Best women's gravel bike clothing 2024: close-fitting and relaxed tops and shorts, reviewed and rated

‘Gravel’ means so many different things to different people. On the one hand, you have the competitive racing side, where performance and optimization are just as paramount as when racing on the road - albeit perhaps with a few more pockets. 

At the other end, you have the bohemian social side - where anything goes and it’s all about feeling comfortable, having fun and just being out there in nature. Skin-clinging lycra can be left at the door, and more flowing and freeing clothing can take its place. 

But it wouldn’t be gravel if there were clear ‘rules’ to be followed! There are so many exceptions to those broad generalizations that setting too much store by those rough pigeon holes is almost wholly pointless.

Non-competitive gravellers might still appreciate the many pockets and the more secure storage offered by cargo bib shorts and skin-tight jerseys - you just can’t load up baggies the same way, and most definitely not to the same extent. Layering is also easier and more efficient, with options for gilets, arm and leg warmers - and sequence of jackets over the top. 

On the other hand, there’s nothing to preclude you from wearing baggies on a hard-and-fast blast, chasing your way up the climbs. 

With all that in mind, here’s my top picks across the gravel spectrum for women - from figure-hugging lycra to more relaxed tops and shorts.

The quick list

JERSEYS

RELAXED TOPS

CARGO BIB SHORTS

BAGGY SHORTS

OUR PICK OF THE BEST WOMEN'S GRAVEL CLOTHING

JERSEYS

The best gravel jersey overall

So soft and very breathable, this is a merino jersey that excels in hot conditions, as well as  on cooler and damper days. Although it primarily uses merino wool, this is blended with nylon and elastane to help obtain the close fit and durability that this jersey offers.

We found that the jersey wicks really well and rarely feels clammy. The merino fibers are naturally antimicrobial and odour resistant, which is very useful for all-day rides and/or multi-day bikepacking. The hydrophilic and thermal regulating properties of merino wool are also very welcome when caught out by a shower! 

Its fit is a little more snug than other gravel jerseys we’ve tested, but it’s still comfortable when riding - which is the important thing. Unlike the super short sleeves of 7mesh’s Ashlu Merino Jersey, the sleeve length here is just where we want it: about halfway down to the elbow - not too long, not too short. 

Overall we found that the Concept Merino jersey provides close and comfortable fit. The low cut collar design makes it easy to breathe and eliminates unnecessary flapping. With three good-sized rear pockets - including a zipped valuables one -  the jersey ticks the practicality box too. 

The best gravel jersey for storage capacity

Another merino option, but this time in a slightly more relaxed fit and with greater carrying capacity. The Ashlu Merino boasts a ‘floating’ pocket system, which is made from a polyester and elastane mix. This blend is much more supportive and springy than the merino wool which the rest of the jersey is made from - which meant we could stuff a lot of kit into these pockets without running into the issues of sagging which you typically get from a merino jersey. 

The jersey also has two side-loading zipped pockets beneath the traditional three rear easy access pockets. One of these zipped pockets spans the width of two standard - which makes it larger than any other zipped pocket we’ve come across on a jersey. It’s a very useful space for tucking away a large smartphone and other valuables. 

The main body is longer in length than the Velocio, so this jersey suits those who are riding in a more upright position. Plus, it also doesn’t look too out of place off the bike. Our only complaint is that the fit is a little baggy around the shoulders and the sleeves are shorter than most.

Overall, we were really impressed, though - this is a high quality merino jersey with plenty of spacious zipped and easy access pockets. If you are looking for a relaxed fitting jersey for longer adventures, the Ashlu Merino comes highly recommended.

The best gravel jersey for relaxed fit

We found the fit of the Unlimited Sentiero 2 Jersey to be a lot more relaxed than the other gravel jerseys we’ve tested, such as the 7mesh Women's Ashlu Merino jersey. This makes Castelli’s offering a good option for those who care more about adventure than speed and expressly don’t want a figure hugging fit. The jersey uses a 92/8 polyester/elastane blend which has a slight stretch to it and excellent wicking capabilities.

Not only is the fit relaxed, we found that the jersey comes up larger than expected too. We had to swap our first sample for a smaller size than usual - worth bearing in mind if you have other jerseys from Castelli. If you’re usually towards the smaller end of the size spectrum, you might find that there isn’t an option small enough for you.

