Stolen Goat Epic Jersey, Epic Bibs and Cycling Mitts Gloves Review

By Brandon Bilyeu

Cost:

Epic Jersey: $110

Epic Bibshort: $173

Cycling Mitts: $24

How obtained: review sample from company

Available: online, retail

Colors:

Epic Jersey (designs): Hinterland, Rampant 20, Harris 20

Epic Bibshort: Black

Cycling Mitts: Blue, Purple, Pink, Orange, Black and numerous designs

Website: Epic Jersey, Epic Bibshort, Cycling Mitts

RBR Sponsor: no

Tested: 10+ hours

Sizing: All kit available in XS – XXXL, Cycling Mitts S-XXl

Reviewer Measurements and Fit Comments: 5’10” (178cm), 150 lbs (68 kgs), 33″ (84cm) waist, 38” (96.5cm) hips, 33″ (84cm) inseam, 37″ (94cm) chest. I chose size Medium for all pieces and the fit seemed spot on.

Epic Jersey – Race Fit and Hard to Miss

Hot!

• Eye-catching, colorful designs
• Snug, race cut fit
• Elbow length sleeves
• Silky fabric feels great on the skin
• UV protection
• Men’s and Women’s versions available
• Lifetime Guarantee and Crash Replacement Policy

Not!

• Not the coolest on hot days
• No zippered pocket

Stolen Goat’s Epic collection is designed for racers and those who like to go fast. Compared to a more relaxed fit the picture above gives away the race cut of the Epic jersey with the high front waist. This allows more comfort in low, aero positions on the bike as the front of the jersey won’t bunch up. The rest of the jersey follows classic design like full zip front and three rear pockets but also includes modern touches like raw cut, elbow length sleeves and zipper guard at the neck. And with three different designs to choose from you’ll never be accused of having a boring jersey.

The fabric used in the Epic jersey has an impressive amount of stretch and this helps achieve a skin tight fit as well as allow the jersey to fit different body shapes without issue. Worn without a base layer (crazy, I know) the fabric is very soft against the skin and while the seams are not flatlock, they were not an irritation. The front and rear panels are made of a 4-way stretch fabric called SpeedSilk and the side panels are AirMesh for ventilation. The three rear pockets have angled entry for easier access and also have plenty of stretch to hold lots of nutrition and gear. Keeping things simple there are no zippered pockets.

On the bike the jersey fits well, and the stretch fabric holds tight without feeling restrictive. Generous grippers at the waist and sleeves kept things in place and flapping to a minimum. It really is a great fitting jersey that feels like a snug, soft hug. But on hot days that hug can start to feel a little hot and sweaty. The solid fabric used front and rear wicks and breathes decently but does not let any cooling breeze through. The side mesh panels help some, but to really cool off you have to make generous use of the front zipper. Another bonus of the stretchy fabric is that when you do lower the zipper the jersey front opens wide and gulps in cool air. But for really hot days I would definitely go with the Stolen Goat Climbers Jersey that Sheri reviewed.

Bottom Line – go fast jersey that looks great and performs well except on the hottest days. Expect to be constantly bothered by people complimenting your fun jersey.

Epic Bibshort – Just Plain Comfortable

Hot!

• Generous stretch and moderate compression
• Vapour chamois delivers top-notch comfort
• Minimalist but very effective leg grippers
• Men’s and Women’s versions available
• Lifetime Guarantee and Crash Replacement Policy

Not!

• Rough hems on bib straps

Stolen Goat partners with Belgian company Bioracer to have these bibshorts designed and manufactured in Europe. Belgium consistently produces world class bike racers which gives Bioracer plenty of riders to work with to refine their products. Unfortunately for me, from testing I can confirm it is not the bibshorts that make the Belgians so fast on bikes as I was just as slow as ever.

The cornerstone of comfort for all bibshorts is the chamois and the Vapour pad delivers in this department. The chamois is of moderate thickness and compresses to a firm, supportive base. The top sheet is smooth and feels good against the skin. The body of the chamois is 3D cut to avoid any glue or thermo-bonding that can leave hard edged transitions. The main padding layer reacts to pressure, best explained by the manufacturer:

We use Evapore, which is a 3D webbing with better damping qualities. When put under stress, Evapore changes into a rubberized state, so even when it’s compressed to the maximum, it still provides damping. Moreover, this material is hydrophobic, meaning it transports perspiration.

Chamois placement within the shorts is also critical and the Epic bibshorts line up the pad and sit bones perfectly when bent over the bike. The stretch and compression built into the bibshort body do a great job of keeping the chamois right where it belongs. On the bike the firm hold of the shorts feels supportive and non-restrictive. At the front the chamois and shorts form a supportive cradle for the manly bits, not a banana smasher like most shorts.

Keeping the bibshorts in place are raw cut legs with barely-there elasticized cuffs, no big silicon bumps here. The grippers worked well keeping the legs in place without feeling overly aggressive. Holding up the top side are open mesh bibstraps with hemmed edges. The hems have lots of exposed threads on the side that contacts the skin which feels a bit rough, but that feeling disappears after a few minutes. And don’t fear, there is a race radio/drug smuggling pocket built into the back yoke.

In contrast to the bright and bold styling of the Epic jersey, the Epic bibshorts are all black with understated grey Stolen Goat branding at the leg openings. A closer look at the legs reveals a subtle shiny ribbed material instead of just smooth lycra. The close spaced ribs transition to wider gaps as you move up the leg to the torso. The main torso has a matte material with a perforated look to contrast with the ribs. These muted textures make the shorts look good and stand out from other shorts.

Bottom Line – very well made, excellent comfort, and understated design. Bib straps are comfortable enough, but certainly can be made better.

Cycling Mitts – Express Yourself

Hot!

• Large selection of colors and designs to choose from
• Smooth back offers a clean look
• Minimal padding offers good comfort and support
• Pull tabs to help with removal
• Lightweight
• Unisex
• Lifetime Guarantee and Crash Replacement Policy

Not!

• No velcro closure system makes on/off a little more difficult

Stolen Goat offers a single style of cycling mitt, but it is available with many different designs on the back of the hand. You could play it safe with plain black or express your fun side and go for the jellyfish. And most jersey designs have matching mitts so you can be fully coordinated.

The mitt design is pretty traditional with dedicated holes for each finger and thumb. A thin but durable synthetic palm features well placed pads and vent holes. The pads are thin but dense, so they don’t feel bulbous and still provide a high level of road buzz damping. Two pull tabs on the middle fingers help with removal and an absorbent thumb wipe takes care of sweat and snot.

The back of the hand sees a lack of the common Velcro closure and instead is a solid fabric panel with an elastic wrist opening. While this can mean taking the mitts on/off is a little difficult I have always preferred the clean look of this style of mitt. The real benefit for Stolen Goat is an uninterrupted canvas on the back of the mitt to cover with their fun designs:

Bottom Line – lightweight gloves with good padding and fun designs. Closure-free makes for a clean look.