I recently had the opportunity to test out some products from Brubeck Body Guard. Brubeck is a Polish company and their production facility is located in a town called Wola, that is historically known in the textile industry. The production chain is located in the European Union and they control 100% of the process and quality. Nothing gets outsourced outside the EU. They also manage to recycle 80% of their waste products. To top it off, all of their products are REACH and Oeko-Tex 100 certified which means that their products are free of harmful substances. I think if we took a good look at what most of our workout wear was made with, we'd probably be surprised at what was in there.
Brubeck offers a several different types of active wear, including merino wool base layers, which I hope to test out when the weather gets colder. This time around, I tested a running top from the 3D pro line as well as their cycling shorts.
The first product I tried were the cycling shorts. When I opened the box to check out the shorts, I was surprised that they weren't constructed the same way as traditional cycling shorts. They were made out of a knit fabric vs. lycra. They were also almost totally seamless, including the waistband, which I found interesting. The chamois seemed thinner than a normal cycling chamois. It was also grooved. The legs had a network of silicone grippers along inside of the hem at the front of the shorts, which is a feature that I prefer on my cycling shorts. I am not a fan of the elastic gripper that makes your legs look like sausages.
I figured I'd jump right in and test them out on a super hot, 3 hour ride. I was immediately struck by the fit. I have to be honest, I prefer bib shorts to regular shorts so I was a bit skeptical that I'd like these. I don't like things digging into my waist when I'm riding. The fact that these are made of knitwear and are seamless meant that they didn't have a traditional waistband so they didn't dig into my waist. They felt like bib shorts but without the hassle of straps. And they stayed put when I was riding because they are high waisted. WINNING!
Despite the humid weather, I didn't feel sweaty and gross by the time we hit the coffee shop post ride. The seamless knitwear allows the skin to breathe because there are two layers. The inner layer wicks moisture away from the skin and there are 3D zones on the thighs that form air circulation channels to help keep you cool. I distinctly remember sitting on my bike and feeling the sun on my legs but not feeling hot, even though I was wearing black shorts.
Where these shorts really shine is the chamois. The high density open cell foam does a great job at offering good padding, but it's the grooves in the chamois that help keep it from bunching and allow for some good airflow as well. I found these to be exceptionally comfortable. I could have easily ridden more than 3 hours in them and I'm pretty sure there wouldn't have been any shifting around on the saddle. After I'm done with all my structured training, I'm looking forward to taking them out on a really long ride to see how they fare.
The second piece I tried out was the 3D Pro running top. The 3D pro technology is a "spatial yarn design based on a 3D mesh fabric. It has superior moisture absorption and enhances the air circulation inside the garment structure" (as per the Brubeck.com website). I have a tough time regulating my body temperature these days (thank you hormones) so on hot days I tend to wear super light and loose tank tops so I don't have much touching my skin. The 3D pro line are snug fitting, almost seamless tops. The top I got was a t-shirt style and I thought Oh boy, I'm going to be a big sweaty mess in this. I wore it on some of the hottest days we've had and I can honestly say that while it felt hot out, I didn't feel hot. Not at all. I was sweating for sure, but I wasn't soaked. I never felt like I was overheating either. When I came back from one of my hotter runs, I touched my back to see if the top was actually wet because I didn't feel wet. Sure enough, I was wet but the 3D pro technology kept me feeling dry. I was pretty darn impressed. And the top is a beautiful blue colour that I absolutely love.
I am very impressed with this gear. The fit is great and the functionality is even better. I still have a long sleeve base layer to test out as well so watch for that review when the weather gets colder. Brubeck has an extensive line of clothing over in Europe so I'm really hoping to see even more of this fantastic product here in Canada.
Disclaimer: I was given this product in exchange for an open and honest review.
The second piece I tried out was the 3D Pro running top. The 3D pro technology is a "spatial yarn design based on a 3D mesh fabric. It has superior moisture absorption and enhances the air circulation inside the garment structure" (as per the Brubeck.com website). I have a tough time regulating my body temperature these days (thank you hormones) so on hot days I tend to wear super light and loose tank tops so I don't have much touching my skin. The 3D pro line are snug fitting, almost seamless tops. The top I got was a t-shirt style and I thought Oh boy, I'm going to be a big sweaty mess in this. I wore it on some of the hottest days we've had and I can honestly say that while it felt hot out, I didn't feel hot. Not at all. I was sweating for sure, but I wasn't soaked. I never felt like I was overheating either. When I came back from one of my hotter runs, I touched my back to see if the top was actually wet because I didn't feel wet. Sure enough, I was wet but the 3D pro technology kept me feeling dry. I was pretty darn impressed. And the top is a beautiful blue colour that I absolutely love.
I am very impressed with this gear. The fit is great and the functionality is even better. I still have a long sleeve base layer to test out as well so watch for that review when the weather gets colder. Brubeck has an extensive line of clothing over in Europe so I'm really hoping to see even more of this fantastic product here in Canada.
Disclaimer: I was given this product in exchange for an open and honest review.
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