Eurobike 14 – Sweet Protection
We take a look at highlights from the 2015 range from Norwegian brand Sweet Protection.
We’ve had one of Sweet’s Bushwhackers on test for the last 8 months or so, and have been really impressed with the coverage, protection and fit it offers. We’ve also reached a stage where we don’t really want to ski or kayak in anything other than a Sweet lid – the brand’s pedigree in snowsports and whitewater is superb and it’s great to see this reaching the mountain bike market.
The Bearsuit knee and elbow pads get a slim down to produce the Bearsuit Lite pads – while still offering great protection and comfort without the bulk of the heftier pads. These are designed with pedaling in mind. RRP £70
The Bearsuit Pro continues to offer full protection for situations where you don’t have to pedal up, or want full coverage. RRP £99
The Bushwhacker is now available in 3 configurations, the regular composite layup, a composite with MIPS(more info below), and a carbon version also using MIPS. The colourways are a mix of matte and gloss finishes and also include a pastel mint colour for the ladies.
MIPS is a technology that has been present in other sports including snowsports for a while and is starting appear across a few bike ranges now. The system allows a fraction of rotation during a crash that helps to reduce brain injuries, mimicking and aiding the natural damping of the fluid around your brain. MIPS is available on the Bushwhacker and both Fixer half and full facers.
The yellow layer will move slightly under impact. Also, the black and carbon finish is extremely pimp!
On the Bushwhacker Carbon (MIPS), the attention to detail is evident. Not only are the decals put on by hand, individually, but more importantly the use of pre-impregnated carbon fibre allows the helmet (and all the carbon helmets in the range) to offer extra protection in critical areas.
Bushwhacker RRP £140, Bushwhacker MIPS RRP £170, Bushwhacker MIPS Carbon RRP £200.
The Fixer full and half face helmets offer a great level of protection, thanks again to the use of pre-impregnated carbon fibre, meaning more of the helmet is made of carbon fibre, and less of resin.
Fixer Half Face RRP £250, Fixer Half Face MIPS Carbon £300
Fixer Full Face RRP £329, Fixer Full Face MIPS Carbon £399
The Mudride shorts are a really exciting development. Sweet make some really awesome drysuits and kayaking tops, so they know a thing or two about making stuff water proof. These shorts have fully taped seams, stash pockets and some vents. These look like a perfect short for when it’s really migning, which it often is in the UK. RRP £119
Fully taped seams and a slightly relaxed fit make the Mudride a great looking short for UK weather.
The Hunter shorts offer a refined version of last years short, a favourite of Scottish bike guide Andy McKenna. With plenty of venting and pockets these continue to be a favourite of bike guides around the world. RRP 99
Large mesh vents paired with laser cut pores mean you can ensure airflow “where it matters”.
The Sweet Delerious jacket has been getting rave reviews and with good reason. A fully taped Gore-Tex jacket with an a cut to suit aggressive riding is hard to come by. RRP £240
The Air jacket offers a DWR coated windprof shell that will get you home, and won’t take up a load of room in your pack. RRP £99
Sweet are offering a range of gloves from entry level to more technical ones.
The Bearsuit back guard features the super flexible Sas-Tec foam, and is removable for washing. With a light weight and plenty of venting the Enduro focus is pretty clear.