Leatt cycling clothing: Endurance collection – everything you need for the summer!
Marc Strucken
· 28.08.2024
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The sun is beating down; it’s hot on the steep path through the field – where the harvest has already been gathered – somewhere in the south of the country. There are still 64 kilometres to go, and a few hundred metres of elevation gain. The water is running low and the energy bars are almost melted in my hip bag. The only thing that’s really comfortable right now are the test products from the South African cycling clothing manufacturer, Leatt.
In the spring, the company had unveiled a special collection for cross-country and gravel bikes. The We have already introduced the helmets from the Endurance range and as my favourite item on various test rides. So we’ve now tried out a selection of the cycling clothing on rides where temperatures have often soared well above 30° Celsius, testing it for the summer performance it promises. The cycling jerseys have a sun protection factor of 50 and are made from a fabric that Leatt calls ‘Ice Yarn’. It’s made from recycled coffee grounds, so it’s produced in a (more) environmentally friendly way and can be 100 per cent reused. What’s more, the material is said to have a particularly cooling effect. But the cycling tops are designed with strategic ventilation in mind anyway. So does it all actually work?
Leatt cycling clothing put to the test
From Leatt’s Endurance collection, we tested 3 cycling jerseys, 1 pair of short bib shorts and 2 different pairs of gloves on both XC MTBs and gravel bikes. Temperatures were mostly above 25°C, and on a few rides even reached 32 or 35°C. We didn’t test the sun protection factor in a laboratory, but we didn’t get sunburnt either after more than four hours in the sun without sun cream. Underneath our clothing, mind you – all exposed skin was, of course, covered with factor 50 sun cream.
A quick spoiler regarding the test: these items will see you through the whole summer with no problems at all – and they look great too. There’s really hardly anything to fault, and they seem to be very durable.
Looking for even more outfits for warm days? Then we’ve got a few reviews for you here:
Leatt MTB Endurance 6.0 Cycling Jersey
The Leatt MTB Endurance 6.0 jersey is the sportiest – that is, the most form-fitting – jersey in this test. Leatt itself agrees, describing it as high-performance racing kit that feels like a second skin, and has therefore labelled it 6.0 – the designation for performance clothing in the Endurance collection. The ergonomic cut – you can’t have much spare weight on your ribs – has therefore been designed so that the cycling jersey adapts to an aggressive riding position. This is aided by the exceptionally lightweight 360° stretch fabric, the extended back and the sleeves, which are coated with silicone on the inside so they never ride up.
A very useful feature for the summer is the Leatt MTB Endurance 6.0 jersey’s UPF 50+ sun protection, as mentioned earlier, along with excellent breathability and, above all, an antibacterial fabric that doesn’t start to smell. There are also three jersey pockets on the back, which are easily accessible and feature a silicone trim. A fourth pocket, sewn into the same area and accessible via a side zip, can hold items such as a transponder or maps. In terms of appearance, the Leatt MTB Endurance 6.0 jersey resembles a road cycling jersey but is made from a slightly more robust fabric. It’s therefore a pure performance shirt for XC and gravel bikes when you really want to push the pace. Even then, though, you won’t get excessively warm in the jersey, as it provides ample ventilation and cooling.
- Technical polyester/elastane knitted fabric; Ice Yarn (see above)
- Very lightweight with 360-degree stretch
- Breathable and quick-drying
- Ergonomic design for an aggressive riding position
- 3 pockets on the back (big enough for a bottle)
- 1 additional zipped pocket at the back
- UPF 50+ sun protection: Blocks 95% of UVA and 98% of UVB rays
- Antibacterial
- Longer back with silicone strip
- Welded and seamless front zip and hem
- Silicone panel at the cuffs
- Reflective print on the lower back
- Tight-fitting seat
- Price: 70 euros
Leatt MTB Endurance 5.0 Cycling Jersey
The MTB Endurance 5.0 jersey from Leatt is labelled ‘5.0’ – meaning it has a slightly more relaxed fit. Also featuring Ice Yarn – the material made from coffee grounds – this jersey provides a cooling effect, which we can certainly confirm, as it was comfortable to wear even in temperatures above 30°C. The perforations in the fabric are also likely to help keep you cool. The Endurance 5.0 jersey is also designed to fit like a second skin and offer perfect ergonomics for long rides. In short: that’s 100 per cent true. Nothing slips out of place.
