Here are this month's 10 road.cc Recommends additions from Canyon, Giant, Smith, DJI and more

October witnessed loads of new products reviewed on our site and some of those have now claimed the prestigious road.cc Recommends title. The following 10 items scored high marks in our testing and have been added to our road.cc Recommends list and rewarded with an RCCR badge. To read a summary of why each of these things impressed us, scroll down, or head over here to read the full reviews.

More detailed reviews can also be found on our reviews page which is updated daily. 

Clothing and accessories

Smith Dispatch helmet
Swrve 4-way stretch indigo Cordura slim fit jeans

Tools

Topeak Power Lever Pro

Tech

DJI Osmo Action 4 Adventure Combo
OneOdio OpenRock S Open-Ear Air Conduction Sport Earbuds

Bikes

Kidvelo Rookie 14 Balance Bike
Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 Di2 2024
Giant Defy Advanced SL 0 2024

Wheels

Enve AG25 Gravel wheelset

Books

Bikepacking Wales by Emma Kingston

Let's look at each of them in turn.

Smith Dispatch Helmet

The Smith Dispatch Helmet is a feature-packed commuter helmet with a futuristic design and enhanced safety features, including both Mips and Koroyd. In addition to these crash-protection features, it also includes a rear LED light for extra visibility. Despite its price (£159.99), being on the higher end of things, we found that this lid is a worthy investment for year-round commuters, offering both protection and style. 

• Read the full review here

Swrve 4-way stretch indigo Cordura slim fit jeans

If full-on Lycra isn't your thing, the Swrve 4-way stretch jeans could be a perfect fit for you. Our reviewer Steve found these denims extremely comfy and durable, and said that they outperform standard jeans both on and off the bike.

> Best commuter bikes 2024 — beat the traffic by cycling to work

What makes these cycling specific, then? They have stretch to them for easy pedalling, an extra fabric panel in the crotch – a diamond that runs underneath and tapers down each inner thigh – and a reflective feature on the legs when the hems are rolled up. These are a worthwhile investment for any casual cyclist or commuter.

• Read the full review here

Topeak Power Lever Pro

Topeak Power Lever Pro is a versatile and lightweight multitool that combines tyre levers, a chain tool, and master link pliers all in one compact package. It's well-suited to both road and trailside repairs and we found offers a great mix of functionality and quality at a reasonable price. 

• Read the full review here

DJI Osmo Action 4 Adventure Combo

The DJI Osmo Action 4 has proved to be a very strong competitor in the action camera market, offering notable improvements over its predecessor, the Osmo Action 3. Some of the key updates include a slightly larger sensor for improved low-light performance, adjustable sharpening and noise reduction, gyro data exportation for post-production stabilisation, and integration with a GPS Bluetooth remote.

> Why do cyclists use action cameras? We asked and you told us

We think the Osmo Action 4 competes favourably with the likes of GoPro Hero12, with different strengths that may cater to various user preferences.

• Read the full review here

OneOdio OpenRock S Open-Ear Air Conduction Sport Earbuds

We found that the OneOdio OpenRock S Open-Ear Air Conduction Sport Earbuds offer exceptional sound quality, great battery life, and the advantage of being able to hear ambient sounds while you have them on.

These headphones come with a practical charging case and even if you are a lover of long distances, the design won't make your ears hurt. The touch controls are somewhat fiddly, but priced at £83, these offer good value for open-ear headphones with superior sound quality.

• Read the full review here

Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 Di2 2024

The recently released Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 Di2 2024 is a highly versatile gravel bike that offers a fast and responsive ride with a focus on aerodynamics without sacrificing comfort. The carbon frame is efficient without compromising on compliance and features very innovative storage solutions and great spec. The Grail CF ride feel is agile yet stable, making it suitable for racing and adventure riding alike, at a reasonable price.

• Read the full review here

Kidvelo Rookie 14 Balance Bike

The Kidvelo Rookie 14 Balance Bike is designed for children between three and six years old and can be used both as a balance bike and a pedal bike.

> Best kids' bikes 2023 — everything from balance bikes to junior superbikes

This means it can be the perfect first bike, transitioning the small one from learning balance and braking to pedalling. Considering you get two bikes in one, the £235 price isn't bad, either.

• Read the full review here

2024 Giant Defy Advanced SL 0

The Giant Defy Advanced SL 0 is a high-end endurance road bike with very little to fault. It is built upon a premium, lightweight carbon frame and offers a buttery smooth ride. The recently refreshed geometry has been tweaked to be slightly more aggressive than the previous iterations, appealing to a sportier riding style.

> Best endurance road bikes 2024 — perfect for sportives, audax and mile-munching

Our test bike featured SRAM Red eTap AXS components and excellent Cadex 36 Disc wheels – but even if you didn't have the money for this top-end model we think the more affordable Giant Defy models are worth a look.

• Read the full review here

Enve AG25 Gravel wheelset

The Enve AG25 Gravel is arguably one of the best gravel wheelsets available. These wheels have excelled in performance, with remarkable strength, comfort, and lightweight characteristics through our testing period. The hoops are super easy to set up tubeless due to the wide hookless rim design and offer a smooth, comfortable ride. They also come with Enve's Incidental Damage Protection Policy which provides added peace of mind.

• Read the full review here

Bikepacking Wales by Emma Kingston

Emma Kingston's "Bikepacking Wales" is a highly informative and detailed guide to bikepacking adventures - as the name suggests - in Wales. It offers 18 diverse routes across four regions, with route difficulty levels and bike recommendations. You get information on places to eat, stay, and visit, along with maps, coordinates, and preparation advice. If you are planning to head over to explore the area, this book is a great resource. 

• Read the full review here