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ashmei Merino Winter Tight

7
£188.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Not cycling-specific but work well on and off the bike, offering comfort and warmth, which helps justify the price
Very comfortable
Keep you warm
Pricey for non-cycling-specific tights
Weight: 
303g
Contact: 

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The Merino Winter Tight from ashmei isn't cycling-specific but it certainly works well when on the bike, especially when it gets really cold. The merino wool blend is super-toasty and soft against the skin, and thanks to well-positioned seams the tights are very comfortable too. At nearly 200 quid, though, it is quite the outlay for something that lacks a pad.

ashmei has developed these tights to be used in a multitude of winter sports, which is why they don't come with a pad, but that is no big deal. Many brands make cycling tights without a pad, and when I was commuting five days a week I found that they cut down on the amount of winter kit I needed. I could rotate summer bib shorts daily underneath and just use the same pair of padless bib tights over the top every day of the week.

> Buy these online here

These ashmei tights aren't bulky in their construction at all, so they don't feel odd when worn over the top of a pair of bib shorts. The thin shoulder straps are unnoticeable, as is the thin bib section, so even if you are doubling up, things remain comfortable and breathable.

ashmei Merino Winter Tight - straps front.jpg

The main part of the tights is a blend of merino (51%), a polyester called CDPL (38%) and elastane (11%) that has a thicker, knitted feel to it than most Lycra-based tights, but the stretch doesn't feel to be affected.

ashmei Merino Winter Tight - front full.jpg

The tights are close fitting and offer a small amount of compression but aren't restrictive in any way. There was also no bunching of the material behind the knees when pedalling.

ashmei Merino Winter Tight - back.jpg

The fabric is fleecy next to the skin for added warmth, and these tights can easily deal with temperatures down to freezing as long as the breeze isn't too keen because they aren't massively windproof.

Riding quickly into a northerly wind I could feel the cold more than when wearing a pair of tights with windproof panels, but it is minimal and won't be too much of an issue unless you are riding the same direction for the entire ride.

ashmei Merino Winter Tight - front.jpg

You do get a bit of water-shedding capability from the durable water repellent (DWR) coating, too, which is a nice touch.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best waterproof cycling tights and trousers

When the temperature increases into double figures, they work well up to about 13°C, a little higher than ashmei's recommendations. Breathability is very impressive, and even when riding hard at those kind of temperatures I never felt that I was getting overly hot.

ashmei Merino Winter Tight - straps back.jpg

The quality is very good throughout, with very neat and tidy stitching from top to bottom, and all the seams are positioned well out of the way of where they could irritate when on the bike.

ashmei Merino Winter Tight - logo.jpg

At £188 the ashmei tights are far from cheap, but they're not the most expensive we have seen on road.cc – though they might be when it comes to tights without a pad. Very few tights are made from this kind of material, though, so it's hard to judge their value against the competition.

Santini uses Power Wool in its Adapt Polartec Thermal C3 tights, which is a mixture of merino wool and synthetics. I found it worked very well and they cost £215 with a pad.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best warm winter cycling bib tights

The ashmeis are very versatile – I found them great for running around the local trails in the wet and cold – and they can be used for plenty of other winter pursuits too.

Conclusion

Initially, I thought that the ashmei tights looked overly expensive for what they are, with no pad and so on, but the more I've lived with them, the more I have used them, on and off the bike. If you take part in plenty of outdoor activities then you'll be getting plenty of use for your money. Purely for cycling, they do lack some little details like reflectives, and you might be better served with tights more specific to the sport.

Verdict

Not cycling-specific but work well on and off the bike, offering comfort and warmth, which helps justify the price

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: ashmei Merino Winter Tight

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

ashmei says, "The 36 months in development starts with a blank piece of paper. We knew the product required a Merino Rich fibre to provide excellent thermo-regulative and anti-smell features, but also provide a product with high eco-credentials. We set out to develop a fabric that offered all of this but also offered excellent windproofing, water-resistance, durability and a next to skin fit. A complex engineering challenge.

"The result is a highly engineered piece of kit, with the simplicity and elegance of ashmei design. The close to skin fit offers a semi-compressive fit which hugs the body, providing the perfect thermal micro-climate. If exposed to the elements, a PFC free water-resistant finish keeps raindrops at bay, while the close-knit of Merino Wool offers excellent wind protection. The upper body is made using our Merino + Carbon blend, acting as the first layer of core protection."

ashmei Designer Lucy Smith added: "The aim of this piece was for it to be the first piece you turn to this Winter, no matter what outdoor activity you are doing. Although it's so comfortable you may start using it around the house too"

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

From ashmei:

Detail

Merino rich, full length tight

Suitable for Cycling (tight does not have a Cycling Chamois, see 3/4 Winter Tight for this item)

Also suitable for Running, Snowsports, Rowing, Outdoor pursuits.

Next to skin fit, water and wind-resistant fabric

Precision laser-cut leg cuff

Reflective ashmei branded print for enhanced visibility

Enlarged ashmei zipper puller with Alcantara guard

Unisex fit, please refer to sizing spec for more information.

Tech

C0 - PFC Free Durable Water Repellent finish

Merino + Carbon Upper Body

Merino Rich

Thermal weight – 312g (Size Medium)

Compressive, next to skin fit.

Care

Fabric: Top - Top - 65% Merino Wool, 35% Polyester. Bottom - 51% Merino Wool, 38% CDPL, 11% Elastane. Exclusive of trims.

Machine wash cool 30°C

Do not tumble dry

Do not use fabric softeners

Do not dry clean

Do not iron

Do not bleach

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

The sizing guide is spot on and the tights have a close compressive fit without feeling restrictive.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

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

Using a 30-degree wash and nothing else, I have had no issues with shrinkage or anything.

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

For a non-cycling-specific product they work well on the bike.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Very comfortable and versatile.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Minimal windproofing.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

A lot of tights that don't have a pad are much cheaper – something like the padless version of the Lusso Classic Winter bib tights will set you back £85 – but in its defence the ashmei tights use some brilliant materials and that is reflected in the price. Something backed up by the RRP of the Santini's mentioned in the review.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

If you want tights without a pad these are a good option because of their comfort, performance and breathability, but you do have to sacrifice things like reflective detailing – and they're not cheap.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 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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