Mavic Singletrack gloves

Despite the Star Wars Stormtrooper black and white colourway turning geography teacher fawn on their first outing, I love the ingletracks more than any other gloves, and have two pairs on rotation.

The backing has enough protection to fend off the undergrowth and the Pittards leather palm works incredibly well, no matter how et or muddy they are. They’re also super-tough, despite how thin they are. If you really have to crash, you want to be wearing these.

One of my pairs is so old I need to put moisturiser on the palms when they come out of the washing machine to keep them supple, ut it brings them back to life every time

PRICE: 45$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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