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How do Rapha and Vulpine compare for long distance stuff?

by dafyddp
Thu, May 12, 2016 12:49
9

I'm doing a few 200km+ rides at the moment and fancy treating my delicates to as much comfort as possible - comfort certainly more important than speed. I recently bought a couple of Rapha tops (in the Xmas sale), which have convinced me to consider forking out for some good quality shorts so was thinking about Vulpine or Rapha (I'd perfer to support UK companies), but would consider Assos or similar if the argument was compelling.

From what I've read/seen, both Rapha and Vulpine use the same pads (Cytech), and start at roughly the same sort of price (£100 or so). I'd love to hear the opinion of anyone who has both?

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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9 comments

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jimc101 | 8 years ago
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Never found any Vulpine on the road, but have found a few Rapha bits on Audaxs (all retruned to their owners)

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doc_davo | 8 years ago
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Can't comment on vulpine but the Rapha pro team shorts and morvelo nth shorts def get my vote - both happily cover 100miles plus in them day after day.

got the Rapha super light weights - find the pad moved too much and and the Lycra isn't compressive enough for long distances

for the rest I have some assos s5 older model - quiet good.

 

one thing though the Rapha pro teams are now shorter than before - find their consistency from one season to the next not great, the shorts come in reg and long, but my regs are shorter than the previous 'regs' I had, same with their socks - their 'long' socks are 3 dif lengths over all the seasons I've had them.

 

 

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Martyn_K | 8 years ago
1 like

Don't know where you are located but the rapha archive store in Shepton Mallet is worth a visit. Good discounts on end of line products but they also have a line of bib shorts that are made specifically for the store. Basically its the Pro Short in classic style and they go for £100.

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Stef Marazzi | 8 years ago
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If you want to support UK companies, buy from Howie's or Lusso. They are UK based but their stuff is actually made here. Rapha is all sourced to China. Dunno about Vulpine.

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tritecommentbot replied to Stef Marazzi | 8 years ago
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cyclesteffer wrote:

If you want to support UK companies, buy from Howie's or Lusso. They are UK based but their stuff is actually made here. Rapha is all sourced to China. Dunno about Vulpine.

 

Just went through our Rapha stuff and it's made in Portugal, Lithuania, China and Italy.  Doesn't seem to be any pattern to it, there's an expensive merino winter jersey made in China and a couple of cheaper Core jerseys made there too. 

 

Snobbery about outsourcing is silly, we wouldn't have as much progress and quality if we didn't look outside our nearest talent pool. Are you saying Howies and Lusso are better quality than Rapha as they're made in the UK, for example? Or are you saying we should buy lesser quality stuff to support a handful of jobs here in the UK.

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Jez Ash replied to tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
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unconstituted wrote:

cyclesteffer wrote:

If you want to support UK companies, buy from Howie's or Lusso. They are UK based but their stuff is actually made here. Rapha is all sourced to China. Dunno about Vulpine.

 

Just went through our Rapha stuff and it's made in Portugal, Lithuania, China and Italy.  Doesn't seem to be any pattern to it, there's an expensive merino winter jersey made in China and a couple of cheaper Core jerseys made there too. 

 

Snobbery about outsourcing is silly, we wouldn't have as much progress and quality if we didn't look outside our nearest talent pool. Are you saying Howies and Lusso are better quality than Rapha as they're made in the UK, for example? Or are you saying we should buy lesser quality stuff to support a handful of jobs here in the UK.

I think Stef was just responding to the OP'S point about wanting to support UK companies, not being disparaging about any particular country's output.
Are you equating "less expensive brands" with "lesser quality"?

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tritecommentbot replied to Jez Ash | 8 years ago
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Jez Ash wrote:
unconstituted wrote:

cyclesteffer wrote:

If you want to support UK companies, buy from Howie's or Lusso. They are UK based but their stuff is actually made here. Rapha is all sourced to China. Dunno about Vulpine.

 

Just went through our Rapha stuff and it's made in Portugal, Lithuania, China and Italy.  Doesn't seem to be any pattern to it, there's an expensive merino winter jersey made in China and a couple of cheaper Core jerseys made there too. 

 

Snobbery about outsourcing is silly, we wouldn't have as much progress and quality if we didn't look outside our nearest talent pool. Are you saying Howies and Lusso are better quality than Rapha as they're made in the UK, for example? Or are you saying we should buy lesser quality stuff to support a handful of jobs here in the UK.

I think Stef was just responding to the OP'S point about wanting to support UK companies, not being disparaging about any particular country's output. Are you equating "less expensive brands" with "lesser quality"?

 

Yes, there is a correlation between quality and price in manufacturing.  Cheaper clothing can have higher % markups than designer clothes. 

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Shades | 8 years ago
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I picked up some Rapha lightweight bib shorts cheap last year; primarily for hot conditions in Provence.  Awesome padding in comparison to my existing shorts.  Just need some seriously hot weather or I may need to source a regular pair.

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graybags | 8 years ago
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I've got a couple of pairs of Morvelo Nth series shorts and have found them very comfortable, UK based 

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