Gravel Apparel and the Mavic Allroad Kit
We've seen companies rapidly introducing new gravel specific bikes, wheels, tires and a growing number of other products as they seek to answer the needs of riders in this quickly growing category. But is there a demand for gravel specific clothing? Are existing road and mountain specific apparel offerings sufficient?
To see if they can help answer this question, Mavic has launched their Allroad apparel line. A handful of items have been created including an insulated vest, long and short sleeve jerseys and shorts that are currently available for men. We recently had the opportunity to give these products a proper test, as we got our hands on the Allroad Jersey and Allroad Fitted Baggy Short.
Allroad jersey
The Mavic Allroad Jersey was certainly comfortable and looked sharp. I had the impression that this piece was well constructed with durability in mind, and should have no problem lasting for a few seasons of hard riding. I liked the materials used and utility of multiple storage options. I was even able to fit my iPhone 7 in the back right zipper pocket. I had a size medium jersey, which is typically the size I wear. With that said, it was slightly more loose fitting that a typical M jersey, but that should be expected with something that's intended to have a more relaxed fit.
The Allroad Jersey is a merino-blend top with the following key features:
- Traditional 3 back pockets
- Front chest and rear zipper pockets
- Thoughtfully placed reflective strips
- Classic collar design
- Micro perforations for ventilation
Allroad Fitted Baggy Short
The Allroad Fitted Baggy Short was a nice compliment to the jersey. Compared to other commuter or MTB shorts I've tried, this product was very lightweight and had only a slightly baggy feel. In a size medium, while the fit was snug, there was no issue fitting bib shorts underneath. Although there are 3 pockets available in the shorts, I didn't end up using them to maintain full range of motion. I don't usually like to store things in shorts while riding, but they certainly could be useful especially on longer adventures.
Overall Mavic did a great job with their version of a gravel kit, and give it high marks on quality, design and fit. We could definitely see these being a solid choice for not only gravel, but also commuting or mountain biking. For those coming to gravel from MTB, or if you're looking for a versatile piece of gear for various types of riding, definitely check out the Mavic Allroad collection. As for US pricing, the Allroad Jersey comes in at $149.95 and the Allroad Short has a price-point of $139.95. Visit the links below to learn more.
Are there specific features you would like to see in gravel specific apparel? What other products would you like to see us test and review on Gravelstoke.com? Let us know in the comments below.