Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to REVIEWS
review
Brake pads & spares
ODI Hudz Enhancement Brake HoodsODI Hudz Enhancement Brake Hoods

ODI Hudz Enhancement Brake Hoods

8
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Feb 25, 2014

7
£19.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Colourful alternative to plain black hoods that provide a different shape and hand fit to Campag's levers
Weight: 
47g
Contact: 
www.ison-distribution.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

If you're a bit bored with the standard black hoods on your Campagnolo levers you should have a look at Hudz colour options, eight in total so there should be one to match your paint scheme.

These are for the V3 ErgoPower levers and while they fit just as snugly as Campag's own, Hudz have added a couple of little tweaks. For starters the sweep from the handlebars to the top of the brake lever is nowhere near as pronounced as Campagnolo's, it's more of a subtle curve. I actually like Campag's shape, it gives a nice firm grip to hold onto without any chance of slipping should you hit a pothole or something. Saying that though, the subtler radius of the Hudz is more comfortable over longer distances as you kind of rest your hands on it rather than against it.

The bottom of the hood is also deeper giving a larger handhold to grip. It's not quite as smooth a transition as the original's but will suit those of you with large hands.

You need to be a bit dextrous to fit them as they are a nice, snug fit but they are no more hassle than original Campag ones. If you follow the instructions on Hudz's website they go on reasonably well. It takes a little bit of pulling and jiggling to get everything in place but once they're in position they stay there.

Overall they are a good replacement for the original versions; if you have any issues with comfort on Campag's levers these could be just what you need. They now come in a single soft and durable compound, and offer a small weight saving over the originals. At twenty quid they are also a fiver cheaper than Campag's own.

They're also available for various flavours of Shimano brake lever.

Verdict

Colourful alternative to plain black hoods that add a touch of comfort to Campag's levers.

road.cc test report

Make and model: ODI Hudz Enhancement Brake Hoods

Size tested: 8 sent: Bastogne Blue, Milano Lime, Brugge Black, Eroica Celeste, Paris Pink, Roubaix Red, Wallonne White & Vlaanderen Yellow

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Hudz say that these grips "Maintain versatility of the lever shape while improving comfort on the top of the hood, and overall grab-ability. Unique underside profiling enhances finger grip" They are very comfortable and should you find an issue with the standard Campag grips these could be worth a try.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

*Weight savings of 7-12g/set.

*ODI’s proprietary material is soft but durable.

*Colours - Bastogne Blue, Milano Lime, Brugge Black, Eroica Celeste, Paris Pink, Roubaix Red, Wallonne White & Vlaanderen Yellow

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Ideal, they are comfortable, fit well and look good

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

loads more colour options than the standard Campag versions

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

they get grubbier than black ones

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Whatever needs testing or Genesis Flyer, fixed of course!  My best bike is: Kinesis T2 with full Centaur Red

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

ODI Hudz Enhancement Brake Hoods
ODI
Hudz
Stu Kerton

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

7 comments

Latest Comments