Top to Toe: dep ed Martin

Dep-ed Martin Fitz-gibbons reviews his casual riding kit

1 Helmet: HJC RPHA 70 £359.99

www.oxfordproducts.com A swish sports-touring helmet with a weightsaving carbon-composite shell. The sticker says 1408g; my scales say 1474g — lighter than lots of sports lids. Fit’s great, the lining’s plush and it’s fairly quiet. The three-position top vent is ace: big, chunky and easy to operate, and a noticeable difference when open. Comes with a Skipfog (a lower-spec Pinlock), and I’ve had no problems with misting. I like this lid a lot, but it’s not cheap and scores just three stars in Sharp testing.

2 Jacket: Spada Marakech £169.99

www.spadaclothing.co.uk The outer has a lovely, tactile, brushed canvasstyle material feel, and the olive green colour adds to the army surplus vibe. The fixed waterproof liner survived a drenching with the garden hose, though the main front pockets leaked. Arms can be tightened quickly with four poppers, while two Velcro straps adjust the waist. When the weather warms up you can remove the thermal liner, but venting is just two tiny zipped slits in the shoulders. Level 2 shoulder, back and elbow armour is all included. £200 last year but recently dropped £30.

3 Jeans: Roadskin Easyriders £139.00

www.roadskin.co.uk I’ve tried various riding jeans in recent years but these are the ones I come back to. They use a single-skin design, which means the whole garment is made from protective material (40% Kevlar, 60% cotton), and not just an abrasion-resistant liner. They’re the best-fitting riding jeans I’ve used, come with Level 2 hip and knee armour, and claim to meet the AA CE standard. Only available direct from Roadskin, at £139 they’re remarkable value.

4 Boots: Sidi Performer Gore £239.99

www.sidiselect.co.uk Simply styled sporty touring boots. These are lined with Gore-tex, but if you prefer the heady thrill of gambling with the weather, there’s a nonwaterproof version for £185. The outer is synthetic microfibre, with hard plastic on the heel, ankle and shin. No bulky armour, squeaky articulated spine or convoluted closure system – just a straightforward, well-made, all-year, faultlessly comfy road boot.

5 Gloves: Richa Ravine £44.99

www.nevis.uk.com Sports gloves with impressive spec including carbon-fibre knuckle and finger protection, plus a vented genuine leather construction. The interior has a soft, slightly foamy texture that’s a little thicker than a regular race-rep glove, but still offers good feel for controls. Impressive for the money but no sign of any CE marking though, which is a notable shortcoming.

6 Base layers: EDZ Allclimate £29.99 top; £29.99 trousers

www.edzlayering.com Bought these polyester base layers five years ago and they’re still going strong. Improve comfort whatever the weather, adding insulation on freezing winter rides and wicking away sweat when it’s roasting hot. They get a machine wash after every big ride and air-dry quickly.

‘A straightforward, well-made, all-year, comfy road boot’