This summer I was happy to try out a bunch of clothing and gear from POC, as I always liked their simple clothing style. Having now tried a few jerseys, shorts, gloves and bibs, I can say their construction and materials are up to snuff, and I only have a few minor gripes about the many pieces I’ve been recently riding in.
My previous POC post covered their Tectal Race SPIN helmet, Crave Sunglasses and Joint VPD Air Knee pads. In this post we’ll see how their jerseys, shorts, gloves and bib shorts performed on the trails.
Essential Enduro and Resistance Enduro Shorts:
POC’s Essential Enduro shorts are a simple pair with two zippered front pockets, a zippered fly with one waist button, Velcro waist adjusters and that’s about it. POC has the basics well covered; there’s no lack of pedalling mobility, and I had no issues running POC’s Joint VPD Air kneepads with them. The shorts breathe well and their stretchy, water-repelling Nylon fabric hasn’t taken any damage yet.
When I put on the Essential Enduro Shorts, I was elated to find they fit my waist perfectly! Normally I get size 32 shorts and have to cinch down the adjusters quite a bit (and yes, 30’s are too small) but I didn’t even touch the adjusters on these size Mediums. The back of the waist has a large stretch panel, and it makes for a comfortable, solid fit.
At this point I should note there is something really odd about POC’s waist sizing… their online sizing guide says a Medium short should have a 34.9” waist, and there is no way my shorts are even close to that big. The other odd thing is that the other pair of shorts I have are also a size medium, but the waist is much larger than the Medium Essential Enduros.
The Essential Enduro Short’s MSRP is $100. They offer three color options, and sizes from XS-XXL.
The Resistance Enduro Shorts get their name from the durable outer reinforcements on their hips, thighs and knees. POC added tear-resistant Vectran to these high-wear areas, and it doesn’t impact breathability by much or make the shorts feel warmer than most others. The Vectran isn’t very stretchy, but the shorts’ main fabric is.
These shorts have two zippered front pockets, and a smaller zipped card pocket at the back of the waistline. Like the Essential Enduro shorts, they provided good mobility and accommodated knee pads just fine. They also have a zippered fly with two buttons at the waist, and are coated for water resistance.
The waist on these Medium sized shorts did require me to cinch down the Velcro adjusters enough to make the back of the waistline look bunched-up. Fortunately I don’t feel any of that bunching when I’m wearing them. The Resistance Enduro shorts sell for $160. Sizes range from XS-XXL, and they come in black only.
MTB Air Layer Bib Shorts:
As the name suggests, the MTB Air Layer bib shorts were designed to be a light, cool, breathable undershort option for enduro riders. I’d say POC accomplished that goal, as these are the coolest bib shorts I have tried yet. The whole upper body and outsides of the legs are made from a stretchy mesh fabric, and they’ve even perforated the leg gripper elastics.
These shorts use POC’s Catalyst chamois, which is their simplest option but still boasts seamless, multi-density construction. I noticed the chamois’ padding is quite light in the front, which concerned me at first but turned out to be fine: I was worried the mid-saddle area would feel unprotected, but POC’s padding goes just far enough to keep your sensitive bits coddled. The tailbone padding is ample without getting too thick, so I was happy in the saddle with these bibs.
At 5’9” and 145lbs the size Medium Air Layers fit me well top-to-bottom, however the one thing I didn’t like was the seams that surround the bibs. They’re not the softest I’ve worn, and I think POC could improve these shorts by covering those seams or going with a different type that’s less scratchy on your skin.
POC included several pockets for small items as well; Four pockets sit around your back and sides, and the legs have one more at each hem. The back pockets sit reasonably low, and don’t require serious arm twisting to access.
The MTB Air Layer bib shorts sell for $130. Sizes XS-XXL are available in black only.
Essential Enduro Light Tee and MTB Pure ¾ Jersey:
The Essential Enduro Light tee is my favourite kind of jersey – a simple T-shirt cut with no frills, just lightweight coverage. The body’s 91% polyester, 9% elastane fabric blend feels soft on the skin and did a fine job of keeping me dry through hot weather rides. The fabric is also resistant to Velcro.
Styling was kept very simple with solid colors and one POC logo on the left hip. The jersey’s relaxed fit worked well for me; a Medium suited my slim 5’9” frame quite well, without feeling baggy. The body is a bit on the long side, but I don’t mind as it ensures your lower back stays covered. The Essential Enduro Light Tee retails for $50. Four color options are available, in sizes XS-XXL.
The MTB Pure ¾ jersey features a breathable textured fabric with longer sleeves for those who prefer elbow coverage. The jersey’s main fabric is a lightweight mesh with lattice-like reinforcements, which lets air flow extremely well while remaining durable. The fabrics are also high-wicking, so POC suggests this jersey for warmer temperatures.
If you like to ride well protected, this jersey is specifically cut to jive with POC’s VPD body armour. I wore it without armour, and didn’t find it overly loose or baggy. The only other feature is a zippered card pocket on the right hip. The tri-color pattern is nice but not flashy, and two POC logos adorn the jersey’s hip and shoulder.
I found the MTB Pure ¾ jersey to be very cool, and had no issues with uncomfortable seams. I find smooth-faced fabrics the most comfortable, but I’ll still happily ride this jersey next summer. The MTB Pure ¾ jersey sells for $70, and there are three color choices in sizes XS-XXL.
Resistance Enduro Adjustable Glove:
The Resistance Enduro Adjustable glove is a simple pair with no padding, just a thin ventilated palm and a moisture-wicking back panel. I found them quite cool on warmer rides, and had no comfort issues with them.
The gloves’ brake fingers feature silicon dots for extra lever grip, and there’s a terrycloth nosewipe panel on the back of the thumbs. The thumbs are also touchscreen-friendly, and worked reliably with my smartphone. POC also added a small silicon tab at the wrist to help you pull the gloves on.
My size medium gloves fit my hands almost perfectly. I’m on the fence on whether gloves really need cuff adjusters; on one hand, they provide a snug fit. On the other, simple and slim is always nice. POC kept their Velcro adjusters quite small, which I appreciate.
I’ve been riding the Resistance Enduro Adjustable gloves since late summer, and mine have no damage or excess wear to report. Sizes range from XS-XL, and there are four colors to choose from. MSRP is $55.
