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In winter, we had already talked about the cosy and warm Lunar collection from Fox The fox has been looking forward to a special edition with lined ranger trousers and an extra padded top. Now the fox is back with a summer edition, which now includes jersey, trousers, gloves and shoes. All in classic black again - ok, maybe not 100% suitable for midsummer. But most of the products are available in a few colour variations - including more summery ones.
According to Fox, all products have been revised in terms of cut and materials. We took a look at a small selection and took it for a spin on our home trail.
Fox Ranger Riding Kit
The Ranger Riding Kit consisting of long MTB trousers and long-sleeved jersey is the bestseller, according to the company. Both have a casual cut and are therefore ideal for easy trail action as well as for socialising afterwards; in Bavaria, this is known as "Biergarteln".
Both garments are made of lightweight, hard-wearing and stretchy material. The main new feature is the use of recycled material. The racing ratchet fastening of the Ranger Pants, which was already incorporated into the winter collection, is now also available for the lightweight summer version. More on this in a moment.
Fox has adapted the cut of the jersey especially for women and sewn in a stretch insert at the hip. Of course, both sexes have the usual longer back section for bikes.
The Fox Ranger long-sleeved jersey in practice
The Ranger jersey is no-frills in the best sense of the word. Well cut, but loose. Lightweight material, but apparently quite robust. A Fox fox on the chest, smaller lettering on the back. That's it. It also makes you feel well dressed for other summer occasions, especially as the long sleeves offer a certain degree of sun protection - but unfortunately Fox does not specify an explicit protection factor.
Price54.99 Euro (RRP) >> available here
Fox Ranger trousers
The new Fox Ranger MTB trousers have a loose and airy fit - also so that the new protectors can be worn underneath. However, they appear to be cut a little tighter than their winter counterparts. The bike trousers are nice and tight at the ankle, but thanks to stretchy mesh inserts they are easy to put on and take off.
Pockets are also sewn in on the right and left, which also fit large smartphones. The ratchet fastener is particularly practical and makes the waistband adjustment very variable. The small notches make the fastening almost infinitely variable: After the Kaiserschmarrn, you can adjust one or two notches further and the trousers still fit perfectly. There are no more design elements - and the author thinks that's a good thing.
Price: 109.99 Euro (RRP) >> available here
Fox Union BOA shoes on the first few metres...
There are the new Fox Union BOA shoes for both clipless and flat pedals. Our test specimens do without cleats and come in black and white, one of a total of 5 colour combinations. According to Fox, the upper material, which is now made of TPU/ripstop and is supposed to be even more durable, is also new.
More exciting for us during the test, however, is the new D3O foam insert under the forefoot, which is designed to dampen shocks and vibrations. In addition to the insert, Fox also provides a second arch support that lifts the foot a little further. Giant and S-Works already offer something similar, which is very comfortable with the right foot shape and also prevents tired feet.
The BOA TX6 textile lacing and the UltraTac rubber sole are also new. BOA is always a good idea for shoes because it's practical and easy to adjust. The rubber sole made a good impression on the first few metres - but they weren't too challenging and we weren't able to put the grip to a serious test yet.
What was noticeable, however, was that the new Union MTB shoes are quite stiff and, at least for one tester, pinched a little at the ankle when the BOA fastener was tightened correctly. It remains to be seen how this will affect long tours or whether it will improve over time.
Price: 219.99 Euro (flat pedal) // 239.99 Euro (clicker) >> available here
First impression: Fox Enduro Pro knee pads
New for the summer are the Enduro Pro knee pads from Fox. These are now, so to speak the successors of the successors of a popular Fox protector. Previously they came with pads made of D3O foam - now with new Koroyd inserts.
These are somewhat reminiscent of the brain convolutions in our skull, but are designed to provide "world-leading impact protection and flexibility", as Fox puts it. Even though the name is "Enduro", the Fox protectors are more of a lightweight protector designed for trail use, which is confirmed by the CE certification EN1621-1 Level 1.
The Cordura material, especially on the pads, is designed to ensure durability. As the Koroyd pads are virtually decoupled from the sock surrounding the leg with fabric bars, the protectors remain securely in place and nothing scrapes or rubs against the knee, as the decoupling allows it to move freely. This is very comfortable and the Fox knee pads are less irritating to the touch than they are soft and secure. For warm days or when pedalling a lot, they have an antimicrobial treatment to reduce odours.
Price: 99.99 Euro (RRP) >> available here
New Fox Ranger MTB gloves
According to the manufacturer, the Fox Ranger gloves are its best-selling mountain bike gloves with touchscreen compatibility. Their specs in a nutshell:
- Flat neoprene cuff with Velcro fastening system
- Absorbent thumb made of micro suede ("nose wiper")
- Conductive threads on the index finger and thumb for operating touchscreens
In practice, the MTB gloves are above all very light, quite airy and have a very fine grip because the palm is made of very thin and at the same time hard-wearing material. Provided the size is right, this also prevents creases that could lead to unpleasant blisters. Rubberised index and middle fingers ensure a good grip on the brake levers. A good pair of MTB gloves, even for warm temperatures.
Price: 29,99 Euro >> available here
Marc Strucken
Editor
