Just over a month back we featured the reasonably priced performance cold weather kit of Swedish cycling apparel company Void. Well now as those Scandinavians are looking forward to when winter’s icy hold breaks (maybe their Groundhog offered a favorable forecast yesterday?) and the snow melt begins. But that means a lot of wet riding ahead, so they have developed a new Armour collection of waterproof kit. Based off a new windproof, waterproof and more compliant fabric, Void has updated all of their wet weather gear for the coming thaw including shorts, short & long sleeve jerseys, and arm & leg warmers…
The last few years have seen a real revolution in wet weather cycling gear. What started with the Gabba jersey/jacket has led a bunch of different companies down the road to developing fabrics with similar properties. The end result is that you no longer have an excuse not to ride your bike when it is wet, and with Void’s new line-up of Armour kit is it actually surprisingly affordable.
The Armour line replace’s Void’s Hyper Ride kit from last season, and the waterproof fabric is the big difference. It is a polyester/lycra blend with a semi-permeable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) membrane, that promises breathability and a soft feel against the skin. Seams are not taped, so the clothing isn’t 100% water proof, but at the same time with the new water-shedding fabric also comes more flexibility that let them updated their cuts for a closer fit on the body, more comfort, and the added benefit of improved aerodynamics.
Shorts are maybe the most important part of a wet weather kit – no one wants a soggy wet chamois – and realistically there have always been a lot of workable choices out there if you were looking for a rain jacket. And Void’s shorts for both men & women have gotten some design updates to go with the new material. The more flexible fabric allowed Void to cut down on the number of seams for the 160€ Armour bib shorts so in the end they keep water out even more, as your rear wheel slings water at your butt.
Leg warmers are crucial pieces too, with tire spray pretty much constant on your legs when roads are wet. For 65€ the new leg warmers also get some reshaping and even include a separate more stretchy fabric behind the knee for improved breathability plus better mobility & comfort. A 55€ set of arm warmers gets similar treatment to keep your arms protected.
The jersey is available for both men & women and 140€ short sleeve or 160€ long sleeve versions. They both use about a third lighter fabric than the shorts so you can get a closer fit and maximum heat & sweat management. Pair that with a waterproof zip and mesh panels under the sleeves and you get a good balance of keeping wind & water out, while staying comfortable while you ride. Both versions get three regular rear pockets, with a taller deeper one in the middle, plus a small zippered valuables pocket. Then all that’s left is to pick whether you’d prefer a one piece long sleeve version or go with short sleeves and armies for more versatility.
Everything out of the Armour line-up gets reflective logo printing & reflective piping details throughout for visibility on the road. Void still thinks that black is better suited to surviving on the wet & dirty roads of the colder months, and the reflective elements add high contrast which is actually the best for low-light visibility. We at Bikerumor haven’t ridden any kit from Void yet, but this looks like as good a place as any to start, so keep an eye out for a review down the road. Now all they need to do is make a durable set of shoe covers out of the same stuff for the poor guy up there wearing summer vented Fizik shoes, and maybe a matching pair of gloves…
