ZOIC Women’s Printed Cycling Liner
Color: Polka Dot
Stated Features:
· 5″ Inseam (3” inseam when measured from side of chamois)
· Anatomically contoured women’s Comfort chamois
· Multilevel ergonomic foam enhances padding
· ZO-Wick moisture transfer fabrics
· 6 panel short construction
· Smooth finish flatlock seams
· Tagless labels
MSRP: $40
Size Tested: Small
Reviewer: 5’2” 125 lbs. Typically wears a Small
Test Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Days Tested: 3
The Women’s Printed Cycling Liner (same as the W’s Essential Liner) is included with the Naveah Shorts (or you can purchase the Naveah without the liner for $15 less). It is a short, lightweight liner that comes in many different colors. ZOIC advertises the Essential Liner for rides 1-2 hours in length and their other liner, the Premium for longer rides.
I found that while the Printed Liner is cute, it does not live up to my performance expectations. First of all, the inseam is too short and the legs do not have a sticky hem. The legs ride up and I found myself pulling them down all the time.
Second, the ZO-Tech padded chamois is not designed well. My main complaint is that it is too thin underneath my sitbones. ZOIC placed thicker padding further back on the chamois, but didn’t put enough cushioning where riders actually sit on the saddle. The padded part of the chamois is also a bit too wide and causes uncomfortable folding while walking around. This goes away for the most part while on a saddle. Lastly, the chamois does not have a nice interface with the liner material and therefore causes a large uncomfortable seam line.
The Premium liner may be a better option for riders looking for more comfort on longer rides.
The ZO-Wick fabric is lightweight making these liners great for hot temperatures. They are just as breathable as a pair of my mesh Sugoi bibs.
Bottom Line
The ZOIC Printed / Essential Liner is a cute cycling liner for entry-level riders looking to get out for short spins. It, however, is not a high performance liner. The short cut and low-quality chamois make this liner inadequate for a long day in the saddle.
ZOIC Arm in Arm Warmers
Color: Aqua Fusion
Stated Features:
· Space dye fabric
· Moisture wicking and breathable
MSRP: $35
Size reviewed: Small
Reviewer: 5’2” 125 lbs. Typically wears a Small
Test Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Days Tested: 2
The Arm in Arms are great looking arm warmers for those who want to incorporate some color into cold weather gear. They are lightweight and breathable, and feel like a cross between sun protection sleeves and arm warmers. They do not keep my arms as warm as the Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Arm Warmers (also $35), so I wouldn’t recommend them for road or mountain bikers who use arm warmers as their main backup layer.
I usually wear Small arm warmers and the Small Arm in Arms fit me well. They are a bit long on my short arms, but they should fit most people who are taller than 5’2” and have proportional arms well. The upper seams are stretchy and the warmers stay put, despite lacking a silicone grip strip.
My biggest complaint about the Arm in Arms is their thumb loopholes. These may seem like a good idea, but they are very unpractical for biking. If you wear the thumb loopholes, part of the arm warmer goes over your palm and can get in the way of your grips. I quickly chose to shove the warmers up to my wrists where they bunched up.
Bottom Line
The Arm in Arm warmers are good looking and comfortable lightweight arm warmers. However the thumb loophole design makes them unpractical for biking and they do not provide the same warmth or wind protection as similarly priced arm warmers.
