Endura Equipe Thermo Biblongs

Endura kit is very popular among mountain-bikers, and this UK manufacturer also produces highly-respected gear for road cycling. At the top of the family is Endura's premium range: Equipe.

The Equipe Thermo biblongs are full length tights designed for road riding in cold or wet weather. The fabric is Roubaix style - meaning it's fleecy on the inside, lycra on the outside - and it does the job very well. These test tights have been worn for some long rides in nasty conditions, and they definitely kept me as warm as any pair of winter tights can.

For when the rain starts falling, the panels covering knees and shins have an extra water-resistant coating to protect against the muck and spray thrown up by the front wheel - and also do a good job, again as much as any pair of tights can without resorting to full-on waterproof overtrousers. (Or those natty little spats favoured by wise old tourists, but I digress...)

Where the water-resistant fabric meets the Roubaix fleecy fabric, they overlap, creating an extra layer of protection just where you need it in cold conditions: over for the knee. The same water-resistant fabric is employed on the seat panels as well, for those who ride in bad weather without mudguards.

The quality of construction is excellent. The seams joining the panels are all very neat and tidy, with hardly a thread out of place.

Our test pair of tights are size Medium, and the fit is perfect across the rear-end, thighs and lower legs. However, at the ankles, the fit is a tad too generous (and your humble tester hardly has the daintiest of ankles) meaning the silicon grippers cannot get a good hold, and tights creep up the legs a little and then ruck behind the knee. The tights have zips at the back of each leg, but not have loops to go under the feet.

The bib over the torso and shoulders fits well. It's a mix of lighter fabric and netting, with a short zip at the front. Surprisingly for a top-of-the-range garment, the zipper doesn't come all the way to the top of the zip. Also, there isn't a little flap of fabric to prevent the zipper digging into your skin. If you're wearing a thick thermal vest this is no problem, but with a thinner base layer it might be a minor irritation.

The tights come with a pad described as 'the acclaimed 800 Series Endurance moulded pad developed by Endura Racing' [the professional cycling team sponsored by Endura]. Whether or not the guys in the pro team actually use this pad is unclear, but it's certainly comfortable enough for us mere mortals.

Other features on the tights include reflective strips next to the zip down the back of each ankle. There's also a little pocket in the back of the bib, just above the base of the spine. I'm not sure what you'd keep in here - certainly nothing you'd need to access on a ride.

At £135, these bib-tights are not cheap, but this price compares with top quality kit from other high-end brands such as Assos.

Verdict

Overall, these are well-made top-quality tights, providing excellent protection against bad weather. Try before you buy to ensure the fit around the lower leg and ankle is correct for your needs.