Three standard pockets line the rear of the jersey. Plus, there's a fourth zipped pocket for cards or other valuables. We don’t really see the point of the chest pocket - other than that it gives the jersey a very retro look. If that’s the style you’re after, then this is a comfy, relaxed top that’ll serve you well off-road. 

The best gravel jersey for close fit

In terms of the fit and feel, Sportful’s Cliff Supergiara W Jersey is the jersey which most closely resembles what we’d typically ride out on the road - the only difference being double the number of pockets, and the (arguably) cooler, art-y styling! It features a stretchy fabric, a comfortable cut, and the sleeves have a seamless, raw cut finish that provides a secure fit.

For long distance gravel rides, the Sportful Cliff Supergiara W Jersey provides much more scope for pocket organising than a typical jersey - it has a total of six rear pockets, thanks to a layer of mesh which has been added to the outside of the three usual jersey pockets. 

This doesn’t serve to really functionally increase the amount of kit you can carry - if you fill up the mesh pocket, the resulting bulge means that there isn’t much space to fill up the jersey pocket behind. But it does mean that you can split up where you’re storing your phone, cards and keys to make access a bit easier and reduce the time you spend rummaging around for the right thing. Despite all those pocket options, there isn’t actually a zipped one for securely storing your valuables - worth bearing in mind.

RELAXED TOPS

The best relaxed top overall

Unrestrictive yet well-fitted, we found that Assos’ UMA GTC Jersey C2 strikes an excellent balance between a comfy, relaxed top - but without awkward bagginess and the jersey flapping distractingly in the wind. It has a tailored fit around the tops of the arms and across the chest, but (unlike performance road jerseys) you won’t find any silicon grippers at the bottom holding this jersey in place. Instead the jersey floats as it wishes - which adds to the high comfort levels. 

The light and breathable fabric is just what you need for off-road riding in warmer temperatures. A quarter-length zip also allows you to cool down a little quicker at the top of climbs so that you can let the breeze in on the descent. When zipped back up, the low cut collar design isn’t restrictive in any way either. 

Two zippered pockets can be found on each of the side panels. Those pockets are pretty spacious, they’ll each fit an iPhone 14 - but we found that it’s not so comfortable stashing something heavy in these as it pulls the jersey out of shape. Much better to store a card wallet or energy bar there.

The best relaxed gravel top for breathability

Castelli’s Trail Tech 2 W Tee is light on additional features (such as pockets, zips etc.), but that’s part of its form - a simple, lightweight and unfussy gravel top. Aside from being light because you simply can’t put anything in or on it, the material is super airy and forms a semi-open mesh. 

It’s very much a top for warmer days and, whilst not entirely see-through, you should be prepared for other riders to know what the color of your sports bra is. 

Despite being so simple in its design, the cut is quite cycling specific, with a reasonably high cut at the front and a dropped tail. This suits my riding position quite well, as my relaxed position on a gravel bike is still fairly low (being so used to a low roadie position, being too upright doesn’t feel so comfortable to me!) 

On hot days, it’s a great option - although I would suggest using sun screen with it. The top doesn’t claim to offer SPF protection, and the mesh is really quite lightweight. I can’t say for sure that you’ll definitely burn as I haven’t used it in the sun and without sun screen, but I wouldn’t like to try!

The best relaxed gravel top for versatility

Lightweight and snag-resistant, Rapha’s Trail Tank is simple in design, but that minimalism works well - no pockets means no scope for awkwardly filling them, unlike Assos’ UMA GTC Jersey C2. We didn’t exactly miss the lack of pockets either - when pairing this top with a pair of cargo bib shorts and a handlebar bag, there’s still plenty of space for all you want to carry and have close at hand. It’s also very ‘freeing’ to not have anything weighing you down on your top half, so we quite appreciated being forced to look elsewhere for where we carry our kit. 

Not only have we worn this tank top on gravel rides, it’s been our go-to for 10k runs, bouldering and yoga, too. It's super versatile and doesn’t look out of place in any situation that involves being active. Whilst this sleeveless cut gives you plenty of freedom of movement, if you’re like us then the tops of your shoulders don’t usually see much sunlight -  remember to apply some sun protection! Over here we’ve pulled together some of the best sunscreens for cycling that are sweat- and water-resistant to deal with the demands of cycling.  

