TESTED: 100 Percent clothing

Words: Will Shaw

Photos: Tim Bardsley-Smith

There’s no doubt 100% are a ‘cool’ brand in the mountain bike world. With exciting riders on the World Cup circuit such as Thomas Estaque, Hugo Frixtalon, and World Champ Reece Wilson wearing their threads, 100% is a brand I see local groms wearing all the time.

Despite the aesthetic appeal of the brand, it’s the performance of the products I’m most interested in, so I was excited to get my hands on a range of 100% kit for our Snowies Roadie, including the R-Core X DH Shorts, R-Core long sleeve jersey, Airmatic jersey and Airmatic 3/4 jersey.

100 Percent R-Core X DH Shorts

The R-Core X DH Shorts are 100%’s premium short offering for gravity riding, and they feature an array of features that reflect this. Firstly, there’s the BOA waist closure. I’ve got to admit, when I first saw this I was sceptical about the need for a BOA dial on the waist, but after the first use I was sold. As opposed to Velcro waist straps or the fiddly belts some shorts come with, the BOA dial offers fantastic micro adjustment that tightens evenly around your whole waist. Using the right to tighten, pop up to open configuration, the shorts are easy to get on and off.

Another nod to keeping your shorts in place while riding is the silicone grippers on the inside of the waistband. Combined with the BOA dials, the R-Cores aren’t going anywhere.

There are two zippered pockets on the front of the shorts, and common items like phones and keys fit well and aren’t obtrusive while pedalling. On the topic of pedalling, the 4 way stretch material gives nicely, and these shorts feel the goods when you’re spinning your way up a climb. Your essentials aren’t getting wet in the R-Cores either, as the material is remarkably waterproof.

Lastly, the dreaded ‘squid gap’ is a thing of the past in the R-Cores. The length of the short was just about perfect for me, straddling that line between too short and riding up my quads, but also not looking like ankle swingers and catching my knees with every pedal stroke.

Are there any downsides to these shorts? If you’re willing to pay the price, then not really! At $189.99 they’re definitely not cheap, particularly when you consider that something like DHaRCO’s Gravity Shorts come in at $125. That being said, the little touches on these shorts really do warrant their premium price tag, and they’ve become a wardrobe favourite for me!

I also used the short sleeve Airmatic Jersey in the Brick/Dark Red colourway. This jersey is in the category of riding kits that are acceptable to wear outside of the world of mountain biking. The heather jersey fabric looks and feels much more like a casual tee than the traditionally ‘sporty’ world of mountain bike apparel.

The jersey has some nifty features. These include a dropped tail, so the jersey isn’t riding up your back when you’re descending, an ever-handy goggle wipe, as well as a reflective logo on the back.

Despite doubling up as a riding top and something you can wear in the real world; the heather fabric is comfortable and does an impressive job of keeping you cool. This being said, it wouldn’t be my first choice for genuine summer days, as something like the R Core Jersey does a better job of allowing airflow when the temperature is up and there’s not much wind about.

The second jersey I’ve been riding is the Airmatic ¾ in black. The black colourway features fairly subtle 100% decals, so it should go with black shorts or pants from another brand if that’s the kind of thing that’s important to you.

Once again, the Airmatic ¾ is made with 100 percent’s technical heather fabric, and it also features the dropped tail, goggle wipe, and reflective logo. The Airmatic ¾ did the same impressive job of keeping me cool until the temperatures really crept up, and it also did a good job of covering elbow pads, which I see as a critical function of any ¾. This jersey would be a great choice in the shoulder months, and even winter.

The final jersey I’ve been riding is the R Core Jersey in black and red. This long sleeve jersey was my pick of the bunch due to its great fit, outstanding breathability and low-key aesthetic. It features all of the same features as the Airmatic jerseys, but in a 100% polyester package that ran far cooler on my 30 degree plus lunch rides in Newcastle.

The fits of these jerseys on the whole were fantastic using the 100 Percent size guide, which is always appreciated. The fit of the Airmatic jerseys is on the modern, tighter end of the spectrum. In comparison, the R Core has a slither more room, which would allow for chest and back protection as the R Core is a gravity jersey.

Overall, the 100 Percent jersey range impressed me with its blend of form and function. My choice for summer conditions would be the R Core long sleeve for gravity riding, and I’d be keen to try the Celium and Ridecamp jerseys also as a short sleeve option when the temperatures creep up. For the shoulder seasons and winter the Airmatics are a great choice, as well as offering a more casual aesthetic. I would also wear the Airmatic short sleeve to the pump track or dirt jumps, as it’ll keep you a whole lot cooler than standard casual wear.

RRP: Airmatic $69.95 | R-Core $89.99

https://www.fesports.com.au/Shop/C_1549/100%25From: FE Sports