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review

FWE Reflective Snood/Neckwarmer

7
£9.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Brightly coloured windchill solution for all but the coldest of rides
Weight: 
38g

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FWE is Evans' in-house clothing brand and the Reflective Snood/Neckwarmer is its take on the typical solution for those chilly rides/early mornings when you want to stop the wind whipping around your neck or ears.

The Snood is nothing new: it's a tube of material that can be worn in various ways to keep your head, neck or ears warm and safe from the elements.

> Find your nearest Evans store here

When fully extended it is two bands of colour, black and yellow top to bottom, with a reflective strip running its length in two places, 180 degrees apart.

It's long enough that you can keep to one colour if you prefer, by folding it in half, leaving a neckwarmer in either yellow or black of 230mm in length; that's plenty to cover up to your chin and still tuck down inside your jacket to stop any draughts.

The material itself is stretchy so it fits over your head with ease and it springs back enough to close any gaps around your neck. The material is quite thin though, so even when doubled up I'd say it's still not quite warm enough for deep winter use. But being so thin does mean it can fit beneath a helmet without you having to tweak your setup too much.

> Find more road.cc reviews of headwear here

The reflective strip is a novel idea, and even though most of the material will be tucked beneath your collar, it might just add a little bit of visibility. The only slightly irritating thing is that the reflective material always seems to stay cold – which isn't ideal against the skin.

FWE Reflective Snood Neckwarmer 2.jpg

At £9.99 it's about the same price as a lot of the other neckwarmers we've tested such as this one from Lusso – but nearly double the price of Altura's offering – though both of these look to have a stitched seam top and bottom, which the FWE doesn't, meaning the edges are left looking as if they've been hacked with a pair of scissors. It's not alone in that 'finish' though – so I suppose it all comes down to how much you want the reflective detailing.

Verdict

Brightly coloured windchill solution for all but the coldest of rides

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road.cc test report

Make and model: FWE Reflective Snood/Neckwarmer

Size tested: Graphite/Yellow/Reflective Trim, size: One Size

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The FWE Snood/Neckwarmer is ideal for those chilly rides when you just need something to stop the wind whipping down your neck or over your ears. The reflective strip is a nice touch too.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Discipline - Multisport

Fabric - 100% Polyester

Fabric Properties - High wicking and breathable

Reflectivity - Stealth reflective trim

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
6/10

Bit uneven around the edges.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
7/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
7/10

One size fits all.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Came up clean after a cool wash.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It is warm enough for chilly spring rides but you'd need something thicker for winter.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Reversible colour is quite cool.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Uneven edges either end where the fabric has been cut.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly, it's a busy marketplace though.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

The FWE Snood looks pretty cool in either colour option, and the reflective stripe is a thoughtful touch, though it can be quite chilly against the skin. Simple and does the job at an OK price.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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2 comments

Avatar
Ush | 6 years ago
0 likes

I like this one.  It has a BDSM feel to it.  

Avatar
handlebarcam | 6 years ago
3 likes

Bane, from The Dark Knight Rises, has let himself go.

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