Ozio Summer Kit Review

The Ozio brand, as its name doesn’t necessarily indicate, is a very French entity, led by the dynamic Christian Dauvergne. In this competitive textile market, its goal is to promote an unquestionable quality/price ratio. And as the first warm weather arrived, a summer outfit was tested, from Spain to Mont Ventoux, with temperatures sometimes approaching 35°C.

Text: Olivier Dulaurent – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

Here, the Locman jersey and Team bib shorts accumulated the kilometers. To eliminate any “suspense,” let’s state from the outset that at €135 for the bib shorts and €85 for the jersey, the price objective is met. By purchasing both pieces with this offer, you even benefit from a 20% discount, bringing the complete outfit to €176. Of course, this is still a significant sum, but the discussion must be placed on the scale of high-end products, and some competitors with more “prestigious” names display their complete outfits at double the price or even more!

Bib shorts designed for comfort

The bib shorts were tested in a brand new navy blue color, perfectly matching the jersey. As with the vast majority of bib shorts, the color is uniform, but the aesthetic is successful, combining a certain class with excellent finishing. From the outset, the laser cut (without a silicone band) is noticeable. This aspect is confirmed during static fitting, during which the pleasant feel of the fabric and the absence of a “garrot” effect at the bottom of the fabric suggest excellent comfort in the legs. Added to this is a uniform compression that seems ideal once the correct size is chosen (here in Medium): neither too much nor too little. Similarly, the length of the bib shorts is a good compromise between those who prefer “long” and those who prefer “short.”

For these bib shorts, Ozio chose a chamois pad from the manufacturer Elastic Interface, which supplies all the big names in textiles. It is the Combi Men pad that offers differentiated thicknesses up to 14 mm for 120 kg/m³. In this case, this thickness is distributed over one of the widest areas offered by Elastic Interface. Thus, we are dealing with a pad from the brand’s “long distance” range, meaning it can handle rides exceeding 7 hours. But “who can do more can do less,” and 2-hour rides did not leave any sensation of irritation or even numbness.

Thus, regardless of the duration of the ride, the Team bib shorts are characterized by their exceptional comfort. This is confirmed by various testimonials from cyclists encountered here and there, with varied body types and cycling practices. The chamois pad remains perfectly in place, and its comfort is ideal, both at the perineum and on the sit bones. High temperatures do not call for any particular comments compared to rides carried out in more favorable temperature conditions. Here again, this is an additional advantage compared to models that cause excessive sweating and therefore a decrease in overall comfort.

A jersey that aims for efficiency and class

The jersey is primarily notable for its “marinière” aesthetic, echoing French origins in general and Breton ones in particular, born in the 19th century. In the field of cycling textiles, this look has already been seen elsewhere, so the novelty effect is minimal. However, comments from cyclists encountered on the road are laudatory. This jersey is a hit, that’s for sure.

The cut is close to the body but without excess, the size of the tested jersey being Medium. Only those with strong biceps might find that the mesh fabric used on the sleeves lacks elasticity. For others, it will be a strong point, as the absence of folds related to the feel of the material is very pleasant. It should also be noted that these “short but long” sleeves are very much in vogue, in the manner of models used by professionals. While tanning suffers somewhat – but after all, this only shifts the tan line by a few centimeters – it must be noted that the use is very comfortable.

At the bust level, the perforated fabric is particularly pleasant in hot or very hot weather (above 30°C). As for the collar, it also proves pleasant in high heat due to the absence of rising at the neck, but the flap at the back of the zip, which protects the skin well, tends to get caught when closing. A workaround exists and consists of holding the slider with one hand and pushing back the flap with the other, but in the heat of the moment, the maneuver requires a minimum of application.

A word also about the back pockets: spacious enough to carry everything necessary even on long rides, they have the great advantage of not sagging when heavily loaded.

The outcome of this Ozio outfit test is overwhelmingly positive. Indeed, while the price positioning is in an intermediate range, the performance is on par with the very best. The complete outfit is aesthetically successful – which is often the primary reason for purchase – but above all, it is very pleasant to wear as soon as the thermometer is generous. The overall comfort, in particular, is a strong point of the ensemble.

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