Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit – $339.99: Skinsuit generally means aero but in this case it means thermal. Essentially, the Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit is a thermal jersey wed to a pair of thermal tights. When my wife saw me pull it out of its packaging she said, “It’s a onesie!” As such, it’s a bit of a #marginalgains game changer in terms of retaining body heat and not letting in cold air.
This two-tone suit is made of an insulating and flexible thermal textured fibre (bottom) and a fabric with a brushed interior, soft and protective (top). Designed to tackle cold conditions down to 5°C, it features the new fast dry 8h pad, thin, ultra-breathable, and comfortable.
MATERIAL LOWER SECTION
– Insulating textile fibre
– Breathable
– Stretchable = great freedom of movement.
MATERIAL UPPER SECTION
– Brushed on the inside = comfort and thermal insulation
MESH MATERIAL at the lower abdomen. Purpose = breathability and ease during rest breaks
Mesh material in the abdomen section
PEZ sez: Skinsuit generally means aero but in this case it means thermal. Essentially, the Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit is a thermal jersey wed to a pair of thermal tights. When my wife saw me pull it out of its packaging she said, “It’s a onesie!”
The jersey section is connected to the tights section
The Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit comes in four different colorways (meaning the color of the jersey section): Bourdeaux (a wine color), Blue, Green, and Beige (as well as women’s version with a flower pattern). PEZ got the blue.
The first thing I noticed about the Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit was its weight. As you would expect for thermal winter kit, it has some heft. The second thing I noticed was how soft to the touch the brushed interior was.
That’s 1.1 pounds for you non-metric types
Construction-wise, the tights section of the Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit consists of four full-length panels with serge-stitched seams (and with traditional rubber gripper at the ankle openings). If they were bib tights, I would ordinarily write about the bib section. But instead, the connected jersey section has the job of holding the tights up and in place. The jersey section is a lot like any other long-sleeve winter jersey:
- Two front panels connected by a full-length zipper (with traditional rubber gripper at the hem)
- Two side panels
- A single back panel
- Raglan sleeves
- High collar
- Everything with serge-stitched seams
Definitely a high collar
Fit-wise, size small fit me (5’8″, 130 pounds, ectomorph) comfortably snug. Certainly form fitting but for kit marketed as a skinsuit, not the spray-on, second skin, race fit you would expect. Getting into the Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit is pretty easy-peasy. One way to describe it: (1) step into and pull up the tights section and then (2) slip on/into the sleeves of the jersey section. Voila! Not a whole lot of having to wiggle in/pulling and tugging. One benefit of the skinsuit format is that it’s a lot easier than a jersey and bib tights when it comes time for a pit stop. #bonus #marginalgains
I really appreciated the raw cut sleeve ends that gripped without being too tight/constricting
The pad in the Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit is rated for 8 hours. I can’t attest to that (my longest winter/cold weather rides have only been a few hours long), but can say that I found it very comfortable in the saddle (and my butt-o-meter tells me it should be good for longer rides). It felt like it had a little more cushion than the pads in a lot my other bib shorts/tights, but didn’t feel like it was too thick or too soft, i.e., it was firm enough and not like a diaper.
The money part of the Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit
As far as how thermal the Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit is, I can say that it’s worked well for me. Being one piece, it’s a bit of a #marginalgains game changer in terms of retaining body heat and not letting in cold air (but it’s not rated as windproof). As someone of Filipino ethnic heritage who doesn’t do cold as well as my more hardy riding pals of Nordic descent, I was comfortable down to the low 40s(F) with an appropriate baselayer — which is basically how Ekoï rates it (5°C). At the other end of the scale, the Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit is rated to 15°C/59°F. For me, on grey and blustery days in the 50s(F), it kept the chill off without overheating (but, for me, would be too much if it was sunny with ambient warmth).
I do have a few niggles (none of them deal-breakers). Consider them my humble product improvement suggestions:
- A full-length flap behind the zipper would not only be a #marginalgains aid to keeping out wind/cold but also protect against the zipper rubbing against bare skin (if worn without a baselayer)
- A cam-lock zipper to help make sure the zipper doesn’t flip up while riding
- A secure zipper pocket
Two large rear pockets (instead of the usual three), but no secure zipper pocket
- More info and price in your area at: www.ekoi.com.
The post Ekoï CLIMAX Thermal Skinsuit Review appeared first on PezCycling News.
