MOA-Nalini is an Italian company with an impressive pedigree as a supplier to several teams in cycling’s elite WorldTour peloton, some of whom brand their kit with a different name.
We called in some of their winter kit for test: the Glauco jacket with detachable sleeves, the Anrdomaca 1 bib tight, Cortez arm warmers, and Anapa winter gloves.
Testing over the last five weeks has taken place mainly on early-morning commutes, often begun in sub-zero temperatures, and in the teeth of the recent deluge.
Here’s what we found.
Glauco Jacket
The Glauco Jacket has the high-end Italian appearance and feel we’ve encountered on previously-tested items from MOA. It’s a look perhaps better suited to British tastes than some of the more flamboyant designs of rival Italian designers.
Inside, the Roubaix lining was soft, comfortable and warm. The fabric from which the outside of the jacket, formed from a mix of polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, and elastene, offered a good fit and kept out the rain. The use of a tissue membrane (known to MOA as “Kamallight KAMALTEX”) added protection from the wind, and kept me from overheating.
The Glauco jacket’s distinguishing feature, and one that makes its entirely suitable for our current changeable weather, are the detachable sleeves. Once detached, the jacket becomes a gilet, one with concealed, two-inch “sleeves”.
The Glauco comes, as you would expect, with three pockets on the tail, a zip garage at the top of the full-length zip, reflective piping, and a silicone band at the hem.
We liked its appearance, the highly-functional fabric, its detachable sleeves, and subtle branding.
Our one concern is the length of the arms, which struck us as a little long. It may be that I have short arms, but if so, this hasn’t been an issue exposed by other jackets.
The MOA Glauco jacket is available in black, white, red, yellow, blue and grey, in sizes small to XXXL, and costs £199.99.
Andromaca 1 bib tights
These thermal bib tights offer a great fit; probably the best I’ve tried. This is a bold statement, but one I’ll stand by. The Roubaix lining is the same as that used as the Glauco jacket, while the external fabric is Thermoflex. The combination has kept me warm and comfortable during recent commutes to work in temperatures of minus three degrees. I was impressed by the fabric’s moisture control, which kept me dry regardless of my perspiration levels.
Another impressive feature of the Andromaca1 tight is the stretchable mesh panel on the rear of the bib. It breathed well, and was more effective than those on others I’ve tested. It has additional fabric at the knees and kidneys, presumably for greater warmth, and an anti-abrasive fabric on the crotch to resist wear and tear from the saddle, as well as providing better grip. The microfibre chamois, similar to that used in MOA’s summer range, is easy on the nether regions, thanks in part to the “contrast 3” needle stitching, which afforded a fit free from irritation.
The Andromaca 1 comes with an effective MOA-branded gripper band and three-inch zip at the ankle, and a reflective logo on the back.
We struggled to find a drawback with these tights. Impressive.
The MOA Andromaca 1 tight is available in black and white, in sizes small to XXXL, and costs £194.99.
Cortez Arm warmers
The Roubaix lining, a feature of the Glauco jacket and Andromaca l tight, is present here on the Cortez arm warmers. They performed as advertised, and kept my arms warm when worn with a short-sleeved, summer jersey. They’re held in place at the upper end with a silicone band and at the cuff by the material’s natural elasticity. It’s still early days, but despite repeated use in a test period approaching six weeks, the stretch has shown no sign of diminishing. We were impressed by the lightweight feel and the fit, and struggle to find a downside. At £45, they’re not the cheapest on the market. They’re available in large, and in black, white, and red.
Anapa winter gloves
The Anapa winter glove is one for late autumn rather than deep winter. The cuff was adequate; deep enough to fit under sleeves, but not sufficiently tight in this area to seal out the elements by its own efforts. We liked the reinforcement between thumb and forefinger which aided grip when riding out of the saddle on the hoods. It also proved useful as a nose wipe.
The Anapa glove is available in sizes from S to XL, and in black or white. It costs £49.99.
