rh+ Fusion Wind Out bib tights

The Zero RH Fusion Wind Out bib tights are full-on winter tights that make use of a thick, windproof material and a water repellent fabric on the shins to ward off any road spray. The inside surfaces have a fleecy feel to them and provide plenty of warmth while also being comfortable on the skin.

The Fusion tights are extremely warm and this limits them to being used in temperatures below about 6 degrees. A bove that things get very sweaty indeed, which is not helped by the very limited breathability of the material. As such, these are quite a specialist item and not a pair of tights which will get worn day in and day out for most in the UK.

The upside of the poor breathability is that the tights really do a good job of cutting out the wind, making it a non-issue. The water repellent shin material does its job pretty well, but the benefits are limited given than only the shins (and even then, not all of them) are covered. It might have been nice to include the same material on the bum section to protect against spray in that area too; a wet behind is usually a bigger problem than wet shins in my experience.

Given the limited stretch in the windproof material, the cut of the various panels is crucial to the overall fit of the bibtights. In this regard, the Fusion's are on the small side for their stated size, typical of an Italian brand, so I'd recommend most people to go a size up from normal. I was able to just about squeeze into my usual medium, but the fit around the ankle was very tight. In terms of length, the Fusion's are about right – the issue is the width of the legs.

Speaking of ankle fit, the rather stout zips that are used in this area were the source of a little discomfort due to their location. RH have chosen to place the zip right at the back of the leg, which means that tape extension at the top of the zip happens to lie smack dab on top of the calf muscle. Due to the compressive nature of the tights, this caused a bit of a pressure point at this location. It's not a total deal breaker, but worth noting considering the premium nature of the tights.

Up top, the main talking point is the elasticated braces that take the place of traditional straps. Though they distinguish the Fusions from other bibtights, there doesn't seem to be any benefit to them at all – a case of gimmick instead of genuine innovation. The front section is cut low, below the belly button, and includes a panel of very elastic material to provide some give in this area.

The chamois pad is RH's own 'prologic' model and features a number of different thicknesses and grooves to improve ventilation. The thickest padding is designed to support the sit bones and the areas where it's used are spaced about 10cm apart. This may be on the narrow side for some, especially those who don't rotate their hips forwards very much on the bike. The front of the pad is sufficiently extended to provide an extra layer of wind and 'modesty' protection.

Pad design is only one contributing factor to comfort however, the other being pad placement. RH have catered to a more aggressive riding position by placing the chamois quite far forwards. Personally, I found it to be perfectly placed as the areas of thickest padding lined up nicely with my sit bones. The narrow overall pad width does mean that there's less room for error in comparison to more generous pads, so I'd recommend giving these a try before any purchase if you can.

At £145, the Fusions need to be seen as an investment for those who absolutely must get out when the going gets cold. If the pad fits you and you don't experience the same zip/calf issue that my particular body shape caused, then you could do a lot worse for the money.

Verdict

The Fusions do a lot of things well and will keep you toasty down into freezing temperatures, but a couple of niggles will hold them back for some.