68% of the polyester fabric used for the Trail Tank is recycled, which is a plus. It also comes with Rapha’s Repair Kit, which consists of color-matched iron-on patches for repairing the tank top post-crash at home. We’ve (thankfully) not had to test this kit yet, but if we do we’ll update you with our findings.

The Velocio Women's Delta Tee shares the minimalistic approach of the Rapha Trail Tank, but you do get some short sleeves - so it’s potentially a more practical option. The jersey is slim yet relaxed; lightweight yet robust.

We really rate the comfort, finding that the Polartec Delta polyester/tencel fabric wicks really well, making it a pleasure to wear when riding through the summer. This fabric is also ever so slightly stretchy, which means that it conforms nicely and ‘gives’ when needed. 

It is very long in the body, though, compared to the Castelli Trail Tech Tee, and so you may find that the fabric bunches up quite a bit at your hips when riding. The plus side to this is that it doesn’t look too short at the front when you’re off the bike. 

Of all the Tees we’ve tested, Sportful’s Flow Giara was the only one that we didn’t really get on with. The polyester/cotton fabric doesn’t have any stretch to it and, as a result, it felt restrictive around the shoulders when shifting forward into a riding position (even a fairly upright one). 

The material is also pretty heavy, which wasn’t great for warm weather riding. As such, it’s better suited to milder, more temperate conditions. Despite the weight of the material, it doesn't offer much in the way of wind protection so bear that in mind too.

We’d say that there are better, higher performance jerseys to choose from at around this price point. But if you’re won over by the bold styling or find it on a particularly good discount, it is still a robust and functional jersey aside from those criticisms.

CARGO BIB SHORTS

The best cargo bib shorts overall

Well-made, feature-packed, and executed faultlessly - these have become our go-to cargo bib shorts due to their balance of comfort with practicality. Plus the high-quality construction looks set to last. 

The side pockets were particularly roomy, had a huge amount of stretch, and proved secure. Quite simply, they’re the best we’ve tested. Both pockets on each thigh are wide and deep - which means that they’ll easily accommodate a smartphone, with spare space for some energy bars, too. The folded over flap of material at the top of each pocket prevents anything from falling out when your leg is at the top of the pedal stroke - combining easy access with peace of mind.

The KISS Air2 Donna chamois is wonderfully comfortable over long distances on rough terrain. Plus the drop-tail bib construction worked really well for comfort breaks - a feature that you’re certainly going to need if you’re out on the trails all-day!

The best cargo bib shorts for comfort

This is an extremely tech-packed set of cargo bibs which uses robust materials and boasts useful features - including a quick-release bib strap system for comfort breaks. Assos has a reputation for producing high quality kit and these cargo bib shorts are no exception. 

We found that the UMA GTC Bib Shorts C2 shorts are very comfortable for long distance off-road rides, thanks to the generously cushioned chamois which does a good job at providing some isolation from chattery gravel when riding off road.

Each of the side pockets has a mesh ‘catch guard’ which provides extra security that your essentials won’t be going anywhere. However, access to the pockets isn’t as easy as on Castelli’s Unlimited bibs. This is partially because Assos has split the pockets on each side into two, bringing the total up to four. As a result of this, each of these pockets is half the size of the Castelli’s, which we found to be too narrow and tight for getting phones/bars/tools etc. in and out quickly. 

To make it easier to go to the toilet mid-ride Assos has integrated two magnetic clasps at the rear of its bib strap system. We found that these were quick and easy to unclip and connect back up again - plus the whole bib strap system felt reassuringly secure when back riding. We found this was a better system compared to the drop-down design of the Castelli Unlimited and Velocio Utility shorts.

Overall, these are a high quality pair of cargo bibs. They are comfy and practical, the only issue being that the pockets are significantly smaller than those on other cargo bib shorts. 

The best value cargo bib shorts

If you’re looking for cargo stashing space on your bibs on a tighter budget, then Le Col’s Sport Cargo Bib Shorts are a well-made, fuss-free option. They have a comfortable high-density chamois (although Assos and Castelli’s were comfier still), the legs are compressive without being too tight and the grippers hold the shorts in place without digging in.

