I’m a modest commuter cyclist with a burgeoning interest in touring and gravel riding, but my greatest pleasures in life are running and live music. Hence, I’ve always found good-quality outdoor kit that serves all of my interests elusive.
A lot of the cycling clothing I see seems either dull and unimaginative or so wildly ostentatious that I’d feel faintly ridiculous wearing it off the bike. On the other hand, general outdoor wear often isn't robust enough to survive the sodden rigours of cycling in UK winter. Step forward Victory Chimp.
Founded by cyclist and illustrator Ryan O’Reilly in the shadow of the Sperrin Mountains, the Northern Irish brand claims to have built a 100,000-strong customer base since its formation in 2014. Its philosophy is ‘life is too short for boring kit’. Amen, Ryan.
I was immediately smitten by Victory Chimp’s retro-cool designs when I spotted them. Finally, this is kit I can imagine wearing on my commute or a gravel ride through Tentsmuir Forest as readily as I can during one of the innumerable deluges I’ve endured in front of the Mountain Stage at Green Man Festival.
I’m impressed by Victory Chimp’s eco credentials, too, with the Out There collection using recycled polyester from plastic bottles.
O’Reilly’s company also claims to audit the factories it uses to ensure they meet international standards on ethical production, covering child/forced labour, health and safety standards, fair wages, working hours and freedom from discrimination.
Right, let's get down to brass tacks and take a look at the kit.
Out There Unisex Packable Rain Jacket
As a child of the 80s, the Out There Unisex Packable Rain Jacket made my pulse quicken when it popped up in my feed. This lightweight, year-round waterproof jacket evokes hazy childhood memories of the 1984 LA Olympics and Jurgen Klinsmann in that iconic 1988 West Germany football shirt.
I've already worn it to Parkrun and on a couple of drizzly rides to BikeRadar HQ, and it'll be accompanying me to the Bilbao half-marathon later this month as my warm-up layer.
The Out There jacket combines a DWR-coated nylon ripstop shell with a breathable waterproof membrane. It has 10,000mm HH waterproof and 10,000g/m² breathability ratings.
There’s a YKK AquaGuard zip and taped seams to prevent water getting inside, while the hood uses a magnet to keep it in place, and it fits neatly over my MET Rivale helmet.
Depending on the occasion, I’ll be storing energy gels, my running headphones or a festival line-up in the magnetic-popper chest pocket, while there are a further three zipped side and rear pockets.
The whole things packs down into the left-side pocket and my size-medium jacket weighs a claimed 230g. It's priced at £79 / $107 / €94.
It comes in a unisex cut, sized from XS-XXL, with Sunset, Sea Foam, Rust and Teal/Navy options in addition to this stunning ‘84 Stripes version, which according to a witty friend makes me look like Otis from Sex Education after a particularly heavy weekend.
I'm already besotted with this jacket and wonder if it’ll chalk up as many adventures as the cherished Páramo Velez our former editor Jack Luke temporarily bestowed upon me for a tour of Scotland's East Coast this summer.
Out There Trail Trousers
The Out There Trail Trousers are designed for gravel and mountain bike rides, while looking socially acceptable for non-cycling escapades thanks to their “subtle styling”.
They’re made from a hard-wearing 80% Polyamide, 20% Elastane ripstop fabric with a gusset crotch, tapered legs and articulated knees.
The waist is adjustable and there are ample pockets, including one with a zip for your valuables.
The reflective details will come in handy on winter evenings when I’m riding home from another day's toil.
Victory Chimp says the Trail Trousers are high-wicking, breathable and quick-drying. I’ve already tried them out on my ride to the office, and I’m planning on wearing them next time I’m out for a proper excursion on my gravel bike.
The trousers are available in Petrol Blue, Olive, Black and the gravel-appropriate Sand version I have. Sizing is from XS to XXXL and they're priced at £79 / $107 / €94.
Monkey Paw Alpha Winter Cycling Gloves
The Monkey Paw Alpha winter gloves are designed to tackle the problem of keeping your hands warm without sacrificing the dexterity needed for braking and shifting.
These winter gloves are made from Polartec Alpha, using 100% recycled P.E.T. plastic, while there's a windproof, water-resistant softshell and Italian Super Roubaix cuffs.
The palm is printed with a durable silicone pattern, although my testing of the touchscreen-compatible fingers yielded what I would, charitably, call mixed results.
They're recommended for use in temperatures from -5ºC to 10ºC and available in S-XXL, and black or orange colours. They'll set you back £39 / $53 / €47.
Out There Hip Pack/Sling Bag
Victory Chimp also makes a range of bikepacking bags and I have the customisable six-litre Hip Pack/Sling Bag, designed to be worn around your waist or across your upper body.
Made from 1000D Cordura with a waterproof liner and YKK AquaGuard zips, it features a padded rear and wings for long-distance comfort.
There’s easily enough room here for my new gloves, my phone, snacks, a multi-tool and a mini-pump, with four pockets and webbing for lights and accessories. It would make an excellent complement to my Temple bar bag next time I embark on a tour.
It has a Fidlock magnetic buckle and is adjustable to fit waists up to 56in / 142cm. There’s an included bottle holster and hydration port for your bladder hose or headphones cable to run through, too.
It comes in black, olive green and this eye-catching multi-colour design, with all colourways costing £59 / $79 / €69.
Out There 5 Panel Trail Cap
The final piece of kit I have from Victory Chimp is this lightweight, breathable trail cap, which I plan on using for running, gentle forest rides and generally keeping the sun off my balding pate.
It's made using 100% recycled fabrics and sports a moisture-wicking, antibacterial headband to prevent it assuming the aroma of wet dog.
The 5 Panel Trail Cap comes in this Sunlit Forest colourway or a Heather Mountain version, priced at £29 / $39 / €35.
The design brings back happy memories of the US Pacific Northwest, where my now-wife and I got engaged four years ago and swept down through the misty Columbia River Gorge on hire bikes. Perhaps it's time for a return trip now I have the right kit…
