LA PASSIONE VIBES JERSEY & MINIMAL BIBS

£80; £120 Premium clothing for less

Northern Italian company mpany Passione, founded in 2013, claims claim its products are made for the same production costs as premium Italian brands, however, as it doesn’t rely on distributors and retail mark-ups, this equates to a huge saving for the consumer.

The Vibes jersey’s front panel is a bodyforming, high-stretch close weave and the elbow-length arms feature an even higher elasticity fabric, so it feels second-skin tight. On the rear, the back panel has an open weave for superb breathability and on the flanks an open mesh is used to help regulate your temperature. The sleeves and collar are both laser-cut and left raw (no stiched hem at the cuff) for a super-close e fit. The three rear pockets are nicely reinforced but lack a zipped security pocket. This 136g-weight (L) jersey is intended for summer use, so we can see why that’s been omitted in favour of lightness. The full-length zip has a cammlocking zipper and a neck protector and one on n the hem line, so it won’t be abrasive against your ur bib shorts. All of the seams are flatlocked and the fit is tight. The sizing is spot-on but, be warned, d, Italian clothing tends to be on the small side.

The Minimal bibs, as the name suggests, are designed to be light but not at the expense of support. These 188g (L) shorts are constructed using a highly compressive matt fabric that can take effort to get on but the support is superb. The he seams are all flatlocked or bonded and the legs are laser cut. The braces are a high-stretch mesh material that run over the shoulders and combine to make a Y-shaped back. The midriff is cut just above the waist making these a great summer bib. The Elastic Interface pad is multi-density and designed for long-distance rides and we had no complaints even after a long, hot trek. k