my phone in there and be extra confident that it wasn't going to fall out.

Recommendation:
Overall, when it comes to baggies and a tee for mountain biking, this is my favorite kit.

Eliel jacket, jersey, and shorts

Eliel Sierra Gibraltar Jacket, Eliel Diablo jersey, Eliel Endurance Cargo Bib Shorts

Top 3 Pros:

1. This kit is BUTTER soft. In 20+ years of cycling I have never worn a jersey or shorts that was so soft and so comfortable, despite it being very tight because this fabric stretches in all the right places (note, I sized up because I could tell their target audience was racers, i.e., skin tight. So if in doubt, go with the larger size).

2. The Cargo Bib shorts have perfectly designed pockets. I put my cell phone in the pocket in my right leg (you can see the bump by my hand in the photo) and it fit inside perfectly.

3. Excellent wicking. I took this kit road and mountain biking (just like it is, no baggies on top) and it was the perfect summer weight kit.

Top Con:

1. I still love this beautiful jacket but as is the case with most waterproof jackets, it just doesn't breath all that well. I'd still choose it for a rainy day but this would not be my go-to emergency light-weight jacket because of its lack of breathability. Also, consider sizing up! Like with the rest of their line, they clothing is designed for race fit. I'm wearing a medium here, where I usually wear an XS or sometimes a S. This is my ONLY jacket in a M and I feel like I got the right size for my preference - but not if I planned to wear it while racing.

Recommendation:
If price is no object, and you are primarily a road cyclist, then this is the kit for you. However, because of their focus on race fit, although the size recommendations are spot on, you can still size up and have a snug fit. I sized up on the jersey and it was still snug!

Hyperthreads Venture bib and race jersey (left), Hyperthreads MTB/Loose fit baggy (right)

Hyperthreads Venture bib, race jersey, and MTB Loose fit baggy

Top 3 Pros:

1. This kit does the job of making you forget you are wearing a tight kit.

2. Versatile. This kit caters to taller people but I still felt like I could comfortably wear it for long distances on road and bike.

3. They use models of different shapes and sizes on their website to really help you dial in the right size.

Top Con:

They have the longest torsos and legs. As a petite person, this is a con for me, but I know others who have a problem with torsos and legs being too short.

Recommendation:

Their kits are designed for every size and body type, as evidenced by their size guides that show photos of real "every day" people in various shapes and sizes and what a kit looks like on them. However, even though I enjoyed very comfortable rides in their kit, everything was a tad longer than I prefer. For that reason, if you are looking for affordable, comfortable kits, I would recommend this, but especially for taller individuals.