Home > Clothing-Gear-Tools

Into the cold & wet Void with new Armour waterproof kit

23 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

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…

VoidCycling.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

23 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Collin
7 years ago

Just what I want when its rainy and foggy, a black kit. And since when is 55 euro for arm warmers affordable?

thesteve4761
thesteve4761
7 years ago
Reply to  Collin

Don’t like the color? Don’t buy it. Too expensive? don’t buy it. Don’t have anything remotely helpful to add? Don’t comment.

Raymond
Raymond
7 years ago
Reply to  thesteve4761

thesteve makes a fine point. Most of these comment threads are littered with people just saying “this stuff sucks!” How does that add to the conversation? Does the person criticizing see themselves as some kind of altruistic velo prince, saving strangers on the internet from making poor purchase decisions?

It serves no purpose at all other than letting the poster whine on the internet, the least unusual quality about a person posting on the internet.

blah blah blah
blah blah blah
7 years ago
Reply to  thesteve4761

dont like what people say dont read it

LowRider
LowRider
7 years ago
Reply to  blah blah blah

You say that like it’s just as easy to hit undo button and unread distasteful comments.

1111
7 years ago
Reply to  Collin

I agreed initially, but on reflection only the jersey (long or short sleeve) is where one would expect something for visibility (colour, reflective). Bibs, arm and leg warmers are predominantly black. So the reason I forgive the colour choice for the jersey is the majority of people I ride with would use this as a base layer – some would wear two or even three layers.

Kessler
Kessler
7 years ago

EXACTLY! Who wants a black kit in the rain?

Mick
Mick
7 years ago
Reply to  Kessler

Me… it doesn’t discolor or stain from road crud…as for visability, I rely on a much more effective front & rear strobe light light

djjazzynick
djjazzynick
7 years ago
Reply to  Kessler

Yeah Black for the win! There is no way I will rely on a bright color to be visible. I ride defensive, and for me thats the best option.

yogatroy
7 years ago
Reply to  djjazzynick

yes black is the smart move, along with assuming drivers don’t see you.

donald lewis
donald lewis
7 years ago

The kit looks cool and I find it interesting but the shipping is a fixed $35. Which is just way too much. It doesn’t cost $35 to send a full kit to the U.S. or what if you just want arm warmers and a hat yep it still cost $35. That need to be adjusted to a realistic shipping cost.

Jason (VOID Cycling)
7 years ago
Reply to  donald lewis

Thanks for the feedback, Donald. We are currently reviewing our shipping costs, especially to the US, and hope to have that updated soon.

ascarlarkinyar
ascarlarkinyar
7 years ago

That’s what I read. Affordable to who? Other than the not being seen aspect, this looks promissing. Portland wear for sure.

cracked frame
cracked frame
7 years ago

“Black on black on black with the ski mask, that is my crook look!” -RTJ

“Does it come in Black?” -Bruce Wayne

Yes! Classic.

Jason (VOID Cycling)
7 years ago
Reply to  cracked frame

#allblackeverything
It makes accessorising easier too, as everything goes with black 🙂

ELEVEN_g
7 years ago

For all those that say this or that…. I proffer this:

What if, just what if, the people behind Void ride bikes? And what if they ride it in the rain and fog, in some cold, dark, northern European country?

Now granted, drivers in such countries have more clue, are better mannered and have more respect but still, these guys decided riding in the cold, dark, foggy, wet climate they live in, that all black is just fine and they don’t see an issue with it.

Personally, wear all the colour you like, or non at all; the driver is only going to notice you as you bounce off their windshield. It all comes down to the lights you’re using to give drivers fair warning you’re there… And yes, I spent a few good seasons coming home when the sun came up wearing predominantly black and never had an issue, my lights made sure of that.

Robin
Robin
7 years ago
Reply to  ELEVEN_g

Actually, color and contrast in clothing improves visibility of cyclist for drivers as do, of course, lights. It’s not an either/or function. A rider with bright and contrasting colors on their clothes and lights on his or her bike will be more visible than a rider with all black kit and lights. Of course people are free to provide alternative facts.

BBB
BBB
7 years ago
Reply to  Robin

How come no one minds pedestrians (especially those using shared paths) wearing dark clothes?

Robin
Robin
7 years ago
Reply to  BBB

Who said no one minds?

Kevin
Kevin
7 years ago

Like the stuff , was ready to order , shipping to much, need a North American distributor or partner. Good stuff

Jason (VOID Cycling)
7 years ago
Reply to  Kevin

Kevin, we are currently reviewing our shipping costs, especially to the US, and hope to have that updated soon.

VeloKitty
VeloKitty
7 years ago

Why the solid back on the bib shorts? If I’m riding in the rain in warm weather, I want the bibs to breathe as much as possible.

Jason (VOID Cycling)
7 years ago
Reply to  VeloKitty

VeloKitty, the suspender part of the bib shorts are a mesh material, like on our other bib shorts. So they are designed to breathe, keeping you cool. We even have some mesh panels on the jerseys for the same reason.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.