Giro Rivet II gloves

You won’t find any padding on this minimalistic mitt, but that doesn’t mean it is devoid of valuable improvements. To start, Giro incorporates a Pittards leather palm. Pittards has been specializing in leather–mainly for gloves and footwear, for damn near 200 years.

However, the vegans out there can rest easy in knowing that there’s no actual leather here–it’s a synthetic microfiber material. The perforated palms are soft and supple, breathe well and offer great grip, even when saturated with sweat. For even more simplicity, there’s no Velcro closure on the Rivet II, just an elastic cuff. I love this feature, but not everyone falls into this camp. Based on Giro’s sizing chart, which measures hand circumference and finger length, I’m squarely a medium, the same as all the other gloves in this test. The fit is spot-on in the fingers, palm, and around the wrist. Even the cuff length is good, ending mid-wrist. Touchscreen compatibility lets me whip the phone out for quick photo-ops without fumbling with my gloves. The only potential issue is that the lightweight mesh used between the fingers builds weaker seams so these might be single-season gloves.

PRICE 30$

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

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DRC X-Monitor SP1 lap timer

While smartphone apps such as Strava can be a useful way to keep tabs on your mountain bike rides, sometimes you just can’t beat the simplicity and instant feedback that a good old-fashioned stopwatch style lap timer provides.

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Scott Stego MIPS helmet

Scott’s top-end aggressive trail helmet is only available with MIPS, as the Swiss brand were early adopters of the system. The EPS extends low at the rear without clashing with the retention system and the strap attachment points are external to the liner, maximising the amount of material around the temples. This is the closest-fitting helmet on test, with very little clearance inside the liner. Despite this, and although the Stego has fewer vents than some other lids here, we never felt too hot-headed. Scott spent time developing the ventilation system using a wind tunnel and it seems to have paid off. The thin pads don’t offer quite as much comfort as some competitors’, and while the short peak is removable, it doesn’t offer any height adjustment. Weight 340g Sizing S, M, L Price $180

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SANTA CRUZ NOMAD

Santa Cruz’s new enduro focused dream bike While the Santa Cruz Bronson has been causing a commotion on the enduro scene as one of the lighter and more capable bikes, the Californian company have been working on something better suited to the more gravity orientated courses.

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Fulcrum Red Power XL wheels

THESE WHEELS CERTAINLY don't look like some of the cheapest on test, and the adjustable-preload bearings are some of the smoothest and longest lived at any price.

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All Arround MTB

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