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review

Lusso Windbloc T Shirt

8
£35.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Ideal for going fast on cooler days. Just be aware that if it gets warm so will you
Weight: 
131g
Contact: 
www.lusso.bike/mens/base-layers/windbloc-t-shirt.html

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Sometimes simple is best. The Lusso Windbloc T-shirt has a simple brief: keep the wind off your front. This it does, and does so well it's almost to a fault.

These days many cycling products are trying to be everything to everyone, for every ride - which can lead to paralysis in the bedroom as you try to work out *which* of the multifunctional garments you'll need for *this* particular ride, give the forecast *right now*. Which one will deliver the best performance with the least compromise?

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Buy this online here

Background: Lusso have been around since 1982, and the kit's designed and made in Manchester. Yep, you get a little Union flag on your arm. The husband and wife founders come from pro racing and M&S (yes, that M&S) clothing skunkworks backgrounds, so they know what nippy riders want and how to build it. To stay in the bike biz for 33 years is no mean feat, so they're doing something right.

From the back/sides the Windbloc T-shirt looks like any one of a hundred white slightly-meshy baselayers, now all the rage as people realise that more layers can actually mean cooler/dryer, as well as warmer. Whilst you'd think this is a New Thing that Sky discovered in their marginal gains crusade, the Norwegians have known this for decades. With their native experience of working very hard in cold weather they know a thing or ten about wicking and breathability, and the rest of the world is catching on. So around the back and arms the Lusso Windblock is so far, so normal. It's a close-ish mesh, that does the job of both trapping a layer of air against the skin when it's cool whilst allowing moisture to wick and evaporate as you or the weather hots up. It's not a tight fit, but the slightly-short elasticated arms stay put when putting on and moving about inside a jersey. Across the bottom of the front is a normal mesh panel that allows you to tuck the shirt in whilst also allowing breathability for what will be underneath a layer of bibshort.

Buyers Guide to Base Layers

The big story here is the front panel. It's WindTex. Or witchcraft. Probably both. The fabric slips between your fingers feeling like it's two layers, but it's only one. You can see through it to a degree, but it's completely windproof.

The sensation when riding is slightly strange at first. It's like your chest and stomach are somehow in a different climate to the rest of you - which to an extent they are.

So the Lusso Windblock T-Shirt does one thing - keeps the wind off - and does it very well indeed. Where does this make it useful? Most likely in situations where you'd normally wear a base layer, jersey and pack a gilet for that cold, fast descent. Most gilets are the same fabric all the way around so back breathability is restricted. Plus you have the bulk of the zip and any pockets, which usually adds up to a pocket-full to tout about and haul out/pack away as needed.

Opting for the Lusso Windblock T-Shirt frees up space for more kit in the pockets, but be aware that if the temperature climbs your options for getting more air on the front are limited to a roadside strip-tease. The relatively loose fit means if you unzip your jersey there's some breeze works its way down the neck, but not much. Again, when you have one job and do it very well, any attempt to bring in different objectives will usually end in tears. Or, in this case, sweat.

I found the Windblock shirt to be good for temps from 8-15*C - the sort of ride where I'd normally pack a gilet and not consider taking a proper jacket. If the sun came out and a hillclimb was encountered things could begin to get a bit warm, but not overly get-me-out-of-this-kit so. Of course there's nothing to stop you from taking a gilet as well for an extra layer of insulation, but this would seem a bit belt & braces given the Windblock does such a great job of blocking the wind.

The seams around the front panel are flatlocked but not around the shoulder and under the arm. That said, if you go for a looser fit (as is best) they weren't uncomfortable. The back is cut just long enough to be right when on the bike.

Size-wise with a 38' chest the Large was more comfortable than the Medium, which felt a bit restricted around the armpits. The Large gave an extra inch of length in the arms - in a garment like this arms are pretty superfluous but the fit was better. If you pack guns like Arnie you'll definitely need to go larger. Lusso's sizing chart says a 38' chest is borderline Small-Medium, in my opinion that's going to feel too tight for many.

A top end lightweight gilet can set you back a hundred quid or more. For £35 the Lusso Windblock T-Shirt does the same job of protecting your core from high-speed cooling, frees up a jersey pocket and gives you the white baselayer pro look.

It's ideal for going fast on cooler days. Just be aware that if it gets warm so will you, and if you need to layer up in warm weather - for example, in the event of heavy rain - your venting options will be limited.

Verdict

It's ideal for going fast on cooler days. Just be aware that if it gets warm so will you

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Lusso Wind Block T Shirt

Size tested: White

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?

It's for people who don't want to purchase or carry a gilet, for riding quickly where it's not too warm.

