We were impressed by the dhb autumn clothing we tested in October, so we’ve called in a range of winter wear to see how it fares now the temperature’s dropped.
We’ve added two jerseys, bib tights, a waterproof jacket, gloves and overshoes from Wiggle in-house clothing brand to our winter wardrobe. Let’s run through the technical specification before testing begins.
Vaeon Roubaix Jersey – £69.99
First up, the Vaeon Roubaix Jersey is made from the same 235g Roubaix-lined fabric which impressed when used for dhb’s knee and leg warmers we tested for our autumn review. This time it’s been applied to a long sleeve jersey which comes in two colours (black or red).
Having tried the jersey on for size, first impressions are of a close fitting piece which has plenty of stretch. Aesthetics are simple, with a white panel which stretches across the shoulders and on the arms, while features include three rear pockets, a generous dropped tail, a silicon gripper on the hem, a full-length zip and reflective detail on the arms, back and logo.
Windslam Blade Jersey – £79.99
The Windslam Blade Jersey is for wilder winter conditions thanks to its windproof front panel, while, like the Vaeon Roubaix Jersey, it’s also fleece-lined and has a close cut. This ‘jersey’, perhaps more accurately described as a ‘soft shell’, occupies a middle ground between a jersey and a jacket, aiming to be plenty warm enough without the bulk of a jacket. dhb have included two ventilation zips, one under each arm, which is a welcome touch as some windproof pieces can quickly become too warm when the temperature creeps up during a ride.
The jersey is available in black only and has four pockets – three traditional pockets at the rear and an additional zipped pocket with a hole to feed out the cable if you ride with headphone. Otherwise, reflective detail has been added to the chest, back and arms and logo.
Vaeon Reflex Roubaix Bib Tights – £64.99
Reflective detail is key when riding at night and the Vaeon Reflect Roubaix Bib Tights have plenty. Oversized reflective prints features across the tights, including on the thigh and lower leg. Otherwise, these use the same fabric as the jerseys described above, which dhb say is suitable “general winter weather” and for a temperature range of eight to 15 degrees, although we’d expect them to remain warm in conditions a little cooler than that.
There are foot loops at the end of each leg, and a chest zip to make comfort breaks easier, although we’ll await with interest to see how this affects the fit. The tights use a CyTech Race chamois: the entry-level pad in CyTech’s range and one which dhb claims is best for short riders of around two hours.
EQ2.5 Waterproof Jacket – £69.99
The EQ2.5 Waterproof Jacket is, dhb claim, designed to be ridden in cold, wet winter conditions – and we’ve got no shortage of those in the UK. The jacket has is said to be fully waterproof, with a 2.5-layer construction and Teflon coating. It’s quite a bulky jacket, and certainly not one which could fit in a jersey pocket, so one of the face of it looks best saved for rides when you know it will be cold and wet for the duration.
Details include a full-length, waterproof zip, adjustable cuffs, two internal chest pockets and one, large rear pocket, although our previous experience with other jackets and jerseys with a single pocket have seen it sag when fully loaded with inner tube, pump, food, tools and the like. dhb describe the jacket as having a medium cut, and we’ve dropped down a size to ensure a close fit.
dhb Amberley II Glove – £26.99
The Amberley Glove is an updated version of a popular piece in dhb’s collection. The palm is made from a grippy, polyester material, while there’s additional silicon details on the thumb, index and middle fingers for more control over the brake levers and shifters. The waterproof glove is designed to be slim fitting, with an articulated fit and extended cuffs, while the inner is made from a soft, brushed polyester lining.
dhb Windproof Overshoe – £19.99
Finally, the dhb Windproof Overshoe uses a polyurethane membrane, which is designed to keep the wind out and protect your shoes from the vast quantity of mud and salt on the roads at this time of year. The overshoes are secured with a zip at the rear, while the reinforced kevlar toe, heel and base look to improve the longevity of the overshoe when walking. Otherwise, there’s plenty of reflective detail and while the overshoe is not fully waterproof, dhb say it will keep light rain and road spray at bay.
