Craft

Craft's Zero Bike Sock is their 'most comfortable, best performing bike sock to date' if they do say so themselves. A sock for fair to cold conditions, it is certainly very comfortable, but if you don't like draughts around the ankle - especially if you are a longer legged type you might want something with a longer cuff.

Safety vests probably aren't going to win any awards at the next fashion show (although who knows, perhaps fluorescent is this years florals) but there is no denying their ability to make you seen on the road. Craft's offering is well cut and designed, with features like a meshed backing and plenty of reflective material showing their prestige as a quality clothing manufacturer.

You know the old saying, 'cover your head, 40% of heat of lost through it' and while that may be a bit of a myth there's no denying that a layer under your helmet can really increase your cold weather comfort on the bike. Craft's Zero Extreme WS (Wind Stopper) Skull Hat is one option for doing just that.

Craft's single-thickness Thermal Multi Grip gloves are made from a stretchy fleece fabric that provides a middling level of warmth and work well as a liner glove when it's really cold or on their own in autumn or spring.

Craft are specialists in the field of base layers with a whole section on their website dedicated to their 'layering system' and it shows in the Zero Extreme Windstopper.

Overshoes come in two varieties: neoprene like a wet suit, good for an insulating layer but not waterproof and once wet, they tend to get colder and colder; and waterproof ones like the Craft Rain Bootie, which like a dry suit, hold the water off (there is of course TT overshoes too but let's just talk weather comforts). Craft say their Rain Bootie is 100% waterproof and they certainly kept my feet dry although I'm not sure that it's the ultimate "shoe poncho" as Craft also claim.

Although they make a full range of cycling, running and skiing clothing, Craft are best known for their base layers and this is another top performer to keep you comfortable on high-intensity autumn/winter rides.

The way Craft name their base layers is confusing, to be blunt. The Craft Pro Cool clothing is designed to keep you cool in warm conditions. Okay. The Pro Warm is designed to keep you warm in cold conditions. Okay. Then, sitting between those two is the Pro Zero that's designed to keep you comfortable in fair to cold conditions.