Lusso say:

Windspeed T-Shirt features a WindBlock front panel keeping your core warm.

Features:

* WindBlock Front panel

* Carbon Side and base panels

* MicroFibre breathable back panel

* Long Back

* Made in UK

* Machine Washable

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

WindTex front panel totally stops all wind. The rest of it's pretty standard baselayer stuff.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

It's well put-together. Would be nicer if all the seams were flatlocked.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

It stops the wind, dead.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

After a dozen or so washes, it still looks great. No concerns

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

It weigh almost nothing.well, 131g to be exact, in Large.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

When on, in cooler weather, it's only noticeable because of the wind it's stopping. Once it warms up or you slow down, it's noticeable because it's not letting air through. For £35, possibly saving you buying a gilet, it's good value.

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

Very well indeed. It Blocks the wind.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The overall function and styling is subtle, and effective

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

If anything, the arms. A tad tight.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

If you know what you want it for, it's a good addition to any cyclist's wardrobe.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 183cm  Weight: 71KG

I usually ride: Charge Juicer  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: club rides, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, MTB, singlespeed and Dutch bike pootling

 

Living in the Highlands, Mike is constantly finding innovative and usually cold/wet ways to accelerate the degradation of cycling kit. At his happiest in a warm workshop holding an anodised tool of high repute, Mike's been taking bikes apart and (mostly) putting them back together for forty years. With a day job in global IT (he's not completely sure what that means either) and having run a boutique cycle service business on the side for a decade, bikes are his escape into the practical and life-changing for his customers.

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8 comments

Avatar
hsiaolc | 8 years ago
0 likes

To those who likes it good for you. For me I prefer the versatility of the gilet so like the weather in spring when it is 8c in the morning the extra layer gives that warmth and in the afternoon at 15-16c then the gilet is off to give that comfort of not over heating. With this base layer which doesn't not regulate heat very well will be very uncomfortable in the heat.
I rather get the property base layer with a gabba jersey to block out the wind and if it gets hot then you can unzip all the way.

Avatar
KiwiMike replied to hsiaolc | 8 years ago
0 likes
hsiaolc wrote:

To those who likes it good for you.

We appear to be in violent agreement as to the right to disagree, over a subject clearly caveated the bejeesus out of in the review and follow-up comments.

Hooray for democracy!

Avatar
alexb | 8 years ago
0 likes

I've been using a no-name wind-vest for years and it does exactly what this review says. It keeps your chest warm on days where you really can't be bothered with loads of layers.
There are days when you know you are going to want to be out in a light jersey and perhaps have the gilet, or lightweight waterproof in a back pocket as well, but the weather is not quite warm enough to go without some form of chest protection.

Avatar
eddie11 | 8 years ago
0 likes

third the price of a decent gilet?

not sure about that, however what they are good for is putting under a club jersey for early season racing or just to look the part on the club run instead of covering it up with a gilet.

Avatar
hsiaolc | 8 years ago
0 likes

I am not convinced. In a gilet you can take it off when hot. You can unzip to let air in. For a Jersey you can also unzip and let air in.

With this you are stuck if you get too hot. You will have to strip and then you are left without a base layer.

Not sure I get it.

Avatar
KiwiMike replied to hsiaolc | 8 years ago
0 likes
hsiaolc wrote:

I am not convinced. In a gilet you can take it off when hot. You can unzip to let air in. For a Jersey you can also unzip and let air in.

With this you are stuck if you get too hot. You will have to strip and then you are left without a base layer.

Not sure I get it.

Probably the clearest scenario I can think of is a low-to-mid-teens day, not forecast to get warmer, where you plan to push on. If your only option was a gilet which is probably overkill, too warm/no need for a jacket, then this shirt could do the trick. It's 1/3 the price of a decent gilet, so no big shakes. You just need to understand the use case. No, it's not for everyone.

Avatar
Curly replied to hsiaolc | 8 years ago
0 likes
hsiaolc wrote:

I am not convinced. In a gilet you can take it off when hot. You can unzip to let air in. For a Jersey you can also unzip and let air in.

With this you are stuck if you get too hot. You will have to strip and then you are left without a base layer.

Not sure I get it.

For me with this wind bloc base I use less layers, ideal under a skinsuit and race jersey
And stops me from getting a bad chest in a cold wind! I hate getting to hot in races with to much kit on.
I prefer it to a gillet when training,because of the lack of wind noise on decents.

Avatar
Curly | 8 years ago
0 likes

I've one for a while its brill especially for early season road racing and time trials, I'm a 40" chest and the Large fits me spot on!!

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