One Industries Vapor jacket

THIS JACKET IS unusual in that it’s a softshell with (waterproof) taped seams. The feature detail matches that high specification, with waterproof zips, two hand warmer pockets and one at the rear, plus pit zips too.

It’s extremely well made and easy to see where your money goes in terms of construction, but the cut is so easy it verges on being oversize. And while the arms are a good shape, the wrist closures left us with room to spare even when pulled in fully.

Once riding in anger the jacket does keep a lot of the weather out (helped by a good high collar) but it also gets very warm.We found ourselves wishing the vents were longer. This is one to keep for colder days on the trails – as long as you like a very casual fit.

Price 240$

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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