By Brandon Bilyeu
Cost:
Pro Classic Jersey: $93
Essential Bibshorts: $86
Pro Lightweight Windproof Gilet: $86
(Soomom is based in Austrailia so $USD pricing will vary based on the current exchange rate)
Colors:
Pro Classic Jersey: Cyan, Light Purple, Lime Green, Plum, Sunset Orange
Essential Bibshorts: Black, Brown, Grey, Navy
Pro Lightweight Gilet: Black, Royal Blue
How obtained: review sample from company
Available: online
Website: Pro Classic Jersey, Essential Bibshorts, Pro Lightweight Windproof Gilet
RBR Sponsor: no
Tested: 15+ hours
Sizing:
Pro Classic Jersey: XS-2XL
Essential Bibtights: S-3XL
Pro Lightweight Windproof Gilet: XS-3XL
Reviewer Measurements: 5’10” (178cm), 150 lbs (68 kgs), 33″ (84cm) waist, 33″ (84cm) inseam, 37″ (94cm) chest. My measurements fall right at the border between Small and Medium. Soomom sent me size Medium tops/bottoms and the fit was excellent, but there is no way I would have fit into a size Small. If you are in between sizes I would recommend sizing up.
Soomom Cycling Apparel – ‘Accessible to All’
Soomom is based out of Australia and offers a full range of bike kit for both men and women. Given Asutralia’s warm summers it’s not surprising to see more options for warm weather kit, but they do have cold weather options (it does snow in Australia!). Their mission statement is spelled out as follows: “At Soomom, we dedicate ourselves to creating the most cutting edge and elegant cycling garments in the world, accessible to all.” I think most brands strive for those first two elements, but certainly “accessible to all” does not apply universally.
Accessible in this context is a classy word for affordable. The word “affordable” has different meanings to different people, but “accessible to all” infers a price point at the lower end of the spectrum (still very subjective). To evaluate Soomom’s accessibility I decided to do a quick cost comparison with a few brands that I know to be at different points on the price spectrum.
| Brand | Lowest Cost Jersey | Lowest Cost Bibs | Total Cost |
| MAAP | $125 | $190 | $315 |
| Castelli | $80 | $100 | $180 |
| Soomom | $87 | $80 | $167 |
| Pearl Izumi | $55 | $70 | $125 |
Of course, this table is not comparing apples to apples as the garments will all have vastly different fits, features, fabrics and country of manufacture. But from purely a cost perspective Soomom appears to offer relatively low-cost kit compared to its mainstream competitors. Read on to find out what you can expect from this reasonably priced kit.
Pro Classic Jersey – Bright Colors for Safety
Hot!
- Good selection of bright colors
- Excellent stretch and snug fit
- UPF UV 50+ Sun Protection
- Raw-edged elbow length sleeves
- Three standard rear pockets + one zippered pocket
Not!
- If you want club fit this jersey is not for you
- Zipper a little tough to open one handed
A few weeks ago RBR published a review of MAAP’s Training Kit that is their lowest cost kit (as shown in the above table). Soomom’s Pro Classic Jersey and MAAP’s Training Jersey are incredibly similar tops and if you put them on in a dark room you wouldn’t know one from the other. But when you left the dark room and went to the cashier you would definitely notice the cost difference with Soomom at $87 versus MAAP at $125.
The Pro Classic Jersey is aptly named. The super light, skin hugging material is definitely Pro fit and the simple mono-color design is very Classic indeed. The jersey is designed in Australia and made in China from Italian fabric. The manufacturing and materials quality is evident in the clean seams and soft, UV blocking fabric. The vibrant color choices are a strategic decision to improve visibility out on the road and the Cyan I tested is really bright. There are also reflective highlights for safety at night.
The tight fit is flap free in the wind and the raw-edged, gripper-free sleeves just disappear against the skin. After a few washings the sleeve edges started to curl, but this straightens out once stretched over your arms. The full length, small gauge zipper complements the low-key style of the jersey and while it can be operated with one hand it is a little stiff to move. The same zipper is used for a fourth pocket in the rear and there is no risk of the zipper falling open. The zippered pocket is also taller than the standard three pockets and should fit even the biggest smart phones. The pockets all have massive stretch and the thin material is a bit grabby making it a little difficult to get items in/out with one hand, but this means nothing will be jettisoned on bumpy roads.
