Fiandre NoRain Bibtight
Fiandre Light NoRain Top
HOT!
Fiandre NoRain Bibtight
- NoRain treatment holds its own against Castelli NanoFlex and Pearl Izumi PI DRY
- Rear NoRain flap adds protection from rear wheel spray
- Double layer thermal protection on front of knees and thighs
- Very comfortable chamois
- Women’s version available
Fiandre Light NoRain Top
- Good wet/wind protection that fits (snugly) in a jersey pocket
- Excellent breathability
- Rear side zipper for venting and access to layers underneath
- Women’s version available
NOT!
Fiandre NoRain Bibtight
- Heavy knit bunches behind knees
- Dainty ankle zippers can be a struggle
- Ankle hem not water resistant
Fiandre Light NoRain Top
- No pockets
- Limited warmth retention due to no insulation and good breathability
Cost: Fiandre NoRain Bibtight (mens) – $180
Fiandre Light NoRain Top (mens) – $160
Colors: Fiandre NoRain Bibtight – Black, Black/Yellow
Fiandre Light NoRain Top – Black, Red, Yellow, Green
How Obtained: Review sample from company
Availability: Online, retail stores
RBR Sponsor: No
Website: www.sportful.com
Tested: 30+ hours
Reviewer Measurements and Fit Comments: 5’10” (178cm), 150 lbs (68 kgs), 33″ (84cm) waist, 33″ (84cm) inseam, 37″ (94cm) chest. I chose size medium based on the Sportful sizing charts and found the sizing to be accurate but snug. Size up if you have any doubts.
Sportful: Part of a Prestigious Cycling Family
Most of us, especially those in the United States, are likely more familiar with Sportful’s sister company Castelli. Not only are Sportful and Castelli owned by parent company Manifattura Valcismon, but they share the same building in Italy where new products are designed, prototypes tested, and custom kit is manufactured. I imagine the lunchtime ride rivalry must be intense and the roads outside the factory that have featured in the Giro d’Italia provide the perfect kit testing grounds. It is no surprise that Sportful and Castelli have very similar technologies, but they try to apply them in different ways to differentiate themselves.
This winter I have been testing some Sportful foul weather gear featuring their NoRain technology (think Castelli NanoFlex or Pearl Izumi PI Dry). The kit is part of their Fiandre (Italian for Flanders) line which if you know your cycling classics will tell you it is designed for performance in the unpredictable springtime weather of Belgium. Unfortunately I couldn’t convince the wife we needed to go to Belgium so I could test this kit properly, but the wet Pacific Northwest weather was a good substitute.
Warm Tights with Water Protection
The Fiandre NoRain Bibtights feature a lofted microfleece interior for warmth and NoRain nanotechnology water-repellant fabric on the exterior. A double layer of fabric over the knees and thighs provide a welcomed extra dose of warmth and protection of these critical areas while the remaining single layers allow decent temperature regulation and breathability. Though not constructed with wind blocking softshell material the double layer knee/thigh coverage does a great job of keeping the wind outand warmth in compared to the single layer shin where there is some wind intrusion. The moderately heavy fabric behind the knees did tend to bunch up during the pedal stroke which was a minor annoyance that was forgotten after a couple minutes of riding.
Sportful’s NoRain technology sounds suspiciously similar to Castelli’s NanoFlex, using nanofibers on the garment surface to cause water to bead and roll off. NoRain easily passes the ‘under the facet’ test with all water rolling right off, but the real test is out on the road where the water velocity and momentum are less and the fabric is in constant motion and being stretched. In the case of puddle splashes and short, light rain showers the small water droplets tend to roll off vertical surfaces but bead in place on more horizontal surfaces (tops of thighs), eventually evaporating or getting shook off. In extended light rain the magic number before dampness can be felt on the skin seems to be 45 minutes (very similar to NanoFlex and PI DRY). In heavier showers soak-through will happen sooner, but the tight material is surprisingly resistance to holding a lot of water so I never felt waterlogged, just very damp. A unique feature is an added flap of NoRain material covering the lower back down to the saddle area that provides an extra layer of protection from rear wheel spray on your backside.
The tights are built with ankle zippers for easy on/off, but the small gauge zipper can be difficult to use (two hands needed), especially if trying to close over thick socks or shoes covers. The zipper does have a water-resistant and reflective cover for visibility. Also of note is that the bottom hem is not treated with NoRain so be careful with the hem placement or it will wick water right into your socks/shoes. Other visibility highlights include a reflective Sportful logo on the front right thigh and reflective stripes on the rear backside flap. The bibstraps are mesh that feels a bit on the rough side in hand, but didn’t bother me on the bike. The mesh is hemmed on all edges and has a good amount of stretch but I did notice the hem pressure points for the first few minutes. The chamois is the TC PRO and is moderately thick with great fore/aft and side-to-side coverage. The foam is perforated for better breathability and different densities offer good support and comfort for long days in the saddle. An excellent chamois that is reminiscent of Castelli’s superb Progetto X2 Air.
Lightweight, Packable Top Provides Wind/Water Protection
The Light NoRain Top is not a ‘super lightweight, packs down to fit in a shot glass, and costs more per ounce than gold’ emergency shell. But it is lightweight, packs down to fit (snuggly) in a jersey pocket, and is moderately priced. It is a useful top layer for cool and damp mornings or daylong rides with the threat of showers. Wind and rain protection is provided on the chest and upper arms with WindShield 3L stretch knit windproof fabric treated with a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating while the back and underarms get breathable and water-resistant NoRain Light fabric. Typically wind/water resistant fabrics resemble softshells, thick and stiff, or are paper thin emergency shells that don’t breathe. The WindShield is a thin and supple fabric that I found to be very effective at cutting the wind and has proven very durable so far.
I was also impressed by the wind/water-resistant fabrics’ breathability. On cool, dry morning rides I could see a thin layer of tiny water droplets on the outside of the jacket that was clearly condensed humid air that escaped through the fabric. This is not something that I have seen on any other jacket I have worn. And this piece was designed as a lightweight jacket and not a jersey as evidenced by the lack of rear pockets. Instead of pockets a long zipper runs down the left rear side of the jacket that doubles as access to pockets on a jersey underneath and a cooling vent to let hot air out as needed. While notthe easiest access to rear pockets underneath I did find I could unzip and reach pocket contents without too much trouble.
The NoRain performance mirrors that of the tights, but where the tights have built in warm via microfleece this top is uninsulated so be careful with layers as once waterlogged the top will still provide wind protection but holding in heat will be more difficult. The wrist cuffs sit snug against the skin to keep the wind out and fit easily under gloves and the neck collar is high cut and contoured for good fit and coverage. All the fabric has a good amount of stretch for a forgiving fit that doesn’t flap in the wind and the full zip front makes for easy on/off and one handed vent control. The jacket tail is moderately long for decent backside coverage and has reflective stripes for visibility. I like that there are color options besides black as visible colors are a good choice for foul weather gear.
Final Thoughts
Sportful’s NoRain technology is an effective water-repellant fabric treatment that works as well as the competitions treatments and is applied to quality cold weather kit. Along with the water protection I really appreciated the bibtights extra layer of fabric over the knees. Cold is bad for the knees and these bibtights do an excellent job of cutting the wind while not using stiff softshell materials. The top is versatile and can fill the role of a comfortable emergency shell or a lightweight jacket.
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