The mesh pockets offer a good amount of additional storage and did hold my energy bars securely over rough terrain and technical climbs. The pockets don’t feature an additional flap, providing that second layer of security so that your kit won’t fall out, so I wasn’t inclined to store my phone there on rides - although I didn’t have any experiences which substantiated that worry, it was just out of an excess of caution!

But when stopped at a cafe or any mid ride break, I did use those pockets for keeping my phone quickly to hand - and without a flap it was a little easier getting it out quickly. The straps do have some stretch to them, but it’s not as much as on other bib shorts. Those who are particularly tall and slim might find they have issues - I noticed it when standing up straight, but in the more ‘compressed’ position when riding I didn’t have a problem.

Worth bearing in mind that these shorts don’t feature an easy-pee system - so if that’s a deal breaker, these aren’t for you.

Best no frills cargo bib

The Velocio Utility Bib Shorts get you where you need to go on the gravel trails in comfort and with no frills. Perhaps the best feature of the Utility sib short (and its fellow road bibs, the Ultralight bib short) is the “FlyFree” design meant to empower women to take easier bathroom breaks thanks to extra-stretchy fabric above the tailbone. You can simply pull the bibs down without removing the straps for a nature break, which can be especially helpful when out on a remote gravel road. 

The chamois is the same chamois found on the Ultralight road shorts: Velocio’s proprietary Signature Chamois. This chamois is thick enough to mute the vibrations caused by gravel but doesn’t feel too bulky when off the bike.

The three pockets on the Utility shorts are deep and have the capacity to hold plenty of nutrition, a flat kit, phone - you name it. While the nutrition we stored in ours while testing stayed put on a packed gravel trail with ascents and descents, it should be noted that these pockets have no extra security such as a clasp or flap like the Assos Uma GTC shorts. 

Lastly, these shorts are expensive and will cost riders $300 USD. Assos Uma GTC shorts are $280 USD and Le Col Sport Cargo Bib Shorts II are about $240 USD. While some riders may not feel that a $60-20 price difference is significant, it could be enough to steer some riders away from the Velocio Utility Bib Short altogether. 

Similar to Velocio’s Utility bib shorts, there are a lot of good points about the Sportful’s Supergiara bib shorts as well as some negatives. Interestingly, there’s quite a bit of overlap in what’s been done right and what could be improved. 

Again with the good stuff first. The fabric isn’t quite as light as Velocio’s, but it is breathable, comfortable and has proven robust against scratches from branches and general wear and tear. The DMS chamois is comfortable and in line with the majority of the competition at this price point - there are alternatives which are more cushioned and comfier still, but as I say, I’m happy with the performance of this one. 

The straps have a good amount of stretch to them and they’re comfortable both on the bike and while walking around more generally. There’s also an easy-to-use easy-pee system, with a magnetic clasp that’s fast to undo and quicker to do back up than a more traditional clasp. The cargo pockets themselves are wide and feel robust, being made from the same material as the rest of the shorts.

Onto the negatives and the first issue is that easy-pee system. I generally love magnetic clasps - they almost feel like magic every time! But on these shorts, the clasp is a little too easy to undo. I haven’t had any issues with it coming undone so far, but as it takes just the slightest of flicks to undo, it is something I do feel nervous about.

Regarding the pockets, although they are wide and supportive, they are also quite short - and my phone sticks out the top. Without a flap to keep the contents held in, I’m particularly nervous about storing anything valuable in these shorts. Energy bars have been okay, but then they are quite a bit smaller than a phone.

The final issue with these shorts is the hem around the legs. Interestingly, Sportful has gone without the typical silicone gripper, but that’s by the by (the legs do stay in place regardless!) The issue is that the folding over of the leg fabric means there is significantly less stretch around the hem because there is twice the material. This meant that either the shorts were too tight around the hem or, when I sized up, the material around my legs and the rest of the shorts was too baggy. 

If you have slimmer legs compared to your hips than me, then this will probably be less of an issue for you. But my legs are reasonably slim compared to my hips, so I imagine this will be an issue for a lot of people.

Best heavy duty bib

Putting on Specialized’s new Prime SWAT Bib Shorts was a bit of a journey - the fabric that makes up the straps and the thighs is elastic and offers the typical stretch of bib shorts, but the midsection of the bibs - the part that sits around your hips and belly button area - had hardly any stretch at all. This made for an odd fit when first putting on the shorts - my thighs totally happy with soft fabric that felt like a second skin, my lower torso feeling a bit like a stuffed sausage. 

