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review

Lusso Race Base Mesh Base Layer

9
£24.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Nothing groundbreaking in terms of fabric but attention to detail and the fit makes it one of the best
Weight: 
65g
Contact: 

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.

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Like many other tops of its kind, the Lusso Race Base Mesh Base Layer works really well in warm conditions, wicking away sweat and keeping you cool, but it's the overall design and fit that makes the Lusso stand out.

The cut is more like a race jersey than an undergarment, and you certainly feel ready for your ride when you put it on.

As with all of Lusso's kit, the Race Base is made here in the UK and it's good to see that homegrown goods can still compete on price: at £24.99 it's a good tenner cheaper than the recently tested Castelli Pro Issue and even less than the Hackney GT Bang.

Lusso hasn't achieved that price by scrimping on quality either. The overall construction is very neat and tidy – the whole thing just screams a top notch jersey, and it feels impressively durable too.

I've quite a collection of these mesh baselayers, from the likes of One-ten, Castelli, Craft, to name but a few, all at varying prices, but the Lusso trumps them all in the way it feels when you are wearing it. The Race Base is made from a synthetic fibre – an Italian multi-filament yarn is how Lusso describes it – and boy is it soft against the skin.

Lusso Race Base Mesh Base layer - back.jpg

Lusso has designed the Race Base to fit close by using multiple panels and the stretch of the fabric. It cinches in at the waist too so there is no bunching of fabric underneath a tight fitting race jersey, the same at the sleeves. While I mention the sleeves, I'm also a fan of how short they are – you won't find them poking out under the arms of your jersey.

The cuffs, waistband and neck all use a more stretchy material than the main body to keep everything in place, and the hem has a significant drop to the rear to stop any gaps when crouched low in the saddle.

Size-wise, the baselayer is available in small through to XXL, a spread of 36-48in chest, and the sizing in the charts seems to be pretty spot on; this medium is the size I'd order and it fitted a treat.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best cycling baselayers

As far as breathability goes, the mesh design works very well. If you work really hard or it's a very hot day it can get damp but you never notice it when you are riding. I always wear a baselayer regardless of the weather, and even if the Lusso does get overwhelmed it's still a nicer garment to have next to the skin than a race jersey.

The UK brand has really delivered here right across the board, and even though the Race Base scored well when we reviewed it last year, for 2017 Lusso really does seem to have added some impressive tweaks, it's lighter and seems to have an even better fit. Well worth the price increase of a few quid.

Verdict

Nothing groundbreaking in terms of fabric but attention to detail and the fit makes it one of the best

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Lusso Race Base Mesh Base Layer

Size tested: Medium

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?

Lusso says: "After 12 months testing and working with Italy's leading Fabric supplier Lusso's task was to create something super lightweight, high moisture transfer and important 4 way stretch for the perfect body fit and achieving the most breathable base layer possible in todays market."

I have a lot of mesh baselayers but the Lusso is definitely one of the best, especially when it comes to fit.

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

* High Breathability

* 4 Way Stretch

. Soft Touch

. Lightweight

* Quick Drying

. Anatomically Shaped

* Italian Multi-Filament Yarns

* White Only

* Made in UK

* Machine Washable

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10
Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

It's early days but there doesn't seem to be any staining from sweat after being washed at 30 degrees.

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

One of the best all-round mesh baselayers I've used at a sensible price.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

There isn't anything to really dislike.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

The Lusso doesn't necessarily wick better or is more breathable than other mesh baselayers on the market, but its shape, fit and softness against the skin makes it the one I'd choose. It's cheaper than most too.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithein

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

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!

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1 comments

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keirik | 6 years ago
0 likes

how do you manage to score a garment on fit? surely that is purely dependent on who is wearing it?

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