LEATT SPRING/SUMMER RIDEWEAR REVIEW

Words by Robert Johnston / Photos by Adam McGuire

Coming into the late spring and early summer, your outfit needs to be suitable to keep you cool in the heat of the middle of the day, but you’d be silly not to cover yourself with an emergency shell to quickly add warmth when the temperatures drop or a shower passes. The combination of Leatt’s Trail 3.0 short, AllMtn 2.0 jersey and Trail 1.0 jacket could be the ticket to equip yourself appropriately for good times on the hill this summer.

THE LAB

Leatt supplied us with a few of their lighter weight items that fall on the budget end of their range, to put to the test through the British and continental European spring and early summer. As with the rest of the Leatt range, there’s no plastic to be found in the packaging, keeping your conscience that little bit clearer when it comes to buying your new gear from them.

THE DIRT

We’re stoked to see Leatt continue to supply their kit in plastic-free recyclable packaging, and the initial feel of quality is very high like the rest of their kit that we’ve had our hands on recently.

The fit and feel of the Trail 1.0 jacket is excellent, with generous length on the body and sleeves ensuring it resists riding up in use. The elasticity of the fabric allows for a relatively close fit to work without restricting movement at all, meaning it doesn’t “flap” as much as many baggier options. It is very much a minimalistic item that you could stick in the bottom of a pack, or even a short pocket at a squeeze, and forget about until a time of need. The single chest pocket is large enough to fit a phone or tool, but the thin and stretchy material doesn’t offer much support to stop anything heavier from shifting around. The hood is a useful bit of under-helmet insulation, doing a surprisingly good job of locking in the heat and fending off the worst of the rain coming through a helmet. What the Trail 1.0 jacket lacks in flashy features and bulk, it makes up for in its comfort and convenience, and it excels as a quick and easy layer to add a touch of protection from the elements if the temperature drops or a shower passes over. That said, it’s not a windproof or waterproof garment by any means, so particularly nasty weather quickly exceeds its abilities to keep you warm and comfortable. After being abused both in the bottom of my pack and on my body when riding the last couple months, the Trail 1.0 jacket is still looking fresh and ready to save the day many more times. It’s a lot of money for something so simple, but I’d suggest its performance justifies the tag.

The Trail 3.0 short is more aligned with the fit of other items of leg wear I’ve tested from Leatt previously, with a slim profile that doesn’t quite match the “loose fit” they claim. In the 34” waist size that is typically larger-than-perfect for me from other brands, the waist is a good fit, but the fit through the legs is effectively skin-tight. I’m quite bulky in my upper legs and so slimmer-cut individuals may not suffer from the same issues, but the Trail 3.0 shorts ended up being the center of some semi-playful abuse any time I pulled them on around my friends. That said, the 4-way stretch material allowed for this ultra-close fit to work without any restriction of movement, with enough room for a trail knee pad to slide in. The material is thin and lightweight and was breathable enough to keep things surprisingly comfortable through some sweltering Italian heat. The pocket setup worked well for both on and off-bike use, with that zippered pocket coming in handy to keep valuables safe and accessible when in the saddle, and the jean-style pockets giving some more relaxed storage for casual use and less important items. As a non-chamois guy, my take on the dual-density Italian liner shouldn’t be taken as gospel, but it felt comfortable and well-padded without adding too much bulk and thickness to be a nuisance. The lightweight material proved to be impressively resistant after a couple of dirt discos and plenty of saddle time, so if the fit is to your liking, then the Trail 3.0 short could be a fantastic option for the warmer months.

It’s not often that a tee will be something to get excited about, but somehow the simple but oh-so-effective AllMtn 2.0 short sleeve jersey was the stand-out of the three items in this grouping. Not because it stopped me from sweating or gave me the style of Kade Edwards, but because it was incredibly comfortable and went about its business in the most under-the-radar way. I would wear it in a casual setting without a second thought and keep it on as I don a full kit of biking gear around it – few items in the closet do that better. I’ve worn this tee a whole lot over the last few months, and it still looks new, which I’m stoked on as I’ve enjoyed using it so much. The lens wipe and internal pocket are items I forget about more than I use, but they’ve been life savers on a couple of occasions where my eyewear has needed some attention. The AllMtn 2.0 tee is a seriously good item to have in the closet.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Leatt continues to produce impressively high quality and well thought out ride wear, though their sizing and fit still requires some careful attention by consumers to ensure these items look and feel as desired. As an interseason ride kit, the combination of these three items is stellar in looks, performance and quality, and with fairly reasonable pricing it’s hard not to recommend them if it fits well.

Price:
Trail 1.0 Jacket – $99.99 /£80
Trail 3.0 Short – $99.99 /£89.99
AllMtn 2.0 jersey – $49.99 /£39.99

Website: Leatt.com

Disclosure: Our team selects all of the products we review and do so with honesty and objectivity in mind. Some of the products we receive come directly from Competitive Cyclist, who also value our readers and have offered them a 15% discount (exclusions apply) on their first purchase by using LOAMWOLF15. Through this program we may also receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support, TLW.