The tightness around the midsection was noticeable during the test ride, but did not feel so constrictive as to make breathing or expanding/relaxing core muscles difficult. The bib shorts shone in other ways: “heavy duty” coverage from the sheer amount of fabric on these shorts covered most of my thighs, the lower half of my stomach area, and my entire low back. This makes for a very secure feel in the shorts, albeit perhaps a bit too secure with how tight the midsection is. 

The four pockets hold their contents as promised, but do not offer a clasp or flap to provide further security for your cherished nutrition, phone or flat kit. The thigh pocket (one on each leg) is easy to reach into while on the go and has a nice ergonomic design that makes it easy to slide your hand in and out of the pocket without fumbling for its opening. The other two pockets are near where the straps connect with the low back fabric of the shorts and can hold a couple of gels, a CO2 canister or other small items. These two pockets are a bit harder to reach while riding, requiring the rider to push up their jersey to access these pockets - but all in all it wasn’t any great effort to reach back and grab what was needed out of the pockets.

The chamois is quite dense and provides more-than-sufficient padding to mute vibrations from the road or trail. The chamois is great while riding, but could be considered a bit too bulky for comfortable “hike-a-bike” moments when walking alongside your bike. 

Best fabric feel

The Pearl Izumi Expedition Bib Short is the gravel sister of the Pearl Izumi Podium Bib Short. The two are nearly identical except that the Expedition features two pockets, one on each thigh, and it uses Pearl Izumi’s “Elite” line of chamois. 

Many of the gravel bibs tested in this guide feature rougher fabric, but the Expedition is made of silky smooth fabric, which after multiple miles on the trail, is a nice departure from more utilitarian fabric. The fabric is smooth, cool (literally, it feels nice and cool to the touch) and doesn’t rub or chafe. 

The chamois is very dense - the “Elite” line of chamois is designed to distribute body weight over a larger area for more comfort and features a moisture wicking boundary layer along with its two layers of medium and high density foam. The chamois felt great over many hilly gravel miles, but was a wee bit dense when walking alongside the bike in “hike-a-bike” fashion. 

For those who like to feel “locked in” with their bibs, the Expedition nails it. The ultra-high waistband comes up to the bottom of the rib cage, and the shoulder straps are secured in the front by a sternum-level clasp. No matter how we moved on the bike, the straps and stomach-area fabric stayed put. 

What wasn’t quite as locked in were the thighs. The thigh grippers on these shorts are significantly smaller than others on this list such as the Specialized Prime SWAT Bib Shorts and it showed. The thin line of grippers were mediocre at best and necessitated a few tugs at the lower thigh fabric to resituate the preferred positioning of the fabric. This wasn’t incessantly annoying, but was noticeably less great than others in this list, like the aforementioned Specialized bibs. 

Lastly, the Expedition pockets are compressive, but do not feature a clasp or pocket flap for extra security. This isn’t unique to the Expedition - a lot of gravel-specific cargo bibs don’t - but we wish more brands would. The last thing you want is to lose your nutrition, phone or flat kit after ripping a particularly technical section.

BAGGY SHORTS

The best baggy shorts overall

I really liked these shorts. They covered off the basics well and, on top of that, there are loads of lovely really thoughtful details hidden throughout!

Starting off with the fit, I found the cut to be spot on: slim, but not too tight, but also not excessively baggy and flappy - they were very flattering. The leg length is a little short, but I much prefer a shorter short over longer sets, so that worked well for me - though that is personal taste. 

The material itself has a good amount of stretch and doesn’t feel tight or pulling at any point during the pedal stroke. It also feels quite robust - I’ve been able to perch on rough and gritty rocks without snagging or scraping them. I got on well with the belt, too. Going through such large and thick belt loops, there were no issues with the belt hitching up and although the nylon cord doesn’t have any give, at the tension I had it set, I didn’t feel like it was digging in.

The two hand pockets are huge! You can easily fill them with so much food or stuff a pair of gloves in without batting an eyelid. They’re more helpful for off-the-bike arranging of things, as anything in them bounces on your legs as you're cycling along - not ideal. 

Similarly, although the shorts do have a zipped pocket which can quite easily fit an iPhone, this is again situated on the front of the leg, so isn’t somewhere you’d really want to keep it while riding. 

