Skinsuit Reviews

It's now fall, heading into winter. Time for me to pull my skinsuits out of storage to use as a base layer for my commutes to work in the rain.......maybe it's time to upgrade some to the newest, latest and greatest?

Bicycling.com
Make Nalini's Aeprolight Skinsuit Your Everyday Road Kit
Nalini Aeprolight skinsuit
A snuggie-comfortable skinsuit worth the risk of looking pretentious on a group ride

It used to be that a skinsuit was intended only for racers chasing aerodynamic benefits in time trials, and for cyclocross. But that's changing: Many skinsuits now have three pockets and are gaining popularity in the pro road-racing peloton. Brands like Rapha, Castelli, Louis Garneau, and Nalini also offer attractive versions without sponsor logos.

Still, at first I worried about wearing the Nalini Aeprolight skinsuit—in cycling, the way we dress and the bike we ride makes a statement. I was concerned that putting on this suit, relative to my actual speed, would say, "I'm an overserious jackass."


But then I tried it, and I learned something no one ever told me about skinsuits: They can be comfortable. Like, really comfortable. More so than almost any two-piece combination I've worn. There were no bib straps to fold over and cut into shoulders or chafe nipples, no waistband to squeeze the belly. Riding in this skinsuit felt like the on-bike equivalent of wearing a Snuggie.

The Aeprolight is a TT suit, so the pad is positioned farther forward, but it worked for my road-riding position anyway. The black, minimalist design is sleek and flattering, and I like the long sleeves because I don't need to slather my arms in sunscreen. While the mesh side panels are a little disco, they are supposed to improve ventilation. I found the Aeprolight to be no hotter than a typical summer garment.

Skinsuits do have their disadvantages. The top and bottom are the same size; maybe you aren't. If one section wears out or gets ruined, the whole thing is trashed—a big hit considering the Aeprolight costs $404, an extravagant price even for a suit that replaces two separate pieces. And yes, wearing a skinsuit still makes a potentially strong statement. But this one feels so good, I'm willing to own it—and do so with a smile.

This High-Tech Skinsuit Could Shave Seconds
The S-Works Evade GC skinsuit
Specialized’s new clothing is a key place to improve aerodynamics

Clothing is one of the most overlooked aspects of aerodynamics. But when you consider that a rider has far more frontal surface area than a bike, it is obvious that even small improvements matter.

The S-Works Evade GC skinsuit will come in 11 sizes to ensure that riders can get as close to a custom fit as possible without the $1,500 price tag that comes with it. Specialized experimented with dozens of fabrics, wrapping cylinder tubes and putting them in the wind tunnel to gauge drag.

They also moved seams around, pulling them off the leading edges of the shoulders and placing them along the back of the shoulder blade and the underarm. That eliminates both a direct problem with the seam itself and the bunching and wrinkling that they produce.

The suit has a full-zip front and is anchored only in the back—much like Castelli’s San Remo Speed Suit. Three pockets are welded to the back. You can’t fit a ton in them, but they are entirely functional. That gives it some real-world appeal, although properly fitted, it’s still going to make you into a human sausage. And you can have any color you like as long as it’s black.