Sportful Giara kit review

Part of a range designed for gravel riding or adventure in general, the Sportful Giara kit stands out for its comfort and large reflective patterns. A soft and pleasant jersey and bib shorts to wear, even on more traditional road rides.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: 3bikes.fr – @Sportful

The Giara jersey is slightly looser than “performance” road jerseys, and will therefore suit those for whom aerodynamics are not a priority. In return, it is as comfortable to wear as a T-shirt with its combination of light and breathable, and above all non-compressive, fabrics. It benefits from well-thought-out practical details, such as the additional zippered back pocket, the silicone elastic band on the lower back for support, and the large reflective strips on the chest, back, and left sleeve for greater visibility on the road or… in the woods. An elegant combination that will be appreciated by gravel enthusiasts, bikepacking cyclists, and two-wheeled epicureans in general.

The soft-touch fabrics with a “knitted” look (at least for the large upper part of the jersey) are pleasant and easy to put on, while the central zipper is very easy to operate. Designed for temperatures above 15°C, the Giara also needs to be opened frequently when the thermometer exceeds 23/24°C. In this respect, it is less airy than specific jerseys for hot weather. Nevertheless, you stay dry because the fabrics used do not retain moisture.

At the sleeves, it’s also quite loose. They don’t constrict, as is the case with many jerseys on the market (at least with “normal” arms).

While comfort is its main asset, we nevertheless regret the too light support at the pockets, mainly due to the somewhat wide cut. Repair essentials, a slightly heavy smartphone, or substantial provisions seem to pull the jersey down slightly, and bounce a little in the back during accelerations out of the saddle. This is a bit annoying on the road, but sometimes downright hindering on gravel paths, amidst the jolts caused by the terrain and with the risk of losing the contents of the pockets.

The Giara jersey is available in five colors and six sizes, priced at €84.90.

A chamois pad specifically for Gravel

Understated, the Giara bib shorts are aesthetically distinguished by their wide reflective strip at the bottom of the left leg. Anatomically designed, they are held in place by breathable mesh straps and two wide bands with silicone patterns at the legs. The DMS chamois pad is presented as being specially designed for Gravel, combining several densities, with the thickest part positioned at the back, which seems quite logical given the position naturally adopted on somewhat bumpy courses. A fairly neutral characteristic on the road with hands on the drops, since the front part of the pad has a normal thickness.

Just like the jersey, the Giara bib shorts seem to run a little large when you’re used to wearing more aerodynamic kits. They don’t compress the thighs, but on the other hand, they are tighter at the retention bands, which allows them to stay perfectly in place. They are also quite long. With this model, Sportful is simply following the current trend in the field, even if the Giara is not specifically designed to limit air penetration (the usual argument to justify the length of bib shorts).

Available in two colors and six sizes, the Sportful Giara bib shorts are sold for €89.90.

Socks to complete the kit

To complete the Giara kit, the Supergiara socks combine a construction with antibacterial threads at the foot, and a very fine mesh part above the ankle.

The socks are thin and airy, and above all, the upper part has no elastic. This is super comfortable, it avoids the feeling of compression, but the top of the sock tends to curl up slightly. The Supergiara nevertheless stay perfectly in place.

They are available in three colors and three sizes, priced at €27.90.

In conclusion

With the Giara kit, Sportful emphasizes comfort and style, and the objective seems largely achieved. The value for money is very good, even if performance, aerodynamics, and good support were not prioritized here.

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