TEST OF CYCLING CLOTHING FROM INDEPENDENT MEDIA
BY JEPPE TOLBØLL / PHOTO: UGGI KALDAN/ALTOMCYKLING.DK
AOC TESTER CYCLING APPAREL FROM ES16
THE STORY BEHIND ES16
ES16 is the Danish cycling apparel brand that was founded in 2016. The clothing is produced in Europe at the best factories. All factories are carefully selected and tested. At ES16, great importance is placed on quality and factories that meet the strictest environmental standards.
“I have spent a couple of years finding exactly the right suppliers, so that in 2018 we have the quality I personally want from teamwear, at a fair price and with reliable delivery times”
– says the owner of ES16
ES16 makes cycling apparel for cycling clubs, associations, professional teams, cycling networks, cycling races, companies, and other groups who love to ride, but of course also sells its clothing individually on the website.
At present, the delivery time is 4 weeks from the time the design is finally approved, but delivery times may of course change as we approach the high season in spring.
ES16 Elite Bib Shorts
I’ve ridden a good 400 kilometers in the ES16 bibs, and I haven’t noticed the chamois at all. That’s really positive. On the very first ride, I could tell it was a completely new pad—it felt a little “strange” to sit on—but after I had washed the bibs once in the washing machine, they were really good. In general, it’s always a good idea not to do a long ride in bibs that haven’t been washed.
The bibs also passed the indoor test, where you usually sit a bit more still than out on the open road. Two hours on the home trainer in front of Zwift was no challenge!
They’re made from classic lycra, with good stretch, and I’m definitely not the smallest rider, so it’s also nice to have bibs cut for a Scandinavian backside rather than a slim Italian model. I tried a size XL, which fit me and my slightly over 90 kg perfectly.
ES16 Elite bibs have a really nice finish on the legs, which I personally really like. The elastic fits snugly around the thigh without becoming uncomfortable or leaving marks.
After 5 washes, there’s still plenty of “tension” in the elastic, so that bodes well for long-term durability.
Overall, these are a really great pair of bib shorts that I could easily imagine riding in for an entire season.
ES16 Elite Jersey
I love the jersey. Of course, it helps that the colours of the test jersey really appeal to me, but besides that it fits snugly in all the right places, which is exactly how I like my jerseys. There shouldn't be anything flapping around, after all—just imagine if you lost speed because of it! ;)
However, there was one thing that bothered me. The jersey felt very tight around the neck when I tried it on straight out of the bag. So my immediate thought was that it was a dealbreaker, at least for me. But after washing the jersey, it fit perfectly, so I should probably just stick to my own advice. Wash your cycling clothes before wearing them the first time, and you'll get the best experience.
What actually surprised me the most was that this was only ES16’s second-best jersey. In addition to the Elite, they have the big brother Pro and the little brother Active. Thomas could, however, tell me that there is not a huge difference in the material choice between the Elite and the Pro, but there is a big difference in the cut.
The Elite has lovely cuff finishes on the sleeves that fit well and also do not seem to loosen up. The front material does not stretch that much, but on the other hand it breathes well, the side panels are really elastic, and that provides a really good fit.
There are the classic 3 pockets on the back, with a small “hook” in one of them, so you can attach, for example, your phone (in a case with a clip) or wallet, and other important things, a very nice little detail.
For the price, the jersey really wins my heart! You just need to wash it before use, perhaps! ;) I tested a size Large, and it fits close, in exactly the right way.
ES16 Elite Jacket
The jacket was the piece of clothing I got to test the least. During the test period, simply because the weather was so mild that the jacket was too warm. So I managed to test it 3 times, and 2 of those times I had to unzip it so I wouldn’t sweat myself to death.
So in that respect, you can at least say that it is easily warm enough for 13-15 degrees, but that is also where I would normally ride in short sleeves, with arm warmers and a wind vest. The one day I got to try it properly, it was 8-9 degrees and blowing like hell, and it only turned into an hour of riding.
But I didn’t get cold, and it definitely took the edge off, which is what I expect from a jacket like this, one I would typically use in spring and autumn, or if summer once again drops below those 10-12 degrees.
The fit was pretty nice, but I personally wouldn’t use it for racing, as it wasn’t snug enough, though I don’t think it is made as a race jacket either. Here too, I tried a size Large.
Conclusion
The jacket was the item of clothing I got to test the least. During the test period, simply because the weather was so mild that the jacket was too warm. So I managed to test it 3 times, and 2 of those times I had to unzip it so I wouldn’t sweat to death.
So in that respect, you can at least say that it is easily warm enough for 13-15 degrees, but at those temperatures I would normally also ride in short sleeves, with loose sleeves and a wind vest. The one day I got to try it in the conditions it was made for, it was 8-9 degrees and blowing like hell, and it only turned into an hour of riding.
But I didn’t get cold, and it definitely took the edge off, which is what I expect from a jacket like this, one I would typically use in spring and autumn, or if summer once again were to drop below those 10-12 degrees.
The fit was quite nice, but personally I wouldn’t use it for racing, as it wasn’t close-fitting enough, though I don’t think it’s made as a race jacket either. Here too, I tried a size Large.