Life In The Saddle

Life In The Saddle readers will be familiar with the  Swrve brand—it crops up in reviews a few times a year, and I am always impressed by the quality, fit, and feel of the products; not to mention the superb durability. The Swrve Modal Cotton Henley Top upholds that great reputation, and like many Swrve products it has become a wardrobe staple—it is the perfect piece of springtime apparel. The beautifully soft modal cotton fabric, flat-lock seams, and seamless armpits mean the Swrve Modal Cotton Henley is comfortable enough that it can be worn as a base layer or layered with an under-tee in colder transition season conditions. As with other Swrve products that I have tested, the Henley has a flattering trim fit. It also has some subtle details that help to make it more cycling-specific than your standard tee—such as a higher cut front hem and a lower cut rear to help overcome that uncomfortable gap problem. The collar design with its three soft rubber buttons means you can...

I rarely wear office shirts these days, but casual shirts are something I still definitely appreciate. The Swrve CORDURA® Combat Wool Button-Up Shirt is a luxurious and smart, yet incredibly practical piece of smart-casual wear, which looks at home both on and off the bike. The Swrve Combat Wool shirts are part of the brand's Capsule collection " designed to do anything, anywhere, anytime " — which means that they should be as capable on an outdoor expedition as they are in the urban environment. That is a tough demand, but the brand seems to have delivered it through fabric choices and subtle design features... The Combat Wool shirt is made from CORDURA® combat wool™. This fabric blend claims to be ten times more abrasion resistant, have two times better tensile strength, and also have significantly better tear resistance (it is a ripstop fabric) than a pure Merino wool. It delivers this though, while still retaining the sought-after characteristics of wool; such...

If I only had one pair of casual shorts it would be these. The Swrve Durable Cotton Regular Cut shorts are smart, comfortable, uniquely styled, and durable… I have become a huge fan of the casual wear from Swrve. The American brand produces kit that excels in everyday use, and is made subtly bike-specific without looking like you have just rolled off the pump track. Last year I reviewed the Swrve Durable Cotton Cigarette Cut Shorts, and they fast became my go-to choice; with their stretch fabric, seamless gusseted crotch, and clever pocketing all providing practicality and comfort. This year I decided to smarten things up a little, opting for the new Swrve Durable Cotton Regular Cut Shorts in the sophisticated black colour tone. Much like the Cigarette Cut shorts, these use the same super durable DWR coated water-resistant stretch fabric. They also have many of the neat and useful features like the front pen pockets, reinforced rear lock pocket and a no-stretch waistband. T...

April showers… a time when a super-protective, hard-wearing waterproof is a must, for those that want to go out and play in the elements. The new Swrve Keiu Anorak has fast become my go-to, always-packed waterproof, for this time of year. Simple, but incredibly effective - that sums up the design of the Swrve Keiu Anorak. It is a classic waterproof; designed to keep you dry both on and off the bike. As with other Swrve apparel that I've reviewed on the blog, it delivers. Shield+ waterproofing The Keiu anorak uses Teflon Shield+ waterproofing, with a fully taped seam construction. Seal out the elements, whilst allowing moisture to escape from within. I've worn this in wet but mild conditions - the most challenging for any waterproof fabric, and it has excelled. Superb fabric technology lies at the heart of Swrve products. The Keiu Anorak is no exception Clever cut Most waterproofs feature a full-length zip, but that can be uncomfortable when tucked down on a ...

Winter is coming; and with it the long rides, café stops, cross-training, and foul weather training gear that accompanies the season. I love winter... it is a special season; not only for the challenging conditions found on rides like those during the Festive 500 ; but also because there is no better feeling than jumping in a warm bath, and then pulling on a warm jumper, after a long ride in the cold crisp air. The Swrve Black Label Polartec Heritage Fleece Pullover has fast become a favourite of mine for the 2016 winter season. Smart, yet comfortable; this is a jumper that will keep you warm on those cold days, but also look the part in the office or around town. The lining of the Heritage pullover is made from POLARTEC® Thermal Pro fabric, which is lightweight, yet insulates superbly for its bulk. It breathes well too, staying comfortable even when the sun comes out. Then, because it's synthetic fleece, it is fast drying as well. It's worth mentioning that despite being...

