Velomore tests gravel collection from Danish ES16

We have tested Danish ES16’s gravel-specific collection, which features an eye-catching design.

The Danish cycling apparel brand ES16 was founded by Thomas Dybdahl from Aarhus in 2016. ES16, which is designed and developed in Denmark, makes team clothing for, among others, cycling clubs, cycling teams, and companies, but also has a wide range of cycling apparel for sale on their website. Velomore has tested the Danish brand’s collection of cycling clothing for gravel.

ES16 has their clothing produced by Czech company Kalas, which also supplies clothing to the World Tour team Alpecin-Deceuninck. This is truly high-quality cycling apparel. It fits well on the body and the material feels nice and durable.

Bibshorts
The bibs tested, Tempus, are ES16’s top model and are made with a focus on comfort and a close fit. The shorts are made with side panels that adapt to the body, which means they fit really well around the legs. They fit snugly without being too tight or uncomfortable. We have tested the bibs over a longer period on both short and long rides, and they perform optimally even on long days in the saddle. They look good, they fit well (even after several washes), and they don’t cause any discomfort. The pad in the shorts is really comfortable. It provides maximum comfort and protection, and you barely notice it’s there.

Tops
We have tested two tops – a short-sleeved and a long-sleeved jersey. The jerseys are made in a checkered pattern and we love it. Some might think the flashy and colorful look is a bit much, but here in the editorial office, the look is a hit.

The fit of the jerseys is on the snug side. Both jerseys are made with elastic inserts under the arms, ensuring a good anatomical fit, and the laser-cut sleeve ends on the short-sleeved jersey make sure it fits well around the arms. The jersey isn’t aerodynamic as such – does it even need to be for gravel? – but it still fits well and snugly in the right places.

The long-sleeved jersey is made from an elastic material all the way through, so it fits well around the entire upper body. Its fit is a bit more aerodynamic than the fit of the short-sleeved jersey, which means they fit relatively tightly. We tested both jerseys in a size M, but could have used the long-sleeved jersey in a size L.

According to ES16, the long-sleeved jersey is suitable for temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees. And while that’s probably about right, it performs best at the lower end of the temperature spectrum. The jersey has worked well on early rides in the unpredictable Danish summer weather, but I believe it could also easily be used in spring and autumn with a thin shirt underneath.

Conclusion
In addition to shorts and jerseys, we have tested ES16’s gravel socks, Fast Marino Blue GRVL, and their quick-drying base layer, Sleeveless mesh base layer. Both have been great to use, and especially the socks have become a favorite both on gravel and on the road.

With the GRVL collection, Danish ES16 presents a stylish and functional range of clothing for gravel cycling, which can also easily be used on the road if you like flashy and eye-catching colors. It looks good, fits well, and performs just as it should.

See the clothing here:GRVL – es16.dk