Sportful HQ in Fonzaso is nestled in the foothills of the the Dolomites, where stages 18, 19 and 20 of the Giro d’Italia will be played out and the 2013 champion effectively crowned.
It’s only right, then, that with the Giro off and running, we take a closer look at the Italian firm’s spring/summer collection.
We’ll be testing the Sportful Pista short sleeve jersey, Total Comfort bib shorts, No-Rain arm and knee warmers, and Grupetto socks over the weeks ahead. Let’s take a closer look before testing begins.
Sportful Pista short sleeve jersey (£40)
We first spotted the Pista jersey at the Cycle Show last September. At £40 it represents an affordable entry point into the Sportful range.
The jersey is made from what Sportful call a Nimbus fabric. It’s 100 per cent polyester – nothing new there – and is designed to be both light and soft. It’s certainly that and Sportful say the jersey will only absorb 0.5 per cent of its weight in water, with the idea being that it will keep you dry in all conditions as a result.
The main body of the jersey is combined with a large Nimbus Mesh panel under each arm. As the name suggests, the fabric is a mesh version of the same material used for the rest of the jersey, designed in this case to improve airflow further. The combination of the two fabrics make this a jersey for warm weather riding.
Otherwise, the jersey has a microfibre jacquard knit elastic bearing the Sportful logo at the end of each sleeve. Up front there’s a full-length zip and out back you’ll find three conventional three pockets and an additional zipped pocket. An initial test ride reveals a slim fit, as we’ve come to expect from Sportful, and particularly so on the arms.
The jersey is available in six sizes (XS-XXL), in six colours (black/sky blue, black/white, red/black, white/black, white/black/sky blue and white/red/black). It’s an attractive package on paper; we’ll see it that remains so on the road.
Sportful Total Comfort bib shorts (£130)
Sportful say the Total Comfort bib shorts are designed to “provide the perfect long distance riding experience”. How so? The shorts are made form what Sportful call a TC Lycra Power fabric with “ultra-soft” 44 gauge nylon and a 240 gram construction “for muscle support”. The centre section of the shorts have an abrasion resistant finish to limit sliding on the saddle.
The shorts, which are made in Italy, have mesh bib straps to improve breathability and the straps are also very wide. Otherwise, there’s a thick jacquard knit band at the end of either leg, which in turn have silicon dot grippers on the inside.
The shorts use Sportful’s Total Comfort chamois. It’s the company’s most cushioned chamois with padding up to 18mm thick and has quick-drying, multi-density construction, with a perforated and dimpled surface for comfort and breathability. We were impressed by the chamois when we tested the Sportful Total Comfort bib tights over the winter so are hoping for more of the same here.
The shorts cost £130 and are available in seven sizes (XS-XXXL) in black only.
Sportful No-Rain arm and knee warmers (£26 / £31)
Sportful’s Fiandre No-Rain jacket and bib tights became our go to winter kit thanks to the excellent fit and weather-beating fabric. These Roubaix-lined arm and knee warmers are made from the same water repellent material.
A quick recap: Sportful’s proprietary No-Rain nanotechnology uses silicone particles in the fabric to repel water. The fabric’s not waterproof but, in our experience to date, does a great job at shedding anything but heavy or persistent rain.
Otherwise, these are, on the face of it, much like any other arm and knee warmers, with an ergonomic cut, silicon grippers to lock them in place and reflective detailing. It’s the water resistant promise we’re most keen to put to the test, particularly given the temperamental British spring/summer, when the weather is often grey and drizzly, and rain is normally around the corner.
The arm warmers cost £26 and the knee warmers are £36. Both are available in four sizes (S-XL) and come in three colours (black, red and white).
Sportful Grupetto socks (£12)
Finally, as far as this ensemble is concerned, these socks come from Sportful’s Grupetto range, which is essentially the same kit worn by the Sportful-sponsored Saxo-Tinkoff team, but without the sponsors’ logos.
They’re made from lightweight Meryl Skinlife bacteriostatic yarns, with a compression cuff and midfoot band to support the foot, and a 12cm cuff. We’d describe them as mid-length; certainly not ankle socks, nor long enough to be found on Bradley Wiggins’ legs.
The socks come in three colours (black/red, black/sky blue and, thankfully, white/black) and three sizes (S, M/L and XL). Yours for £12 a pair.
Website: Sportful
UK distributor: C3 Products
