PEdAL ED's Kobe Thermo Jersey is an impressive winter offering. It copes well with the unpredictable British climate and is perfectly paired with a long-sleeved baselayer and shell jacket. It provides a good seal from the elements, keeping me comfortable during a good range of effort intensities. It is very versatile, too; it could be a mid-layer as part of your deep winter kit or a jacket on cooler mid-season rides.
- Pros: Very comfortable, good temperature regulation
- Cons: Pocket layout/ design could be improved, quite expensive
Looks are generally a matter of personal opinion, but I definitely find the aesthetics of the Kobe appealing. To my mind it has the distinctive but sophisticated design typical of PEdAL ED's product range. It seems to work well in both the black and coral (red) colour ways.
> Buy this online here
The front of the torso is a windproof fabric with a full-length zip, and it handles a cold wind very well. The zip has a wide baffle underneath, helping to prevent any draughts penetrating. The lining is a fleecy material, which is very soft on the skin and dries relatively quickly.
The back is made with a striped, breathable material and this worked well. I never became too hot or sweaty, and surprisingly, my torso never felt chilly.
Fit
It does come up quite small – I'm normally a medium in most large brands, but a large fitted me perfectly. It's a very nice cut – not too long on the front and plenty of coverage on the back. There is a hardier band on the tail lined with silicone grippers, and this ensures a tight seal from the elements.
The sleeves are a nice length, too, and provide a good, relaxed fit. A breathable strip that runs from the armpit to the inner wrist is a welcome feature during hard efforts, but the cold is noticeable in easier riding with a chilly wind.
The cuff is very well designed. It is edged with a breathable 'collar' that slips neatly under gloves; the windproof fabric of the sleeve then butts up to the edge of the gloves, creating a good seal.
The collar has a good fit, with just enough space for a neck warmer. It is, however, quite low cut, making the neck warmer essential. The soft, thick lining provides a good seal against cold gusts.
Pockets
The only significant downside of the Kobe for me is the pockets. There are two large outer pockets made of a hardy mesh material, and they sit quite high up (I soon got used to this). I'm quite simply not a fan. Although they do keep your banana (or other mid ride snack) cool, they also allow road spray to penetrate through. It is a great design for a dry, crisp winter's day – but not for the mainly wet, muddy, UK roads.
Nevertheless, the crux of my critique lies with the number of external pockets. I'm a strong believer in the classic three pocket philosophy. The heavier items (inner tube, gas canister and so on) can fit snugly in the centre and anything else balanced in the other two. With two pockets, I always found the jersey sagging to one side, no matter how I packed them.
In contrast, the inner zip pocket was a success. It was perfect for my phone – just the right size and kept it warm (saving battery life!) during the colder days.
Value
The Kobe sits right at the premium end of performance clothing, with the likes of Rapha and Castelli. It comes in over £50 more than the Morvelo Kuler and Sportful Moire. It is hard to see where that extra investment goes, although I would argue that the temperature regulation and performance fit go some way to validate it. Conversely, it is hard to see the Kobe compete with the Castelli Perfetto; for only £30 more, you get an 'all in one' garment without the need to buy a shell jacket as well.
> Buyer's Guide: 13 of the best winter cycling jerseys
Conclusion
Overall, the Kobe performed very well. It is by no means waterproof, but does handle a cold wind very well. Its superb temperature regulation and fast drying materials were welcome features during hard training rides. In essence, it is a performance-orientated garment, though it would be nice to see some level of water resistance.
Verdict
High quality, functional garment, but not the best value for money
Make and model: PEdAL ED Kobe Thermo Jersey
Tell us what the product is for
The Kobe is a thermal jersey, suited to cool winter rides. It has a performance orientation focusing on fit, and temperature regulation. It would be well matched with a long sleeved base layer and a light gilet/jacket.
PEdAL ED says, "The Kobe Thermo Jersey is made with a lightweight fill, so you stay warm and dry during autumn and winter rides. Stretch fabric panels offer breathability and a dinamic range of movement. The Jersey keeps out the cold and controls sweat, so you can stay focused on the ride. Fast-drying, breathable stretch fleece side and back panels, performance fit, 2 big back pockets."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
The Kobe makes use of breathable panelling down the sleeves and back. It has two large mesh pockets, with a zip pocket underneath.
PEdAL ED has:
- BREATHABLE STRETCH FLEECE SIDE AND BACK PANELS
- DRY FAST
85%Polyamide 15%Elastane + 85%Polyester 15%Elastane
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
It feels very well made, and has handled the abuse of winter well. However, it doesn't clinch 10/10 because there were a few loose threads throughout.
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
Great temperature regulation; it would have been nice to see some level of water resistance.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
Early days but so far it's superb. No signs of it falling apart any time soon.
Rate the product for fit:
9/10
A great fit, certainly performance-orientated.
Rate the product for sizing:
6/10
It does come up quite small. A large seemed to fit me well, but I'm usually a medium in other brands.
Rate the product for weight:
8/10
As you would expect from a winter jersey.
Rate the product for comfort:
10/10
Excellent cut, and comfortable inner lining.
Rate the product for value:
5/10
It is a very high quality garment, but it does come at a premium price.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
It washes fine, but does take up stains quite easily. It's definitely worth protecting from road spray as much as possible.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
It performed extremely well. The temperature regulation was great when out on specific training rides. It also dried surprisingly fast, which was great when I got caught out in a light shower/drizzle on the odd occasion.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
It was very comfortable, owing to its great temperature regulation.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The pocket design.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The Kobe sits right at the premium end of performance clothing, with the likes of Rapha and Castelli. It comes in over £50 more than the Morvelo Kuler and Sportful Moire. Initially, It is hard to see where that extra investment goes. However, I would argue that the temperature regulation and performance fit go some way to validate it. Conversely, it is hard to see the Kobe compete with the Castelli Perfetto; for only £30 more, you get an 'all in one' garment without the need to buy a shell jacket as well.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Overall, I was impressed by the performance of the Kobe, despite the poor pocket design. However, its pricing sits rather awkwardly against the competition and that stops it scoring higher than 8.
Age: 18 Height: 180cm Weight: 78kg
I usually ride: Felt F1 My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, commuting, touring, club rides
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