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review

Sugoi Greta Capri

8
£80.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Really versatile 3/4 style trousers, perfect for touring and urban use, but some issues with sizing and an adjustable waist would be nice
Weight: 
456g
Contact: 
www.sugoi.com

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The Greta Capri from Sugoi is a godsend for tourists, commuters, recreational riders or anyone who just wants to avoid looking too much like a cyclist. For many cyclists a pair of trousers or capris in the wardrobe is a very handy thing indeed, bridging, as it does, the gap between casual street wear and practical on bike performance. The key however, is finding a pair that look relaxed enough, but also take into account the needs of the rider, be they sporty or otherwise.

Made from tough stretch soft-shell type fabric, these are styled to be loose, but not too loose, and come with a pair of padded liner shorts. The liners are fastened in with fabric tags, but can easily be snipped out to allow for liner swapping.

The fit is relaxed and baggy without being a nuisance on the bike, and press studs at the bottoms allow for cinching them in a little to prevent flapping. They are designed to fit quite low on the waist, for a bit of street style and there are belt loops to add a belt. Two Velcro fastening side pockets and two discrete back pockets with zip closures mean there are plenty of options for places to squirrel bits and pieces away, although you'd not want to stick your phone in one of the back pockets! The crotch area is constructed without seams where they could be uncomfortable, as you'd hope from a dedicated piece of cycling kit, but the best feature is the combination of stretch fabric and slightly articulated knees which make pedaling much easier than some more traditionally styled capris.

The liner shorts are well padded, with a shaped and pre-contoured and female specific pad, the RC Pro chamois, and are made from a lightweight moisture wicking stretch mesh fabric. They have leg grippers and a broad comfort waistband.

In wear, the first thing I noticed about these was the big difference between the sizes. Sizing is slightly on the small side, especially with the liner shorts (narrow at legs and boxy at waist) so having tried both, I went up a size to be on the safe side. However, there's a substantial difference between the sizes, meaning that although the smaller one is snug, the larger is really quite generous, particularly at the waist. Ideally I'd have liked some sort of tab to cinch in or customize the waist as Sugoi use on some of their other shorts, rather than just a belt option. I have encountered similar sizing issues with Sugoi's liner shorts in the past, and these appear to carry on that tradition. The liner shorts are designed to sit very low at the waist (to work with the waistband of the capris) and if they are on the large size they can migrate.

Aside from sizing issues, the were comfortable for long rides and great to walk around in too, making them ideal for touring and caf rides. The stretch in the fabric meant they didn't bind on the thigh when pedaling either.

All in all, these are an incredibly comfortable and great looking pair of cycling , it's just worth trying a couple of pairs to see which size suits best. They would also be improved by an adjustable waist of some sort.

Verdict

Really versatile 3/4 style trousers, perfect for touring and urban use, but some issues with sizing and an adjustable waist would be nice.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Sugoi Greta Capri

Size tested: Large

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?

Aimed at 'anyone wanting a longer cycling short'

Great for recreation, commuting, urban and touring use. Or off-road.

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

Made from stretchy 89% polyester, 11% spandex 'Mobil Carbon' fabric

Mobile Carbon has anti-odour and anti-microbial properties.

Water repellent finish.

Stretch mesh liner shorts made from 92% polyester 8% spandex.

RC Pro shaped female specific chamois pad.

Leg grippers.

Available in sizes S, M, L

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Very well made from high quality fabrics, but sizing slightly problematic.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Really comfortable and easy to wear for all sorts of riding.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

Anti-odour properties of fabric should help with long-term useage and general build quality and fabrics are good quality and should last well.

The ability to change liners is handy too.

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

Very comfortable indeed, even with sizing issues.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Good value when you consider how often they will get worn.

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

Performed really well for touring, commuting and general urban riding.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Style, fabric, versatility

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Sizing, fit of liner shorts

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?

A versatile and chilled pair of 3/4, but could be enhanced by inclusion of waistband adjustment. Try the sizing before you buy.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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