Here, the 7mesh shorts do have the edge, in that their zipped pocket is at the rear of the shorts and so your phone doesn’t bounce on the tops of your thighs while riding. But on the other hand, there are stories of people who’ve had a crash and landed quite heavily sitting on their phone, bending and cracking open the battery and giving themselves chemical burns - so I prefer to keep my phone out of my shorts while riding regardless!

Rapha also has a handy elastic loop on the inside of the shorts which you can use to keep the shorts rolled up in a tight ball - very useful while bikepacking and also just general storage in your drawers. There’s also a little loop for hanging up the shorts at the back, and in the right hand pocket there’s a little factoid printed on a blue backing about how parish churches generally will generally have a tap that you can use to top up your bottles. 

Acing the basics and with nice extra features, these are an excellent pair of cargo shorts which I’d fully recommend

The best value baggy shorts

There’s quite a few points of difference between these shorts and Rapha Women's Explore shorts - so for some people these could actually end up being the preferable options, as well as being cheaper. 

First off, the most subjective element - the cut. These shorts are a little longer and baggier than Rapha Women's Explore shorts. For me, they don’t quite cross the boundary into being ‘too’ long and baggy, though they are getting close. For others, this balance could be ideal. 

In terms of the fabric itself, there’s really not much in it - Rapha’s shorts are a tiny bit stretchier and 7mesh’s feel a little bit more robust. But while riding you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. The belt loops are skinnier and so is the belt itself, so you do feel it a little bit more on your waist, although with the soft, fleecy internal padding, the pressure is still adequately dissipated. 

The front hand pockets are pretty generously sized, but are a little smaller than Rapha’s. Still, they’re perfectly accommodating for most things you’d be stuffing in anyway. As mentioned before, these shorts do have a better zipped pocket for a phone, with it oriented around towards the back of your thigh rather than on top - so it doesn’t bounce so badly when you’re riding. But again, I personally don’t like to keep a phone in that location just in case I crashed and landed heavily on my bum and cracked the battery open.

Overall, these are excellent shorts and very well made. There’s a few features I think are better on Rapha’s Women's Explore shorts - and I do prefer the cut of those ones. But considering the price of 7mesh Women's Farside Short’s, they are a better value buy. 

The best baggy shorts for longer length

Castelli’s Unlimited W Baggy Short follows a similar design style to 7mesh’s - though being a little longer still in the leg. The fabric has a similar amount of stretch and, despite still being very much on the lightweight end of the spectrum, it does feel a little tougher and more robust. The shorts also have a DWR coating, further boosting their versatility for tougher conditions - put another way, this would be my first choice for riding down overgrown spring trails. 

Rather than a belt, Castelli has gone with a strong and thick elasticated band around the back of the shorts. I found this did a pretty great job of holding the shorts up, whilst not cutting in at the front. There are also belt loops, but these are pretty thin and widely spaced, which is generally a recipe for the belt riding up and leaving the shorts themselves to sag - I’d be careful to make sure you go for a size which fits comfortably with just the elasticated waistband. 

The hand pockets aren’t quite as generous as Rapha’s, but they are a little roomier than 7mesh’s. Either way, there’s plenty of space for stuffing all-sorts in when you’ve got your hands full. Similar to the Rapha Women's Explore shorts, there isn’t a rear zipped pocket for storing your phone, although there is a small zipped pocket set into the right hand pocket. This is sufficient for keys or a card, but it is too small for a smartphone. Not that it really mattered to me, as I wouldn’t want something heavy like that bouncing around on the top of my thigh. 

For me, these shorts are a bit of a case and point in why I prefer shorter shorts. I found the legs of the shorts tug a little on my thighs in the upstroke when pedalling. It doesn’t cause a major problem - not chafing or anything like that - I just don’t like it when my pedalling doesn’t feel completely free. Turning the hem of the shorts up does help somewhat, although it doesn’t look particularly neat with the stitching, as the shorts haven’t been designed to be used in this way. 

But that’s a little besides the point: if you want a longer leg length, these are a great option. If you prefer shorter shorts, Rapha’s Women's Explore shorts are the way to go. 7mesh is somewhere in between - as simple as that.