Bottom Line – The Pro Classic Jersery really checks all the boxes for performance, fit, safety, features, and cost. If you want a go-fast jersey with modern cut and features you will be hard pressed to find better quality at this price point (or twice as much).
Essential Bibshorts – Affordable Comfort
Hot!
- Four colors available
- Supportive chamois
- Reflective highlights
- Easy to put on
Not!
- Still looking . . .
Soomom uses rider feedback to make improvements and the Essenstial Bibshort is currently in the middle of an upgrade and rebranding cycle. They will be re-launched in December with a new name, Pro Classic Bibshort. Aside from a slightly longer leg/gripper cut I’m told the Pro Classic will be essentially the same as the Essential, so the below review should still be valid.
The first thing I noticed about the Essential Bibshorts is how easy they are to put on. The grippers on the Essential Bibshorts provide a gentle hold without being overly sticky and the Italian material is super soft and slippery. These Bibshorts slide on with ease, no cursing or contorting required. Once on, the leg grippers keep the shorts in place without pulling hair and the material just disappears against the skin.
Holding the shorts up are wide bibstraps connected to a perforated yoke at the back. The bibstraps are thin and consist of a fine mesh center bordered by a raw-edged solid fabric. While the mesh feels a bit abrasive to my fingers it feels soft on the shoulders. The shorts ride quite high in both the front and rear, but ample stretch makes bathroom breaks easy and should accommodate many body shapes.
Comfort is great with everything held snuggly in place and moving with the pedal strokes without bunching or chaffing. The Italian chamois pad provides plenty of comfort with a soft face fabric, moderate thickness, and moderate density. This combo works great at providing a good amount of compression without excess material riding up into unwelcome places.
Reflective dots and tabs at the rear add a bit of nighttime visibility as well as breaking up the otherwise monotone shorts. I tested the black bibs, but it’s nice to see a decent selection of colors for a bibshort rather than ubiquitous black. Though from previous experience with grey bibs I can tell you that lighter colors show sweat, which usually makes it look like you wet your pants.
Bottom Line – The Essential Bibshorts (soon to be Pro Classic) keep things simple and comfortable at a reasonable price. A great go-to bib option for everyday riding.
Pro Lightweight Windproof Vest (Gilet) – Affordable Comfort
Hot!
- Windproof front, breathable back
- Packs down super small
- Chest pocket
- Dual front zippers
Not!
- Only available in dark colors
A cycling Gilet (French for vest) is a very useful garment for cool or changing temperatures. The standard design is simple: windproof fabric on the front, breathable mesh on the back, and as lightweight as possible to easily fit in a jersey pocket. Soomom’s Pro Lightweight Windproof Gilet perfectly executes this design. The result is a garment that can keep your core warm by blocking the wind on your chest, but also keeps you from overheating by dumping heat through the mesh back. A Gilet combined with arm warmers is super versatile for changing temperatures.
I have several vests in my closet and while none of them are bulky, the Soomom Vest is noticeably the most lightweight. Both the front fabric and back mesh are super thin and pack down to take minimal space in a jersey pocket. The lightweight mesh feels delicate, but has proven robust over many machine washings and even a long day under a backpack over bumpy gravel. My one complaint is that Soomom only offers the vest in two dark colors: black and royal blue. Throwing the dark Gilet over the purposefully bright Pro Classic Jersey is an inconsistent application of safety logic.
A few added features are a nice touch and include an offset dual zipper, a chest pocket, and a soft collar liner. The offset zipper, while a little hard to find if you forget it’s not in the center, keeps the zipper from irritating your neck and avoids a stiff stack of layered zippers over your chest. The dual zipper is great for adjusting ventilation or accessing your rear pockets. Cards and cash fit easily in the chest pocket for quick access at the café stop.
A few added features are a nice touch and include an offset dual zipper, a chest pocket, and a soft collar liner. The offset zipper, while a little hard to find if you forget it’s not in the center, keeps the zipper from irritating your neck and avoids a stiff stack of layered zippers over your chest. The dual zipper is great for adjusting ventilation or accessing your rear pockets. Cards and cash fit easily in the chest pocket for quick access at the café stop.
Bottom Line – Everyone should have a vest in their cool weather arsenal and the Soomom Gilet really nails the design except for the missing high viz colors.
Brandon Bilyeu is an avid recreational roadie who lives in Regensburg, Germany. He’s a year-round bike commuter and is a mechanical design engineer by trade. Click to read Brandon’s full bio.
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