Etxeondo 76 Jacket / KOM Bib Tights Review

To cope with the complexity of certain winter conditions, the Spanish brand Etxeondo offers an outfit that adapts to a wide temperature range, at least to those that can be encountered between November and March in our latitudes. The 76 jacket and KOM tights are also very well finished.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: Etxeondo / 3bikes.fr / DR

Etxeondo – pronounced Etsje-Ondo – is a Basque brand that has existed since 1976 (hence the name of the 76 jacket) and has since manufactured high-quality cycling clothing for all categories of riders. Always associated with the local Euskaltel – Euskadi team, Etxeondo has extensive experience in top-level competition, and the brand has even supplied other top-level teams such as Team Sunweb, for example. Thanks to this expertise, Etxeondo prides itself on offering a range of comfortable, well-fitting, and well-finished garments, and above all, well adapted to riding conditions, as is the case here with the 76 jacket.

This jacket is intended to be the essential jacket for winter training because it covers the vast majority of conditions encountered in our latitudes in autumn and winter, i.e., with temperatures from 0 to 12-13°C, cool wind, and humidity. Thanks to the protection it provides and its lightness, it is designed not to hinder movement, in order to promote sustained training. The front, sleeves, and back use Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabric, like some other very high-end jackets from competitors. This fabric offers total wind resistance while being elastic to ensure a close fit, and it maintains stable body temperature. It wicks excess heat outwards and thus ensures very good breathability. The outer layer of the fabric benefits from a water-repellent treatment that protects against light showers and does not alter the qualities of Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper.

Inside the jacket, a thin, warm fleece lining protects the most exposed areas, such as the chest and stomach, to provide warmth, but without creating overheating. The 76 jacket thus offers a little more thickness compared to some competing products, but the fit is snug. This prevents too much wind from entering, especially around the arms and shoulders. In addition, there are three pockets at the back, perfectly flat against the back but with fairly high access, and reflective elements for better visibility. The 76 jacket is available in four rather original colors (which differ from black) and in six sizes, from S to XXXL.

=> SEE ALSO : Buy the Etxeondo 76 jacket

A versatile Kom long bib tight

The Kom tights are comfortable and moderately lightweight, while protecting against the cold. This model prioritizes fit over superfluous protection, for use in intense conditions. It features Thermosystem Ketaren fabric, with light but warm, quick-drying fibers.

Regarding the seams, there is an absence on the inside of the thighs, to limit chafing. The different panels, however, allow for a good fit in the pedaling position. The straps are designed in one piece and without seams, to improve comfort and layering with the base layer and a jacket. The chamois with an antibacterial treatment is the brand’s Uda model, with high-density foam without adhesive to avoid allergic reactions or excessive skin heating.

At the back, there is an embroidered Etxeondo logo and two reflective elements to improve visibility on the road. At the bottom of the leg, an elastic part with a gripper band keeps the tights in place, without disturbing the wearing of shoe covers.

=> SEE ALSO : Buy the Etxeondo KOM tights

On the road

The first impression left by the Etxeondo outfit is one of quality, with beautiful finishes and a cut that perfectly hugs the curves of the body. The tights are very pleasant, and the insert perfectly conforms to the anatomy. The jacket seems a little “stiffer” than the competition, at least when putting it on, due to its greater thickness than other products using the same fabric. It is also very fitted, like Castelli or Sportful. This is good to know when choosing the size. The back pockets are not very easy to access, at least while riding, because they are a little high. On the other hand, they perfectly hold the contents (keys, phone, food) without creating any bouncing.

Tested for the first time in relatively mild temperatures of 10 to 12°C, the outfit proves comfortable, and even completely forgotten. Thanks to the absence of creases and an insert that does not move, we can imagine the bib shorts accompanying us during long rides, and especially until at least mid-spring. As for the jacket, it causes neither overheating nor particular discomfort, even when pushing the intensity.

It took us a few weeks before we dared to face a slightly sharper cold with this outfit, probably out of habit with the rest of our wardrobe, and for fear of shivering throughout the ride. So it was with a windproof vest in our pocket for “safety” that we tested the outfit in temperatures below 5°C with a sustained north-easterly wind. While the first few hundred meters are slightly unpleasant, especially in the arms, we are very quickly reassured about the insulating capabilities of the 76 jacket. The wind is not felt at all in the torso, the lining provides the necessary warmth, and above all, the fit prevents the wind from infiltrating. A small extra neck warmer even provides ideal warmth to stay comfortable. Under the jacket, a long-sleeved technical base layer is sufficient. With a slightly less sustained wind, the outfit is probably usable in temperatures close to 0°C.

In light rain, the 76 jacket delays the moment you eventually get wet. The fabric perfectly handles splashes and the humidity created by the winter atmosphere. In more intense rain, however, no miracles. The tights get soaked, and you end up getting wet at the lower back and stomach due to the contact between the two elements. If the temperature remains around 8-10°C, the situation remains manageable in the case of somewhat intense activity. Around 5°C, it is better to bring additional rain protection, which you can put on at least for the end of the session, during the cool-down period.

While the Etxeondo outfit, consisting of the 76 jacket and Kom tights, doesn’t work miracles in very difficult conditions, it has the merit of being ultra-versatile and able to cover the needs of the athletic cyclist across a wide range of temperatures. It owes this characteristic to the materials used and its ultra-fitted cut. A true outfit for a keen racer or sportive rider who doesn’t plan to spend their winter pedaling on an indoor trainer!

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