7MESH GRAVEL OUTFIT
£100 7Mesh Farside shorts £130 7Mesh Cypress hybrid vest £130 7Mesh Ashlu jersey Tough gravel and road kit from Canada
Headquartered in Squamish in British Columbia, Canada, with Vancouver to the south and the ski/MTB resort of Whistler to the north, 7Mesh is perfectly situated to take inspiration from the riding in its immediate environment. And that comes across in the clothing it produces. As a brand 7Mesh has a reputation for using highly specialised materials that are impeccably cut to follow the lines of your body when you’re riding and so allow freedom of movement. This quality and attention to detail doesn’t come cheap, but once tried it’s the kind of performance you value in the long term. This gravel trio has proved to be no exception.
Usefully, the Farside shorts are available in two lengths (we tested the longer knee-length version). The fit is slim but thanks to their cut and slight stretch they don’t bind or ride up. Also, the waistband is grown on rather than fixed, which means there’s no bulky seam. It’s a small detail but it adds to the comfort. The lightweight nylon/elastane material wicks well and has a water-resistant DWR finish. As well as two hand pockets there’s a zipped back pocket, angled so that you don’t sit on the contents.
The Ashlu Merino is a lightweight 89 per cent wool jersey that’s soft and smooth, cool enough for summer yet warm enough for autumn and spring too. The fabric contains just enough nylon to make it durable too. What really makes the Ashlu stand out, though, is its innovative and generous pocket system that floats off the jersey. With three rear sections and two zipped side pockets, its polyester construction stops the contents pulling the jersey out of shape.
The Cypress Vest (or gilet) completes a highquality line-up. Packing easily into one of the jersey pockets, it has a Gore windproof DWRtreated front and stretch back for a close fit. This is the one you’ll start the ride with, tuck away when you warm up then pull back out for cooler descents. Long zipped side vents allow easy access to jersey pockets.
Each item is great on its own, worn together they are pretty much perfect. Hence the very unusual hat-trick of high marks.