The guys at Dirtlej sent us their new ‘Pro Edition’ riding Dirtsuit before the sun made an appearance around the Welsh Valleys… Lewis gives you the rundown.
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Dirtlej Pro Edition
Dirtlej make a jacket and short ‘dirt suit’, providing a one-piece waterproof for the wetter summers and even wetter winters here in the UK.
Is it better than a waterproof jacket/short combo though? Lewis finds out.
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Key features:
- Lightweight construction.
- Waterproof (15000mm) with sealed zips
- Breathable with extra inlet zips for longer climbs
- Wind resistant
- Hood that can be rolled away or over your helmet
- €249.00 RRP
- Dirtlej.com
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The first outing.
My first ride was actually a sunny day where it had rained heavily overnight, I was concerned that I may overheat while riding around, the extra vents made great to ride in and kept me warm all day.
Firstly, it’s hassle-free when you finish your ride. It was hammering down all day at the Forest of Dean and all I had to unzip, and I was dry and changed quickly.
When riding in the cold and wet, I was completely dry inside. By wearing a jacket, spray and dirt can still get underneath. Resulting in a cold and damp back, just what you want. The Dirtsuit doesn’t have that issue… It is also worth mentioning that I only needed to wear bib shorts and a short sleeve jersey.
My only criticism would be that the pockets are very small except for the chest zip, not good if you need to carry anything more than a phone.
We all know that Wales has rain most of the year, would the Dirt Suit pass the test? Well the 15,000 mm water resistance and sealed zippers and panels keeps the worst of the weather out.
The fit.
The fit was amazing around the waist and can be adjusted if you need extra room. The snug waist means that the suit does not slide around, keeping the weight balanced and off your shoulders.
It isn’t too baggy and can be zipped right up to your neck so that water cannot get in, another plus for dirt in the winter. I also like the little features such as extra panels over the top of your wrist and the extra room for larger knee pads.
What do we think?
The Dirtlej Pro Edition Dirtsuit has handled every condition I have thrown at it. I have also had a few crashes in it and has only had a little hole when I ditched it into some rocks. I haven’t really overheated on the climbs and haven’t seen any flaws while descending. It will be a valuable piece of kit in my van.
At 250 Euros, the Dirtsuit isn’t what we’d call cheap. Especially when you’re only going to use it in very wet conditions. While it might do the job of keeping you warm and dry very well, it lacks the versatility of the two individual garments.
What you end up going for will depend a lot on what you ride. It might be a good choice for adventures where the forecast looks a bit iffy, or as a wet weather race option.
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We love:
- Amazing fit.
- Vents for longer climbs.
- Lives up to its name.
- Hood for helmet and extra room for knee pads.
- Gender-specific models available.
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Could do better:
- Larger pockets on the shorts.
- Could have a few colour options.
