Rain suit, tyres and Fabio's shoes: Parts in danger: products under constant fire

Excuses avoider - Leatt Mono Suit MTB HydraDri 3.0

Leatt offers a choice of two models. The expensive 5.0 model (419 euros >> available here) with a water column of 30,000 and some additional features such as braces. And the cheaper 3.0 model tested here with a water column of 10,000. Size M fitted very well for a body height of 1.78 metres. Only the lumbar area lacked a little freedom of movement when pedalling - stretch material would have been an advantage here. Your smartphone and keys can be stowed in one of the three zip pockets. The two-way zip at the front proved its worth when coming out. Also good: the integrated microfibre cloth for cleaning goggles and the patented hood system for magnetically attaching the cap to the helmet. Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario occurred in practice: water penetrated the lower back during the first rain ride. The manufacturer assured us that this was a pre-production model and sent us a new one. Either way, this would have been a warranty case.
The new model coped bravely with rides in the rain and also withstood water spray on the back during 40-minute commutes. However, after around 20 days of use in the rain, moisture also seeped through in heavy rain. The ventilation is good. The narrow cut in the knee area only offers enough space for extremely thin knee pads. Weight: (size M) 853 grams. Price: 319 Euro >> available here.

Conclusion: Solid rain suit, tight enough for occasional rain rides. Good ventilation, tight cut in the knee area.

Strengths:

• Features hood system etc.
• Ventilation
• Look

Weaknesses:

• It gets tight with knee pads
• Price
• Water ingress at the end of the test period

Trail-Buddy - Specialised Butcher Grid Trail T9

Super-soft rubber compounds promise extra grip and are therefore often rewarded with test wins in magazines. Disadvantage: Such tyres deliver limited performance, wear out quickly (environment!) and are quite expensive. The trail version of the Butcher manages this better. Although the front tyre is equipped with the softer T9 rubber compound, the wear remains moderate even after more than 1500 kilometres and it still provides sufficient grip. When it reaches the limit, the tyre reacts well and gives the rider the opportunity to counteract this. A nice side effect: solid rolling resistance and light weight. 980 grams in the 29x2.3 version. We didn't ride any flats with it. Only in muddy conditions does the tyre quickly reach its limit. Sizes: 27.5x2.3 | 29x2.3| 29x2.6 | 27.5x2.6 inch. Price: 60 euros.

Conclusion: Successful all-round front tyre. Inexpensive, light and grippy enough. In the wet, it clogs up quickly and loses grip.

Strengths

• Grip / cornering traction
• Weight
• Durability

Weaknesses

• Nothing in wet conditions

Chic knickers - Crankbrothers Stamp Street (Fabio Wibmer)

I wonder what stuntman Fabio Wibmer whispered in the ear of the Crankbrothers Schumachers? After all, Fabio's name is on these street shoes. One thing was certainly important to Fabio, namely a stylish, simple look. Check! We can attest to this immediately with the Stamp Street. Apart from that, the lightweight shoe comes without a lot of fuss. The toe protection is discreet and even so, the shoe has few MTB features. Doesn't matter, it's a street shoe after all. Occasional trail rides also work very well with them, as the sole is grippy enough. When the descents get steep and long, the flexible sole becomes a negative factor. On the other hand, it allows casual use. Also chic: the neoprene sock, called bootie construction. This makes it easy to slip into the shoe. The laces can be easily stored in a flexible rubber strap. Also available in mayfly white (right on trend!) or in three other colours. Rather large - better to order half a size smaller. In short: I would probably wear these shoes twenty-four-seven if they weren't so poorly ventilated. Unfortunately, the pseudo-ventilation holes in the upper don't help. Weight: 692 grams (the pair, size 45). Price: 130 Euro >> available here.

Conclusion: Totally chic, also or especially for casual use. Functional enough for light trail riding and street use. The ventilation is inadequate. Also available in other colours, e.g. trendy white.

Strengths

• Look (!)
• Fit
• Causal skills

Weaknesses

• Ventilation (!)