Offbrand cycling apparel on Amazon
What is with the offbrand cycling apparel that is sold on Amazon: Sponeed, Przewalski, Baleef, Spotti etc Are they just random Asian manufacturers that produce white label gear? |
You'd just have to try some. I have some Baleaf or Baleef as you mentioned, riding shorts. The shorts seem to be well made, they look great, fit well and are comfortable...for about 30 miles. After that you begin to realize the importance of the quality of the chamois pad. The pad in these seem to just be spongy padding and hold sweat. After about 30 miles I start to feel a bit of discomfort and after 40 miles there is some real chafing happening. If you're able to go on to 50 plus miles plan on a serious saddle sore. But for short rides and just tooling around town or on the MUP then they are great for the money.
I have numerous cheap-o Asian brands such as arm warmers, sweat bands, and some jerseys I really like. I wear cheap jerseys and I've found some I like on Amazon. Just be careful with the sizing and plan on ordering about two sizes larger than you think you need. |
I have a beautiful all Campy equipped Sponeed road bike. Handmade in Italy by Sponeed himself back when.. ok I made that whole thing up. :)
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It's hit and miss. I have a few that work great, and a few that don't...uh, I guess that's what 'hit and miss' means. :D
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Originally Posted by WNCGoater
(Post 20387479)
You'd just have to try some. I have some Baleaf or Baleef as you mentioned, riding shorts. The shorts seem to be well made, they look great, fit well and are comfortable...for about 30 miles. After that you begin to realize the importance of the quality of the chamois pad. The pad in these seem to just be spongy padding and hold sweat. After about 30 miles I start to feel a bit of discomfort and after 40 miles there is some real chafing happening. If you're able to go on to 50 plus miles plan on a serious saddle sore. But for short rides and just tooling around town or on the MUP then they are great for the money.
I have numerous cheap-o Asian brands such as arm warmers, sweat bands, and some jerseys I really like. I wear cheap jerseys and I've found some I like on Amazon. Just be careful with the sizing and plan on ordering about two sizes larger than you think you need. I know there is better chcling gear but never got around to spending to find out. |
Originally Posted by u235
(Post 20387539)
I've done multiday 70+ gravel in the rain in those cheap foam/gel shorts and so far the 4-5 pair I have lasted years. I'm sure I could be less wet and steamy down there but a little diaper rash cream works wonders :). Maybe to personal but even off the bike on my couch doing nothing with good underwear I'm hot there anyway. Catch22 for me, are the shorts thethe padding causing more problems with increased heating and moisture compared to any comfor advantage of having padding?
I know there is better but never got around to spending to find out. |
Originally Posted by roadcurious
(Post 20387285)
What is with the offbrand cycling apparel that is sold on Amazon: Sponeed, Przewalski, Baleef, Spotti etc Are they just random Asian manufacturers that produce white label gear? its good enough for certain situations and there is a need in the market for entry level and short term products. |
Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
(Post 20387546)
I suppose it entirely depends on how used you are to sweat evaporating. Here in Nebraska in high summer...like we've been having this month (but not "normally until July/August)...it doesn't matter if you're wearing $500USD Assos technical garb or not, the dewpoint is too high for sweat to evaporate at all--and everything becomes a sopping wet rag in short order anyway.
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Interesting responses. I’ve tried the Sponeed and the Prz bibs. The Prz is actually okay, the Sponeed fits correctly in the legs but are a little looser in the waist. Both have nice gel pads but I’ve never used a really expensive pair so I can’t compare. For jersey, I ended up ordering a lower end PI jersey because the cheap amazon ones are god awful ugly and I wanted full zip. |
Originally Posted by roadcurious
(Post 20387591)
Interesting responses. I’ve tried the Sponeed and the Prz bibs. The Prz is actually okay, the Sponeed fits correctly in the legs but are a little looser in the waist. Both have nice gel pads but I’ve never used a really expensive pair so I can’t compare. For jersey, I ended up ordering a lower end PI jersey because the cheap amazon ones are god awful ugly and I wanted full zip. |
Originally Posted by WNCGoater
(Post 20387479)
I have some Baleaf or Baleef as you mentioned, riding shorts. The shorts seem to be well made, they look great, fit well and are comfortable...for about 30 miles.
Also ride in their breathable muscle tees (but 2 sizes up). Their zip jersey (actual size) which I use as a very light jacket is decent but has the zipper on the side traditional for women's wear even in the men's. Remembering I need to send back the running shirt as it is also true to size while I ordered a size up. |
Originally Posted by WNCGoater
(Post 20387479)
I wear cheap jerseys and I've found some I like on Amazon. Just be careful with the sizing and plan on ordering about two sizes larger than you think you need.
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Originally Posted by Milton Keynes
(Post 20388708)
Yes, the sizing is always screwed up, from what I understand. I think they have very poor quality control with regards to sizing, because if you read the reviews for them, one person will say that they ordered the size they needed and it fit perfectly, and someone else will say they ordered one size up and it was still too small. But always read the reviews with regards to jersey sizing on those Chinese brands to see how many sizes up you'll need to order.
I won a free jersey on a ride, which was a medium. All my mates laughed thinking it was way too small for me as it was a "medium" (I'm 175# and 5'11" but broad shouldered)....well funny funny, it fits like a jersey should--perfectly. ...not like a bath robe or t-shirt. I've found various Chinese cheap jerseys tend to fit close to right-darn close to what Pearl Izumi cuts. Body hugging and relatively short up front (when standing) and not too long in back either. Shove stuff in pockets and the stuff stays up and off your butt (not drooping and bouncing behind your but like truck-nutz), up front you don't get the folded over mess of overlong jeresys when hunched in the drops. |
Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
(Post 20388884)
Body hugging and relatively short up front (when standing) and not too long in back either.
