Sweet Protection Delirious jacket

Our mantra of ‘great fabric, focused design’ is perfectly illustrated by the Delirious. It’s made from Gore-Tex Active Shell, which we’ve found to give a high level of breathability even on milder days. Sweet Protection have worked the fabric into an unfussy style with one pocket and a killer fit, with an extra-long drop to the back that’s kept in place with a drawcord hem. Together with an adjustable collar and cuffs, this means you feel properly sealed in – but please note that there’s no hood. The cut looks slimmer than it is, meaning that it accommodates winter layers well but doesn’t feel too baggy when worn over just a single baselayer. This is a deceptively simple jacket but one that hits the spot in terms of cut and waterproof performance on the bike, as you’d expect given the price tag.

Weight 258g

Price $360

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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Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

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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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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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