On their website the Sombrio Cartel describes themselves as “west coast creators of progressive and purpose built athletics and lifestyle apparel.” To be honest, I was skeptical at first. The gear and clothing on their site wasn’t like anything I’ve ever worn on a bike trail. It seemed… too cool for me. Still, I really needed a new pair of baggies and some cool weather shirts, so I decided to give them a chance.
I am SO GLAD I did!
The first two pieces of Sombrio Gear I checked out are the Pedigree 3/4 sleeve jersey (2011 collection, though they have some similar new styles), the Drift Freeride Shorts, and the Marimba Stow Jacket.
The shirt never feels damp. It is stretchy but not tight; it stays put and doesn’t ride up under my backpack. I love the way it looks too. It’s cute, but not overly feminine. According to Sombrio, the shirt is a “slim fit” so I ordered a large. It fits perfectly. The shaped hem with extra added length in the back is great for biking because I don’t have to worry about the shirt sliding up above my pack or shorts.
The shorts though… oh the shorts. These are baggies that actually fit! My other baggy shorts were exactly that: baggy. They constantly got caught on my bike seat. These fit well and have a great mesh liner in them. On the insides of the legs, down toward the bottom of the shorts, are zippered vents. In the summer it gets hot here in Junction but I’m not into biking in just my spandex–having vents on my baggies will keep me cool in more ways than one. When I’m riding these shorts just move with me. They don’t hinder my ability to get behind the seat or stand up.
Sombrio describes the shorts as having four-way stretch fabric with DWR finish and ultra soft inner face. Let me tell you, these are the most comfortable bike shorts I’ve ever worn. Oh, and they have a waistband retention system with Sombrio rubber velcro pull tabs. Think about your ski pants. They have pull tabs at the waist so you can tighten them if you need to. So do these shorts! They have a few pockets that have sturdy zip closures and a seamless crotch panel. VERY important!
And I got a chance to check out a third piece of gear recently, the Marimba Stow Jacket.
It was 39 degrees outside and breezy on test day. As I was getting ready at the car I thought I wish I had my skull cap to wear under my helmet. Then I remembered that this Sombrio jacket has a hood that fits over my bike helmet! I zipped up the jacket, pulled on the hood and took off. The hood stayed in place, which is impressive. The hoods that are supposed to fit over my ski helmet often slide down. Not this one. I eventually was able to pull off the hood right before I asked some nice strangers to snap this photo.
Again, I like the look of this piece. It’s girly, with some flower detail, but it isn’t too girly. What I really like is that even if I get a little warm with this on, there was no condensation on the inside of the jacket. It has underarm air vents, which is awesome for breathability and odor control, and it has a one-handed shock cord waistband retention system. I noticed with the hood that I could unzip the jacket and pull the hood down with one hand, and I can cinch the waist with just one hand too.
I am so happy to have some new, sturdy, comfortable bike gear. I think we’ll be hearing a lot more from Sombrio. Their gear is functional, fashionable, and comfortable–it’s hard to beat that. The jacket retails for around $100 and the shorts $135. The shirt is currently on clearance for a mere $15. Thanks to Sombrio for letting me review these awesome products, and stay tuned for my review of a long-sleeved Sombrio jersey!
Happy spring riding from Grand Junction & Fruita! (and thanks to the dude in the parking lot who snapped this shot.)
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