Santini's range of Dart clothing is aimed at staving off the cold in the winter months. And although October has been unseasonably warm at the BikeRadar offices in Bath, UK, we're sure we'll be rugging up on the bike soon enough. This Italian designed and made kit looks like it will fit the bill, but only some proper winter riding will determine that.
The Dart range consists of a soft shell windstopper jacket, a full-zip long-sleeve jersey and a pair of padded bib tights. They're available in eight sizes and come in plain bright colours: black and white for the windstopper and bib tights, and black, blue and red for the long sleeve jersey.
The soft shell jacket is made of breathable and water-resistant Gore Windstopper fabric, and is designed to be used in temperatures from -5° to 5°C – warmer than that and you'll likely cook, as our ops editor did on his commute on a balmy 15°C morning.
Windstopper jacket
The windstopper's elasticated cuffs
The windstopper has a large pocket on the rear with a reflective zip, shoulder and elbow inserts, and lots of reflective stripes on the front and rear. The bottom and wrists are elasticated to help keep in the warmth. And like most of Santini's clothing, the cut is suited to the slimmer rider rather than the amply proportioned one. RRP is £199.99.
Long-sleeve jersey
The long-sleeve jersey is a tight-fitting breathable garment that's ideal for temperatures of 5°C and up. Like the windstopper, it features plenty of reflective stripes, elasticated bottom and wrists, and a full reversed zip. It has three pockets rather than one. RRP is £124.99.
Bib tights
The bib tights should be suitable for all sorts of winter conditions, although above 5°C they might be a little too warm. They're have Windstopper soft shell fabric on the front with thermofleece on the back and plenty of reflective piping.
They include a gel pad so are designed to be worn 'as is' rather than with a pair of shorts underneath. The cut is nice and snug so you shouldn't have any problems snagging them over your saddle. Just err on the large side when you're choosing a size. RRP is £119.99.
We'll be reviewing all of the Dart range on BikeRadar in the coming months, so be sure to check it out.