Market: In the minds of many cyclists, the name Specialized still stands for high-quality complete bikes. But the US manufacturer has also been offering an extensive range in the clothing sector for several years. Matching the season, we looked at the collections for autumn and winter.
Many parts of Germany were getting a foretaste of the rapidly approaching winter these days. The right clothing is even more important than usual for everyone who regularly rides two wheels, even in the dark and cold season - whether for sports or to the office. The requirements are diverse and a middle ground between breathability, insulation, weather protection and sportiness Fit is a fine line.
686 x Specialized: cooperation for best weather protection
Already in the last winter season, Specialized announced the cooperation with the ski and snowboard clothing specialists from 686. The resulting products are aimed more at mountain bikers and stand for weather protection at the highest level and a sporty, bike-specific cut. Robust materials also make the three cooperation products particularly durable.
With a water column of 686mm and breathability of 3g/m², the 20.000 x Specialized 20.000L Tech Jacket is ideally equipped for hard, cold days in the saddle. Thanks to integrated reflectors and bright colors, visibility is guaranteed even in dark snowstorms on the road. The bike-specific, relaxed cut and the SWAT access pocket, which allows you to quickly and easily access the jersey pocket even with a jacket, underline the orientation of the 3L Tech Jacket.
If warmth is more important than rain protection, you can take a closer look at the 686 x Specialized Tech Insulator: Thanks to DWR impregnation, the insulating jacket can withstand brief rain showers, but it shines above all when it comes to keeping the heat in and the cold out. This is ensured by the Primaloft lining, which offers the great advantage over conventional down that it does not lose its properties even when wet and damp.
The 686 x Specialized collection is rounded off with the 3L Tech Bib pants: These are hybrid pants, so to speak, that combine the properties of ski pants with the cut and features of bib pants for cycling.
Specialized Element and Deflect: For every terrain
The Element and Deflect product lines have been known for a long time: from jackets to bad-weather jerseys, intermediate layers, bib shorts to gloves and overshoes, there's everything here to defy even the most adverse conditions. One of the highlights here is definitely the Deflect Reflect Hybrid Jacket: This consists of the wind and water-repellent DeflectTM material, which is perfect for sporting activities with its high flexibility and very good breathability. The real highlight of the jacket, however, is its 3M Reflective Technology: the material, which shines light gray in normal daylight, reflects the light at night like a large reflector. At €449, however, the Deflect Reflect tears a considerable hole in your wallet - if you can do without the 3M coating, you can fall back on the "normal" version in black, yellow or red, which is significantly cheaper at €129.
The Specialized Element 1.5 Bib keeps the icy wind out thanks to the Windstopper membrane, but transports heat and water vapor to the outside while riding. Thanks to impregnation, the tried-and-tested membrane can withstand even short rain showers and keep your legs dry. When it comes to gloves, too, the selection is bigger than ever - from the rather thin, sporty Deflect Gloves for autumn and warm winter days to the Elements 3.0, which keep your fingers warm with a Windstopper membrane and thick Thinsulate insulation even in the bitter cold, is for almost something for every requirement.
Specialized Utility Wear: Casual clothing with a cycling touch
But since very few of us are lucky enough to spend every free minute on the saddle, we also need the right clothing for (cycle-free) leisure time or the office. It was precisely for this purpose that Specialized created the Utility Line - the Utility Hoodie made of softshell material, for example, not only looks good, but thanks to the appropriate cut and element membrane also cuts a fine figure on short bike trips. The same applies to the simple, black Utility Pants, which are not only easy to pedal, but thanks to their robust surface they can also withstand the everyday life of a commuter without any damage.
