Capo SC-12 Italia jersey and bib shorts review

Summer road cycling kit

Our rating

4.5

350.00
225.00

Josh Patterson/Future Publishing

Published: August 9, 2013 at 9:00 am

Our review
Svelte, breathable summer kit with great cut

For those who like longer sleeves and a race-cut fit, the Capo SC-12 Italia kit is a great-looking and great-performing option. Capo is a Californian company but its clothing is made in Italy; the SC-12 kit celebrates the land of Fausto Coppi with its Italia motif, and comes in black, red, pink, or white for the jersey and black or white for the bib shorts.

We appreciate the cut, fit, and construction of the SC-12 kit. In the jersey, we like the balance of the long, stretchy sleeves (which don't bind or constrict), snug body in summer-weight material, and appropriate torso length (the hem sits at the top of the hips, not well down your behind).

In the bib shorts, we like the compression fit and the chamois, although it is a bit thicker than many high-performance models. We don't particularly like the silicone leg grippers, though. While the bands make for a svelte look, they aren't breathable. This could just be a matter of personal preference, though.

Capo SC-12 Italia jersey (US$150/£90)

Carbon is woven into the light, soft main body material of the SC-12 jersey, while silver is embedded in the breathable material under the arms. The shoulder/top arm panels are made from the silky, stretchy HydroDrop material that – combined with an elastic-free hem – makes for a comfortable, non-binding fit in the riding position.

One of our testers has somewhat broad shoulders, and many jerseys fit through the shoulders or at the waist. With the HydroDrop shoulders, the SC-12 jersey fits him well everywhere.

Although the sleeves are longer than most, the length at the waist of the Capo SC-12 jersey is spot on, falling right at top of the hips
Although the sleeves are longer than most, the length at the waist of the capo sc-12 jersey is spot-on, falling right at top of the hips: although the sleeves are longer than most, the length at the waist of the capo sc-12 jersey is spot-on, falling right at top of the hips - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing

Those who like a race-cut jersey will appreciate where the jersey hem falls, but those who want a looser fit might find the pockets sit too high on the back.

Capo SC-12 Italia bib shorts (US$200/£135)

A 40-gauge compression Lycra is used on the main front and rear panels of the SC-12 bib shorts, with a lighter Lycra on the sublimated sides and cuffs. As with any good bib shorts, the straps aren't noticeable at all when you're riding.

The Capo SC-12 bib shorts use an Anatomic-DP Carbon chamois, which is a little thicker than most high-performance pads but is well positioned and comfortable.

Without seams, doubled fabric, or elastic grippers, the Capo SC-12 bib shorts have a decidedly slim transition
Without seams, doubled fabric or an elastic gripper, the capo sc-12 bib shorts have a decidedly slim transition: without seams, doubled fabric or an elastic gripper, the capo sc-12 bib shorts have a decidedly slim transition - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing

Our main gripe with the SC-12 bib shorts sits with the silicone band grippers at the leg hems. They make for a svelte look but come at the cost of breathability.

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