Product Spotlight: Essential Gravel Gear by Leatt
Whether out in the country or commuting we know you want to stay cool, look stylish and be comfortable.
Leatt has some pretty rad new endurance gear, in male and female versions, that is light, breathable and priced right. Here’s a look at three essential items for a gravel rider’s wardrobe.
Leatt 5.0 Endurance Bibs
The single most important part of your gravel wardrobe!
Made from a supportive, breathable and 360-stretch material, the Leatt 5.0 Endurance Bibs have a very soft, almost second-skin feel — you’d be excused for wanting to sleep in them. [we are kidding and would never recommend that by the way!] Developed with input from Speed Company Racing, the mesh upper is lightweight, breathable and has two large pockets on the lower back.
Looking at the most important part –- the chamois is rotated slightly forward for an aggressive riding position and has a unique four-layer density, promising comfort and support. A central channel will improve blood flow (and reduce the chance of numbing) in those tender regions. By adding a durable high-stretch panel onto the hips, Leatt has added a lekker element of protection to the garment, which is pretty unique. The leg pockets will carry just about all your bars, gels, sarmies and bananas for big days out. There are six sizes, male and female versions available and the RRP is a decent R2500.00. Learn more.
Leatt 5.0 Endurance Jersey
Lightweight material with next-level comfort
The soft fabric (made from coffee grounds) offers a great deal of stretch, is quick wicking and fast drying. Leatt has doubled down on the cooling efforts, with laser-cut perforations littered across the upper back and chest area to boost ventilation. The sleeves are appropriately long, have gripper panels on the ends and the back is slightly longer than the front, to accommodate a semi-aggressive riding position and provide easy access to the pockets.
If extra storage is what the doctor ordered then this is a jersey well worth considering. The back has a total of six pockets, two of which are side-entry with zip closures and the other four are all ‘bottle size’ and top loading. Leatt says there’s a UPF 50+ sun protection rating meaning the fabric blocks 95% of UVA and 98% of UVB rays which is a performance-enhancing feature that shouldn’t be overlooked. The jersey zips up with a high-quality, full-length YKK zipper and there’s a lip or little extra piece of fabric to stop it from rubbing on your skin. That’s a nice touch. There are seven sizes available, in male and female versions, both retailing for R1499.00 Learn more.
Leatt 2.0 Endurance Jacket
Clean and stylish look
Knowing you want to turn up for your ride looking stylish, Leatt offers this windproof jacket in four colours, six sizes with male and female versions. They opted for a high-stretch, super lightweight, nylon weave that is breathable — so you won’t cook, when on the gas. Knitted mesh panels on the back and under the arms also assist cooling.
The front panel has a special coating that Leatt says will resist staining. Cleverly, it also packs up and tucks into its rear pocket, which has a reversible zip. The arms and torso are at an appropriate length and the jacket comes in at a very reasonable R2099. Learn more.