A warm piece of headwear is vital to staying comfortable on the bike in the winter months. Your head acts a bit like a heat dissipater, because of the significant blood flow close to the skin; as a result, it becomes essential to protect it from the wind, water and cold temperatures. My normal choice of headwear for winter riding is a simple skull cap, which fits neatly and snugly underneath your helmet. However, a skull cap does little to shield your forehead from driving rain or (if you're lucky) sunshine; this is where the Belgian style cycling cap comes in... Featuring a brimmed peak like a traditional casquette, as well as fold down ear flaps; the Belgian cap is a belt-and-braces approach. Swrve, an American brand that should be familiar to blog readers ( read previous review here ), has taken the protective design one step further, and produced this rather luxurious softshell version. Last month, I reviewed the Swrve Winter Softshell Trousers , and praised them for th...

Fleece-lined trousers... hell yeah! With the UK weather finally taking a turn, from 'wet and windy' to 'cold and clear', I thought it was about time I reviewed the rather luxurious and very practical Swrve WWR Winter Softshell Trousers. Swrve  kit never ceases to impress me, both in terms of its style and its longevity. I have Swrve jeans that are coming up to three years old, and still look perfectly wearable; in fact, I recently wrote a post on them and how they are 'Still Going Strong' (link) . I have previously experienced Swrve's WWR fabric in their Lightweight Skinny WWR Trousers ; it is an innovative weatherproof material, which repels water and wind much like a Windstopper membrane. The lightweight trousers proved to be ideal for summer pursuits, including everything from early morning commuting to sailing trips; they provided a great fast-dry fabric that stretches with movement. Early in 2015 though, Swrve announced the release of their new WW...

Still going strong, two years on. Back in 2013 I reviewed the Swrve Indigo Cycling Jeans ; they are the signature piece of apparel from the American brand, and superbly showcase the durable, stylish and practical attributes that I've found in all of the Swrve kit that I've tried to date. The beauty of well-made apparel, is that it lasts. We all have a good quality pair of denims that have remained a staple of our wardrobe for months and months; even with hours of abuse, on and off the bike, they survive. This month, I took ownership of my second pair of Swrve's signature Indigo Jeans. They are as finely made as the first pair that I tested in 2013; a real work of tailored art. Trying on this second pair alongside my first, got me thinking though... that first pair still look great! In fact, many would argue they've improved with age. An old versus new comparison seemed in order... My well worn-in, but still great to wear, original Swrve Indigo Jeans Box-...

If you haven't read my previous reviews of  Swrve  apparel, then it's worth having a quick browse. This American brand makes some of the best "casual" cycling wear that you can buy. Swrve kit is well fitted and nicely styled; perhaps most notable though, compared to other brands that I've tested, is that it is quite easily the most durable. It is without doubt, kit that is made to last. I have Swrve Indigo jeans  and Swrve WWR trousers that are two years old, and they still look like new. Hours of abusive testing, both on and off the bike, shows the true virtue of this clothing... The Swrve Cigarette Cut shorts are the first pair of short trousers that I've tested from the brand. They are made of the same great fabric as the Durable Cotton Trousers  though, and these continue to be a favourite of mine, so I was expecting good things. The 'Durable Cotton' fabric is a robust, medium-weight material; with an abrasion-resistant finish, and a level...

Swrve is a very cool brand, it's apparel that is made to look casual, but also to function very well on the bike. In the past I've reviewed their WWR Trousers , Durable Cotton Trousers and Indigo Jeans . In this review I turn to their tops, and take a look at their Modal tees, both in the long and short sleeve variety. The Modal range is a collection of cotton tops that have the positive qualities of bamboo, but without the drawbacks of bamboo tops, which tend to stretch with use. Modal fibres are 100% natural and derived from beech tree wood; it's a natural wicking material, so draws moisture away from the skin leaving you warm and dry, and much like Merino and bamboo, Modal is also naturally anti-bacterial. The Modal fabric is a new phenomenon for me, but it is impressively comfortable; the close knit structure means that is is soft on the skin and a great insulator, despite its high breathability. It also seems to last extremely well; coming out of the wash look...