Oxford Mondial 2.0 Jacket and Pants £299.99 & £249.99 ‘Great fit and comfort’
Tested by Alison Silcox for three months
I was impressed by the first-gen Mondial, so jumped at the chance to try the updated version. It now has CE Level 2 armour and increased adjustability. Like the original, it’s a waterproof, laminate suit and good value.
Sizing is spot on. At 5ft 10in, with an inside leg measuring 33in I often struggle to get trousers that are long enough, and usually end up wearing unisex garments. These trousers are female-specific and available in three lengths. Sleeve length is great, too.
Little touches make a big difference and I like the Velcro adjusters at the waist and on the arms. There’s an option to have the collar zipped and popped shut or, if like me, you can’t deal with zippers being fully up at the neck, there’s a hook and loop system to pin it back.
I am less keen on the braces, they’re well made and attach directly to the trousers but
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I like the wide, adjustable cuffs which mean gloves can fit either under or over the cuff. Zipped, mesh sections on both the trousers and jackets aren’t quite cooling enough on warmer days. Airflow would be improved if they were slightly larger.
Subtle coral and silver detailing shows an element of femininity but without falling into the trap of making everything pink. The jacket is tailored to fit the female form and there are short zips at the hip, to ensure a good fit.
The Mondial kit has the (lowest) CE A rating and is fitted with CE Level 2 armour at the shoulders, elbows and knees. There are pockets for hip armour and a back protector, but it’s a shame that these aren’t supplied.
Seams and zips feel very sturdy and the zip pulls are solid. The kit’s been fully waterproof, even in torrential downpours. I undertook a little test with the pockets, to check they didn’t get wet… leaving fuel receipts in the pockets is always a good way to see if they leak, and they didn’t.
On a recent trip to the continent I lived in the kit for a week and it was incredibly comfortable and withstood ‘normal’ rain conditions. However, I got caught in Storm Babet and rode for three hours in a torrential deluge, both trousers and jacket leaked, substantially. In honesty, I don’t think any kit could have withstood the onslaught.
Quality Value www.oxfordproducts.com