The RIDE Product test: £600 textile suits

How to get most of the features of the best textile suits, but at half the price

ANEW TEXTILE SUIT can set you back a lot of money, especially when you’re after something that will serve you all year round, in all weathers. This makes it crucial to find a suit that’s comfortable, practical and well specified. There’s more stratospherically expensive kit around than ever – it’s never been easier to spend £1000 on a jacket, never mind a full suit. But what are the options when you want to invest in a quality suit without breaking the bank? We gathered 14 textile suits priced around the £600 mark to find out.

Our tests

All suits were road tested, in all weathers, using a range of different styles of bike. We rated jackets and trousers separately, adding the scores to get an overall score for the suits. They were all marked on the following criteria:

CONSTRUCTION

An assessment of the materials and finish of the suits. Jackets without back protectors and trousers without hip armour lost valuable marks. Poor zips, a lack of vents or adjustment also cost marks – as did anything that broke or simply didn’t work properly. Marked out of 10.

COMFORT

A measure of how the suit was to wear on and off the bike, with and without any liners fitted. Tight or baggy suits and ones where armour was uncomfortable or moved about dropped marks, while suits with adjusters that gave a good fit scored well. Marked out of five.

COLD WEATHER

Does the thermal lining keep you warm? Without getting sweaty or limiting movement? Does the suit do up snugly enough to keep draughts out? Marked out of five.

HOT WEATHER

Are there effective vents, a lightweight material and a pleasant, breathable lining for hot days? Or does the suit become a heavy, wearable sauna when the mercury rises? Marked out of five.

WATERPROOFING

All these suits claim to be waterproof – but are they? Or will water get into pockets, up sleeves or down necks? Or worse… Marked out of five.