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Expect to spend $$ getting your size/fit "right", two sizes "up" is a good guess but who knows?
I use shorts and jerseys from A on weekday rides, perfectly functional and comfortable and a 3-4 for 1 value over the high priced spread including donations of "test" kit to suss out my sizes. As always, suit yourself. -Bandera |
Originally Posted by roadcurious
(Post 20388910)
I'll have to try a few and see, I guess the upside is if it's the wrong fit you send it back within 7 days and amazon usually accepts it, especially for clothes.
The more slim you are...the more true-to-size things tend to be with fitted-garb labeled "aero" or "race"...tags sellers tend to tag to get more hits. Between Pearl and Chinese faux-Pearl or faux-Rapha jerseys, the difference is the quality of the zipper and to a small degree the quality of the fabric (also the Pearl tends to be cut a bit longer in the torso in aero/race-cut jerseys) |
Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
(Post 20388941)
Be honest about how heavy-set your are with yourself...is the best advise. In the USA, most folks are so heavy-set that kit-makers had created "race" and "club" cut dichotomy...because some people want aerodynamic body-hugging fitted garb...and others need/want to hide belly paunch and muffin-top.
The more slim you are...the more true-to-size things tend to be with fitted-garb labeled "aero" or "race"...tags sellers tend to tag to get more hits. Between Pearl and Chinese faux-Pearl or faux-Rapha jerseys, the difference is the quality of the zipper and to a small degree the quality of the fabric (also the Pearl tends to be cut a bit longer in the torso in aero/race-cut jerseys) |
I've had hit and miss too from Amazon Chinese products but mostly hits. Reviews are key. Sites like reviewmeta.com and fakespot.com can be a good help at determining if reviews are legit or not.
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Originally Posted by roadcurious
(Post 20387285)
What is with the offbrand cycling apparel that is sold on Amazon: Sponeed, Przewalski, Baleef, Spotti etc Are they just random Asian manufacturers that produce white label gear? |
I've had good luck. I typically read the reviews, order from 4 manufacturers that look the best, return the 3 I like the least, and buy 4 more of the one I liked.
Using that approve I've been very happy with my Spotti jerseys and my Baleaf bibs. I saw the post above warning about Baleaf saddle sores. Of course YMMV but I've used them on 4 hour/55 mile rides and a 3 hour/60 mile challenge ride and they were just fine for both. |
Hit and miss is spot-on. Found an (at the time) $20 jersey from URBAN on Amazon, it's a decent fit and pretty good fabric. It's a keeper. But I've ordered and returned some that fit... terribly. The Prz bibs aren't bad at all. Padding is a bit thick compared to what I'm used to, but they fit true to size.
Amazon's real strength is finding past-year/end-of-season closeouts for CHEAP. I've gotten about half a dozen jerseys from PI, Canari, Castelli, etc, for under $30 each. A few of the Canari were under $20. |
It's like buying off-brand anything on Amazon.
For example, I had a Prz coupon appear in my newsfeed for Amazon at $7.50 for thermal tights with Chamois and I ordered a L which is what fits me for "on-brand" (Endura, Sugoi, etc). The fit was roomy in the crotch, the material felt cheap and the pad color was a shocking bright green. Did they work? Sure - they were never my first choice in the cold, but they were presentable, relatively warm and didn't fall apart. So when a coupon appeared again for $7.50 tights (not thermal) I ordered an M thinking it would solve the fit problem - but they are far too tight. Again - they're serviceable, but if something else is clean they remain on the bench. So I've spent $15 on two off-brand tights that would have cost me at least $125 for a name brand. On reflection, I should have just stuck with name brand because every time I wore them I wouldn't feel a pang of regret that I spent perfectly good money on something I don't really like...but in their role back-ups to wear only when others are dirty, they'll stay in the dresser drawer so I've probably lost nothing in the bargain. |
Im new to kit so i tried the amazon stuff and it sucks its great for starters but id quickly move up to pearl or some quality brands wich i really dont know much about . i tried to look for a skin suit but they all seem to be warm weather with shirts i dunno
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Originally Posted by Teamprovicycle
(Post 20389791)
Im new to kit so i tried the amazon stuff and it sucks
As far as the Baleef shorts... I'm glad some of you are getting good results out of them. Maybe it's just my pair but I don't think it is so much a moisture issue as the material the pad is made of. Just starts feeling "rough" after so many miles. Maybe it's just me and maybe it's just that pair. Perhaps I should try another pair because I like the looks and fit and comfort. It just "rubs me wrong" after several dozen miles. And speaking of fit and reviews. I've started doing something I welcome when reading reviews. That is, I put my size, wt, measurements. A review that says, "I ordered a large and they fit perfectly" means nothing, unless I know how large the reviewer is. "I'm 6"2", 195 pounds, with a 34" inseam and 34" waist. I ordered a large and it fit just right." THAT's helpful. Or, "I'm 160 pounds with a 29" waist and the large fit great" THAT's helpful...I'll know not to order large. |
Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
(Post 20388941)
Be honest about how heavy-set your are with yourself...is the best advise. In the USA, most folks are so heavy-set that kit-makers had created "race" and "club" cut dichotomy...because some people want aerodynamic body-hugging fitted garb...and others need/want to hide belly paunch and muffin-top.
about 33% of aduly Americans are obese. About 25% of adult Europeans(both east and west combined are obese). 27% of adult Australians are obese. yes, the US is higher. But lets not suggest that club cut is used just stateside. and club cut doesnt hide much if it's sized properly. Its a style to account for broader shoulders, longer torso, etc. Properly fit, it's still against your body, it just doesnt feel like you are a sausage inside casing. sincerely, club cut user |
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