The features are similar to those of the cycling jersey described earlier. UV protection (UPF 50+), cargo and zipped pockets, and silicone-trimmed cuffs provide everything you need when out on your bike during the summer. This cycling jersey even has more pockets: as well as the three ‘standard’ ones, a mesh pocket has been added on top of the central one and another zipped pocket has been sewn into the left side. That makes a total of six pockets on the back – who needs a hip bag now?! The style is typical Leatt – South African style!
- IceYarn, made from coffee grounds, with a natural cooling effect
- 360-degree stretch
- Ergonomic design for semi-aggressive riding positions
- Breathable and quick-drying
- UPF 50+ sun protection blocks 95% of UVA and 98% of UVB rays
- Antibacterial
- 4 cargo pockets (bottle-sized)
- 2 additional zipped pockets sewn in
- Longer back with silicone print
- Laser-cut ventilation holes
- Silicone panel at the cuffs
- Reflective print on the back (though inside the mesh pocket)
- Sizes: XS–3XL
- Price: 99.95 euros
Leatt MTB Endurance 2.0 Jacket
Even in summer, it can sometimes be a bit chilly, or you might set off late and get back after dark. That’s where the Leatt MTB Endurance 2.0 jacket comes in; it works wonderfully as a complement to cycling jerseys – and is only suitable for close-fitting jerseys, as it has a fairly sporty cut itself. It’s made from a very lightweight and stretchy ripstop nylon fabric, which is designed to be windproof yet breathable. It is indeed windproof across the entire front and arms – whilst almost the entire back is made from a mesh material that’s extremely breathable. And you need that, because otherwise it quickly gets very warm in the Leatt MTB Endurance 2.0 jacket.
With a dirt- and water-repellent coating, this cycling jacket even offers a bit of protection if it’s drizzling or there’s spray coming up from below. Another handy feature is that it can be folded up into its own back pocket and stowed away very compactly – for example, in a jersey pocket. There’s also a small loop for attaching it to a pannier. Perfect for keeping it with you at all times for safety’s sake – even in summer, nobody should be left feeling cold on their bike.
- Very lightweight and stretchy nylon/elastane fabric
- Windproof thanks to the material construction – no laminate glued in
- 360-degree stretch
- Dirt-, water- and stain-repellent coating
- PFC-free permanent waterproofing
- Ergonomic design for an aggressive/semi-aggressive riding position
- Knitted mesh panels on the back and under the arms for ventilation
- Pre-shaped, stretchy cuffs with extra protection at the top
- Low-cut collar with soft fabric on the inside
- Longer back with silicone print
- Zip pocket on the lower back
- Fits into a back pocket; comes with a storage strap when packed away
- Size: XS–3XL
- Price: 138.95 euros
Leatt Bib MTB 6.0 Endurance Cycling Trousers
After all those tops, we naturally need something for ‘below the waist’ as well. Here, we’ve once again opted for the high-performance Leatt MTB Endurance 6.0 Bib* decided. According to Leatt, these cycling shorts feature a high-quality Italian 4-layer chamois pad from Elastic Interface. The chamois pad has cut-outs at the front for ventilation. And they really do keep things cool down there! Why don’t they all have this?!
The stitching on the seat pad is not neat (see picture below), though this does not cause any discomfort when worn and has not led to any defects so far. However, this could well happen in the long term and after many washes. The leg cuffs are also starting to pucker and roll up slightly after the three-month test period. Should any damage occur, we will note this here in an update.
