Gear News

Northwave clothing – six essential pieces for this winter

Top-to-toe protection - a full outfit to keep you riding this winter

Italy has a strong link with road cycling and for many years Northwave have been producing high quality, well fitting clothing with a good dose of European style.

Here we look at a full winter outfit, picked from their extensive range, which will suit the mixed and changeable conditions we endure here in the UK.

Northwave Extreme H20 Long Sleeve Light Jacket – £79.99

There is definitely a movement towards lighter, closer-fitting, weather resistant jackets designed to keep us comfortable in changeable conditions. This long sleeve Extreme H20 jacket is Northwave’s answer to this and aims to keep the rider warm in temperatures between five and fifteen degrees.

The three-layer main fabric gives wind and rain protection but with a four-way stretch shouldn’t compromise comfort. With ‘body mapping’ construction the seams are carefully placed and the paneling of the fabric is designed to give the jacket a close fit to specifically work well in the road bike riding position. The aero design and dropped tail is designed to give a ‘second skin’ fit with some of the protection you’d get from a hard-shell waterproof jacket.

Key features
Wind and waterproof fabric
Breathable mesh inserts on the sides and under the arms
Ergonomically shaped collar
Three rear pockets

Colours: Fluoro yellow or nlack
Sizes: S-XXXL
Price: £79.99

Northwave Blade Long Sleeve Jersey – £54.99

A warm, mid-weight, long sleeve jersey should be a core piece in your winter wardrobe. As part of a layering system a jersey like this can be useful from October through to the spring.

This Blade jersey from Northwave keeps to a straightforward approach in construction with a full-length zip and a dropped rear tail. The brushed back fabric is designed to insulate but it’s not got a windproof membrane, increasing breathability when used as a mid-layer. Adding a gilet or shell jacket over the top on windy or wet rides will give added weather protection. Suggested operating temperatures are between ten and 20 degrees as a standalone garment.

Key features:
Brushed back fabric for insulation
Three rear pockets plus a central zipped pocket
Full reflective border across the pocket area

Colours: Black/red, Black/fluoro green, camo yello
Sizes: S-4XL
Price: £54.99

Northwave Fast Bib Tights – £114.99

Designed for long-distance rides even in the depths of winter, Northwave take their mid-season Fast bib tights and add extra water and wind resistance by using panels of their H2O Flex membrane.

This four-way stretch fabric (as used on their Extreme jacket) adds weather protection and shouldn’t compromise comfort too much. With a brushed insulating inner surface and lighter weight side panels these bibs should look after you in the cold and wet yet still be a close fit.

These are padded bib tights – the most popular choice these days – and use Northwave’s pre-shaped K130 pad which is used in their top end bibshorts.

Key features:
Miti Thermodream hollow-fibre fabric
Elasticated cuffs
Reflective YKK ankle zips
Recommended for use between minus five and ten degrees

Colours: Black
Sizes: S-XXL
Price: £114.99

Northwave Power 2 Grip Palm Gloves – £29.99

These mid-weight Northwave gloves aim to give warmth, wind resistance and good grip on the bars without unnecessary bulk. They have an affordable price tag too.

Northwave’s NW4Pro membrane on the back of the glove creates a windproof and showerproof barrier while warm, fleece padding aims to give the right amount of insulation for road riding. The long double-layer fleece cuffs ensure your wrists are covered with no gap between the gloves and jersey sleeves, a detail that is often overlooked.

A synthetic leather palm won’t get affected by the wet and with silicone prints on the surface, grip on the handlebars isn’t compromised either.

Key features:
Wind and showerproof membrane
Reflective panels for enhanced visibility
Synthetic leather palm and silicone print for grip

Colours: Black/fluoro yellow, all black
Sizes: S-XXL
Price: £22.99

Northwave H20 Winter Shoe Cover – £29.99

Wet feet are bad news and make for a miserable ride. If you’re put off by bulky and heavy overshoes then a lightweight stretch version like this H20 shoe cover may be worth a look.

Instead of traditional neoprene, these overshoes use a coated polyurethane material with fully taped seams to keep water out. A light fleece lining adds warmth without adding too much to the bulk. They’re lighter and sleeker than many options and are designed to protect you from wind and rain with enough insulation for all but the coldest weather. If the weather warms up they are compact enough to pack into a jersey pocket.

A zip and velcro adjustment on the calf and sole should give a good fit over most road shoes. These packable overshoes may well look a touch less robust than a neoprene option but Northwave have added rubber reinforcements on the toe and heel areas for added durability.

Key features:
Hi-visibility and bright colour options
Rear reflective zip for extra visibility.

Colours: Reflective silver/black, fluoro yellow/black, fluoro orange/black
Sizes: S-XXL
Price: £29.99

Northwave Extreme Winter High Sock – £12.99

Socks are an area that should not be overlooked and when teamed up with a suitable overshoe will keep comfort levels high when the temperatures take a dive.

Merino wool has become popular recently and here Northwave have used this with a blend of polyamide – adding stretch to the socks and speeding up drying times too.

These Extreme Winter High socks are a longer 25cm length and sit well up the calf adding extra insulation under your bib tights. These are the finishing touch to a complete winter outfit to keep you warm and dry through the months ahead

Key features:
Reinforced toe and heel for durability
Tight knitting for extra comfort and support

Sizes: S, M, L
Colours: Black/orange, black/green, black/yellow, black/white, black/red.
Price: £12.99

Website: Northwave
UK distributor: i-ride