The Crosspoint Waterproof Knit gloves from Showers Pass are a lightweight answer to a soggy hand problem. Ideal for those that don’t mind a slight loss of dexterity for the sake of warm digits.

The Madison Zenith Waterproof shorts are some of the best in the business: they keep you perfectly dry, are suitably long for the task and the four-way stretch material ensures a supremely comfortable fit.

Endura have extended the use of their straw-like protection system, Koroyd, to their MTR Knee Guards. Unfortunately, it delivers several sore points and general discomfort and the MTR pads fall short in many vital areas.

The stretchy camouflage Showers Pass Lightweight Crosspoint Waterproof Socks proved to be a great companion for warm dry feet this winter. Like other brands, there is some water ingress from the top but its still a mostly toasty affair.

Specialized have been delving into the world of cycle specific clothing for some time now and overall with great success. Their Merino LS Underwear baselayer is a fine example of this, its warm, comfortably stretchy and worth the higher price. 

The USE Exposure Diablo front light is to night riding like Heinz is to ketchup there are cheaper options but once you’ve tried it, you’re unlikely to want to use any alternatives. With even more intuitive features added, including TAP technology the MK9 offers yet more bang for your buck to make the dark hours closer to their paradoxical sibling of daytime!

The new 2.8” Specialized Butcher tyre offers a very fair price, grip by the bucket load and a stiff and durable carcass offers keen predictability. However, a low overall volume for a 2.8” and higher weight does make them a bit of a slog to pedal.

Endura have been making protective glasses for almost as long as I’ve been riding bikes, ok that’s an exaggeration but I’ve bought and tested numerous examples from Endura’s eyewear stable and generally have always been impressed. The Endura Guppy glasses are a reasonably priced and durable eye protection option. Look beyond the slightly dated aesthetics and you’ll find a genuinely good performer.

Genesis’ top-tier Core 30 trail hardtail showed some real potential and got our tester excited to push its limits, with progressive geometry and a stiff but not cumbersome frame that egg the rider on. The sub-optimal spec for the money can’t be overlooked, however.

The Fabric Cageless Tool Keg utilises the company’s patented, clever cageless design and offers a neat way to carry some essentials on your bike, rather than on your back.