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There’s a saying that goes one thing like, “There isn’t a such factor as unhealthy climate, simply weak ______”. (Insert runners, cyclists, and so forth.) Effectively, residing at 8,400’ within the mountains of Colorado, I can attest that there’s such a factor as unhealthy climate once we get 60mph winds, snow storms that dump ft of snow, and temps not often above freezing for a 3rd of the 12 months. So, once I had the possibility to check out Fox Racing’s Defend winter line of using attire I jumped at it as a result of I do know that with the best gear there aren’t many days you possibly can’t get out and trip. 
Caption: Photograph Credit score: Aaron Bible @definitelywild
Fox Racing has been a frontrunner in mountain bike attire and equipment for a very long time. They proceed to innovate and ship world class gear. With the discharge of their chilly climate Defend line, Fox has now made it attainable to trip all 12 months no matter the place you reside. I needed to check this gear in some actual winter climate within the excessive mountains of Colorado. I examined the Defend Hearth Pant, Defend Hearth Glove, TecBase Lengthy Sleeve, Ranger Water 3L Jacket and Enduro Professional ¾ tight. With this setup, it’s a good way to remain dry and heat. The Defend line has kevlar strengthened safety and taped seams that present unparalleled safety and sturdiness within the hardest circumstances. Within the Fox Defend lineup, attire items are additional delineated by “Water”, “Hearth”, “Wind”. “Water” offers wonderful water repellency. “Hearth” are the warmest and insulated items, and “Wind” are windproof outer layers. By a mixture of those, there actually isn’t any climate you couldn’t trip in. Fox doesn’t give really useful using temps for any of their attire items, however we needed to see if we might give you some to assist information your attire decisions.
The Fox Defend Hearth Pant is designed to tackle critical circumstances. It has a DWR coating in order that it’s water repellent, and its fleece lined for heat even in probably the most brutal winter circumstances. It additionally has a in-built stretch that permits it to maneuver with you. The leg is tapered with a comfortable, elastic cuff so that you don’t have to fret about catching a series ring or chain. It additionally has Fox’s Race Ratchet buckle, which makes on the fly changes tremendous straightforward. This pant is extremely heat. Even at temps under 20 levels, I used to be sweating after twenty minutes.. The fleece lining traps warmth properly and the waterproof fronts maintain the chilly wind out. The inseam is 31” and the waist is adjustable. I discovered them slightly brief for being 6’1” however the rubber grips on the cuff held them in place and nonetheless stored the wind and snow out. 
<Caption: Photograph Credit score: Aaron Bible @definitelywild >
I added the Enduro Professional ¾ tight as a base layer with its chamois, comfortable and versatile match, and world main D30 knee safety. Having safety like that is essential anytime of the 12 months, however much more so when the path is roofed in snow and ice when falling over is widespread. The knee safety within the Enduro Professional tight can be detachable, which permits for higher vary of movement that permits these for use for endurance using and even on the indoor coach. The Enduro Professional labored very well as a base layer for the Defend Hearth Pant.On a sunny day within the 30s you could possibly put on these alone, however in any other case, I’d suggest pairing them. On actually chilly days, like within the 20s with a chilly, pairing these pants collectively is right.
Caption: Photograph Credit score: Aaron Bible @definitelywild
For tops, I examined the Ranger Water 3L Jacket. This jacket has totally taped seams, and waterproof zippers that maintain the something out. I attempted this jacket out a couple of weeks in the past on one in every of our brutal climate days – 60 mph wind gusts, unbearably chilly — and it held the climate at bay. With a number of totally different pockets you’ll be able to retailer your stuff and maintain it dry. The hood can be massive sufficient to cowl your helmet. We don’t get loads of rain in Colorado so I wasn’t in a position to check impermeability, however relying on how heavy it’s raining you could possibly count on to remain dry at the very least a pair hours of heavy rain on account of its 3 Layer building. The Ranger Water 3L does a superb job of preserving the moist and wind out however isn’t insulated or lined so as to give the wearer a broader vary of temperatures to put on it in. The elastic cuffs are comfy and maintain effectively and the tail of the jacket is lengthy sufficient that it helps maintain your butt dry. It additionally permits for sufficient room to put on a pack beneath and never trip up too far. 
Caption: Photograph Credit score: Aaron Bible @definitelywild
I additionally had the TecBase Lengthy Sleeve Baselayer. It is a versatile piece that may be worn beneath a jersey, jacket, or by itself. It’s light-weight, comfortable and breathable. As a base layer it really works very well. It additionally has an extended again for added heat when in a using place. To be worn by itself, it must be pretty heat, like above 50 levels. However it’s designed for use as a base layer because it doesn’t have any pockets. I paired this base layer with the Ranger Water Jacket on that brutally chilly day and stayed heat all through my loop on Blue Dot path system.
To prime all of it off I had the Defend Professional Hearth Glove. This glove is extremely heat for not being insulated. It’s fleece lined with a DWR coating so it retains wind and water out. The palm can be Axe Suede which is tremendous sturdy and waterproof. I discovered it to be too heat for something above 40 levels. At these hotter temps it will probably get fairly sweaty within the glove with its fleece lining and water/windproof shell. The cuff could be very comfortable which is designed to maintain the weather out additionally including to the general heat of the glove. The cuff can be slightly longer so it stays tucked in your sleeves.
Caption: Photograph Credit score: Aaron Bible @definitelywild
Total, all of those items actually carried out to expectations. This particular mixture as detailed above, would work very well for informal days on the fats bike that aren’t too chilly and with an added midlayer or the Fox Flexair Professional Hearth Alpha Jacket (not examined on this overview) there actually isn’t any climate you couldn’t trip in (that’s nonetheless secure to trip in).
**Disclaimer: We now have had an extremely gentle winter in Colorado. Usually our city at 8400 ft averages 200 inches of snow and brutal winds. We now have had some windy days, however not our typical snow totals. Even so we have been in a position to check the gear in some chilly temps however we didn’t have the possibility to place it by its paces in actually harsh circumstances. Therefore the pictures within the solar and barely any snow.
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