Poc Aero TT Suit

£375, 2pure.co.uk

Already masters of the snow-sports market, Swedish company Poc expanded into road cycling as recently as 2013 with a range of helmets and clothing. The brand has forged a reputation for combining safety with performance in its winter sports range, and now it appears that the aerodynamic demands made by downhill skiers have trickled through to the cycling line, in the shape of this low-drag time-trial skinsuit.

The Aero TT Suit is slightly different to normal skinsuits, where the basic rule is to be as skintight and smooth as possible. Instead, Poc has taken a more complex approach to achieve low drag and effective ventilation. The dimpled surface of the back and arms has been made with a four-way stretch fabric that should aid ventilation but improve aerodynamics. The suit also uses Poc’s Coldblack fabric, which reflects more sunlight, reducing heat and offering a UPF rating of over 50.

The lower part of the suit is made of a more supple fabric to improve comfort, and the chamois uses impact-absorbing technology (used in protective shoulder pads, for example) to provide extra support at the front. The skinsuit has also been separated into its component parts to make the Raceday Aero Jersey and Contour Aerofoil Bibshorts. This is good news, because etiquette dictates that skinsuits should really be reserved for race-day use (or only the most precious Strava segments).