The Leatt MTB Endurance 6.0 Bib also feels like a second skin. Depending on the length of your torso, the straps can sit quite loosely – even compared to other manufacturers. They too are designed to be very breathable, featuring mesh fabric. The leg cuffs, however, are fitted with silicone and are a bit tricky to pull over your legs when putting them on; once on, though, they stay 100 per cent secure. The cycling shorts offer SPF 50+ sun protection. Leatt itself states that the Endurance 6.0 Bib is suitable for cross-country rides lasting up to 7 hours – but you can definitely go for longer without any problems, even with stops at ice-cream parlours. A little extra feature to finish with: there’s a small transponder pocket on the back.
- Premium seat pads from Elastic Interface with 4 different densities
- Laser-cut ventilation holes on the front of the cushion
- 360-degree stretch
- Breathable and quick-drying
- Antibacterial carbon blend fabric
- Ventilated straps with an ultra-thin profile and mesh fabric
- Pocket on the back for a radio/transponder
- UPF 50+ sun protection: Blocks 95% of UVA and 98% of UVB rays
- Ergonomic design for an aggressive riding position
- Silicone panels at the leg cuffs
- Size: XS–3XL
- Price: 120 euros >> available here*
Leatt MTB 3.0 Endurance Cycling Gloves
This review is, of course, about cycling clothing that can be used for gravel and XC biking. My personal preference when it comes to gloves, however, is clear: no padding for MTB!
The Leatt MTB 3.0 Endurance cycling gloves confirm this once again, which is why they were worn exclusively on the Graveler. They performed very well there, though. The cycling gloves are slim-fitting yet still appear to be quite robust. They’re made from a stretchy, breathable material. The palm is fitted with so-called MicronGrip material, which provides a good grip on the handlebars in both wet and dry conditions and – importantly – works on mobile phone screens. There’s a terry cloth sweat wipe on the thumb, which was put through its paces this summer.
The fit might be better suited to shorter fingers. The MTB 3.0 Endurance cycling gloves from Leatt are very comfortable to wear; they’re easy to put on and take off, even when sweaty. However, when the back of the hand is damp, the thin fabric tends to curl up over the skin there – you have to give it a bit of a tug. After the test period, there was slight wear on the fingertips and minimal stretching of the seams in that area – we’ll keep an eye on this.
- Padded palm area to reduce handlebar vibrations
- MicronGrip palm: for use in both dry and wet conditions; with touchscreen functionality
- New ventilated 360° stretch upper for a better fit and breathability
- Extended sweat wiper
- Comfort cuffs
- Size: S–XL
Leatt MTB 3.0 Lite Cycling Gloves
And because we also race through the woods on our MTBs, Leatt provided us with the MTB 3.0 Lite cycling gloves to test. Naturally, they match the colours of the previous tops. And, most importantly, they have no padding on the palm, providing direct feedback from the handlebars. These cycling gloves obviously offer a bit more protection thanks to the rubber panel and the rubber prints.
In fact, the MTB 3.0 Lite Gloves* yet they still allow good air circulation through the impact protection at the knuckles. So they feel comparatively ‘airy’ to wear, just like the blue models. The micro-faux leather is reinforced on the outer palm – but there are no seams inside the cycling gloves to cause any discomfort. They’re also suitable for use on display and feature the practical, large wipe strip on the thumb. Here too, I have to say: this glove will probably continue to accompany me on the trails because it’s comfortable to wear all round. But here too, there are signs of slight wear on the fingers that take the most strain.
- ReaFlex impact protection for ankles
- MicronGrip palm: good grip in both dry and wet conditions; with touchscreen functionality
- Ventilated 360° stretch outer fabric
- Reinforced lower palm
- CE-marked and certified as PPE in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/425
- Ankle impact protection EN 13594:2015, reduced requirements adapted for off-road use
- Sweat wiper on the thumb
- Size: S–XL
- Price: 50 euros >> available here*
Marc Strucken
Editor