Apart from some small branding by the top of the buttocks and on the left ankle, these winter tights from Vermarc look unassuming. Their performance however is the opposite – confident and assured in cold conditions.
On numerous cold, damp rides, we were comfortable and well protected from insistent winter weather, and that’s for a couple of reasons. The first is the chamois, and although this is often a very personal thing, we found it to be well positioned and comfortable, even after hours in the saddle.
The tight, comfortable fit is great, and in combination with the flat-locked seams, means that these tights don't rub, irritate or restrict movement. It’s a similar story with the bibs, which come high up the back. The fleece-lined bib and straps are comfortable, soft and forgotten about as soon as they’re in place.
The windproof softshell-style panels at the front do a great job of keeping your legs protected from the wind. The windproofing, in combination with the soft, comfortable fleece lining, meant the PRRs quickly became a first choice when the wind was howling. The windproof panels also have the added bonus of offering some resistance to rain and road spray.
The ankle zips mean they’re easy to get on an off – especially useful when you’re cold and wet
The say black never goes out of fashion, so styling-wise, these should be timeless. The branding is minimal (which may or may not be to your taste) but they look a bit bland for my own taste.
Because of a couple of thin reflective strips by the ankle zips, the Vermarc catalogue classes these tights as having high visibility, which we’d disagree with.