Review: ION clothing: Avid T Shirt and Helium Short
29 January 2014 | By fyldesmurfLaunched ten years ago as a wetsuit brand, Ion may not be a name you know in the mountain biking clothing industry, however they have big ambitions to change that.
Targeting predominantly the freeride world, sponsoring riders such as Sam Pilgrim, Antione Bizet and Thomans Genon, they have released their 2014 range and we got the chance to test the Helium t-shirt and Avid shorts from their Scrub line.
Helium T Shirt Jersey
The first impressions we got of the clothes were good. The Helium shirt, with it's striking and classically minimalist design made it an instant favourite, this combined with its light fabric, made it look very wearable.
Avid Shorts
The shorts, a lot more garish than the top, were not such a hit looks wise, but harnessing Ion's surf mentality with a board short fit, they too had a feeling of comfort, essential in any trail short. It's worth saying that the shorts are also available in more modest colours if hi vis yellow isn't your thing!
Features
Helium T shirt
The top is made of two separate materials, the back and sleeves of the jersey are made of 100% Polyester with Drirelease technology. Drirelease is a special fabric that dries 4 times faster than classic cotton, ensuring your sweat gets wicked away quickly. The front chest panel is 85% polyester and 15% cotton. The added cotton is woven in to provide wind chill protection, stopping you getting too cold.
The jersey will also keep you smelling fresh, using its Sanitized Technology, a concept which originates from Ion's wetsuit background, that prevents the growth of bacteria in wet clothing.
On the left sleeve is a zip pocket for a lift pass and under the hem at the bottom of the shirt is a panel for wiping goggles or glasses. Finally the jersey features a number of reflective panels to keep you safe if you're riding at night.
Avid Short
Whilst it may fall down in the looks department, the Avid makes up for it by being packed with features.
The short is mostly made from an 88% nylon, 12% spandex mix with Durable Water Repellence (DWR) treatment meaning the short will be tough and long lasting as well as easy to just wipe down and leave at the end of a ride.
The short also has a panel for your lower back made from a highly flexible neoprene, called Air_Prene, which is sanitised and breathable for preventing unflattering bum sweat.
2 velcro adjusters and a string tie make the shorts highly adjustable to ensure a good fit. The loose ends of the string ties can be hidden away in lace ports, to prevent them catching on your bar ends. The short has 2 zipped front pockets, including one lined with neoprene to protect your phone against showers and light impacts.
The seams are double stitched and even bonded in places to ensure the longevity of the shorts ride after ride.
Similarly to the shirt, the short is also decorated with reflective strips for night riding.
Performance
Helium Jersey
The Helium Jersey was great to take out on the trails, providing everything you would expect from a high end trail jersey. The cotton front was enough to keep you warm (even on the Lake District fells in December) and this was balanced out with the arm and back panels preventing you overheating.
I used the goggle wipe system a surprisingly large amount, it's one of those features you don't realise you need until you actually have one!
Avid Short
It is only when you ride the Avid Shorts you realise how innovative the fit actually is. The robust fastenings securely hold the relaxed waistline in place, whilst the slim legs and flexible material mean that there is no flapping fabric to get in the way or to get caught on anything.
The shorts were water resistant enough to repel splashes and light showers but were not able to keep out the water in a prolonged period of rain, this combined with the thinness of the short, means it is probably not the most suitable for Winter.
The pockets are small, with just enough room to fit in car keys and a bit of spare change, but the zips are sturdy and will no doubt stand up to some abuse, keeping what you do have in there secure. We weren't brave enough to test the phone pocket in the rain, but the neoprene will certainly protect if you don't plan on doing overly extreme riding.
The main thing to take from these shorts though is their level of comfort. They can be worn all day every day and are comfortable and durable enough to handle whatever you throw at them, be that an uplift day, a cross-country marathon, or even chilling in the pub afterwards.
Conclusion
Some Ion gear would definitely be a wise investment for all your Summer riding, with great potential and lots of unique features. The main selling point is their relaxed, comfortable fit, but this laid-back appearance hides some quality features, as you'd expect from clothing in this price range.
Comfortable and simple, you wouldn't go too far wrong adopting a selection of Ion kit from the new line up for your summer wardrobe.
There is just one problem, however, there are currently no UK distributors, this means you'll have to order from Europe, or pressure you LBS in getting some in!