Another baggier option - these are even looser and longer than Castelli’s Unlimited W Baggy Short, so if that’s your style, then these are worth considering. It’s worth noting that the waistband isn’t as well-fitted and strongly elasticated as the Castelli’s, though, and they do require a belt. The belt loops are fairly wide and closely spaced - but I would have preferred it if they were more so in both respects, as my belt did ride up a little with these shorts.

Coming to the fabric, I don’t want to sound too critical, as the material is pretty stretchy, feels robust and is reasonably breathable. However, the fabrics of Rapha’s, 7mesh’s and Castelli’s shorts are all lighter and feel more airy than Sportful’s - the level of the competition is a step up.

One view you could take is that Sportful’s shorts are better suited to shoulder-season riding in cooler and damper conditions, but I don’t think that’s true. Sportful’s Giara shorts aren’t really any warmer or weather resistant than Castelli’s Unlimited W Baggy Shorts - and Sportful’s shorts do hang on to water and feel much heavier when soaked than the Castelli’s. There isn’t really a case when I’d pick Sportful’s over Castelli’s.

The pockets are reasonably sized - they don’t feel like tiny women’s pockets, that’s for sure! But they are still smaller than Rapha, 7mesh and Castelli’s. Like Rapha’s Women's Explore shorts, there is a zipped pocket that’s large enough for storing a phone. But also like Rapha’s shorts, its position on the side/top of my thigh means that storing anything heavy in there (like a phone) gets in the way of my pedalling stroke. 

Overall, these are a well-made set of shorts, but in the face of the competition, there are better options to choose from.

JACKETS

This is a fabulous jacket with just so many excellent details. I have just one point of mild criticism: natural down is used rather than synthetic down. I get that natural down offers better insulation for its weight than synthetic down and that it can pack down smaller (though make sure you don’t store it that way long-term). I’m also aware that Rapha has treated the down with a water repellent treat to guard against clumping if that jacket does get wet.

Still, natural down is never really quite as insulating again once you do get it wet, and Rapha does advise keeping the jacket dry. It’s not that I would intentionally take an insulated jacket out in the rain without a shell, but you only have to slip up once - and that’s why I would have preferred it if synthetic insulation was used. But I can see the counter arguments. 

Onto the good stuff - first is the excellent hood! This is such a sticking point with so many insulated jackets. Sometimes a hood can get in the way of your layering system, particularly if you have jackets to go over the top. Other times, it’s nice having that layer keeping your head a bit warmer. Jackets which seek to combine the best of both worlds by having a detachable hood generally just end up hoodless, with the hood in the back of a drawer somewhere when you need it most (guilty!)

Rapha covers all bases with a hood that folds away into the collar - but is also detachable for anyone who just really doesn’t want the hood. The hand pockets are warm (though not fleecy) and have zippers for security. The main zip is two way, which helps with ventilation and limiting flapping while riding and the cut is perfect for endurance riding - being high at the front to limit bunching, whilst still not being too aggressively high.

This jacket is pretty warm, with reasonable wind proofing and space for fitting a few mid layers underneath it. The decision to put fleecy panels across the shoulders and down the arms is quite perplexing for me, though. 

It does make for a quite interesting look which certainly stands out - especially with the colors and patterns. And it was a surprise to see just hydrophobic the fleece actually was. In light mizzle, the water just beads and sits on the outside of the fleece - so long as you don’t try and brush it off, you stay dry on the inside.

However, in more persistent rain, the fleece does end up getting saturated. Despite drying fairly quickly, it does feel quite cold and heavy when it is wet. Which makes for a curious combination with half the jacket being constructed from a softshell material - I generally like a softshell as an alternative to a rain jacket for high-tempo on wet days, whilst preferring the breathability of fleece on cold but dry days. 

With this jacket, I find myself using it just for cool and dry days, not really making the most of the softshell material. To be fair, at the rear it is nice having the softshell fabric which is easier to wipe down with mud not getting so ingrained - but the panels of fleece across the arms and chest still get splattered when there is standing water, so it’s still not ideal placements. 

Finally, I miss not having rear jersey pockets on this jacket. Although I generally have a bar bag in tow, it is nice also having that accessibility and quick access from a traditional set of rear pockets - I don’t see the point in replacing them with a single zippered pocket. There is a chest pocket on the front, but I don’t feel that this makes up for the lack of rear ones, as I find that (apart from very light items), the contents pulls down and sways when riding.