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HTP Pioggia Leg Warmer

8
£39.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Excellent fit thanks to ergonomic design, and great weather resistance
Pre-shaped for a comfortable fit
Plenty of reflectives
Warm enough for sub-zero temps
Weight: 
121g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Pioggia from Hydra Tech Pro (HTC) tick all the important boxes for quality leg warmers. They're warm, weather resistant and shaped to match a cyclist on the bike, and they aren't a bad price either.

Taking the Pioggias out of their wrapper saw a little bit of headshaking – they have a lot of seams, and they meet behind the knee. It's a design that can end in irritation under constant pedalling.

Heading out for a two-hour ride saw no issues though, and nothing became apparent on rides double that length either.

> Buy these online here

What helps is that the Pioggias are pre-shaped to suit a bent leg, which minimises bunching behind the knee when riding. Also, the seams are quite small and soft.

2021 HTP Pioggia Leg Warmer - ankle logo.jpg

This means that the fit is great and, thanks to the silicone grippers refusing to let them shift, they feel just as comfortable as a full pair of tights.

There's a bit of compression in the fleecy-backed Italian fabric, but not so much you become aware of it in use.

2021 HTP Pioggia Leg Warmer - top gripper.jpg

That fabric does a good job of trapping body heat, and I was comfortable wearing these even with the temperature dipping below freezing point. When things get milder the breathability is good – and even with the temps in the mid-teens, they never feel clammy.

They have a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) outer which keeps out light rain and the majority of road spray, so long as the roads aren't drenched. It's an added bonus and helps keep you comfortable on changeable days.

2021 HTP Pioggia Leg Warmer - reflective.jpg

Another neat touch is the reflective chevrons on the rear of each leg. Movement here can be quite eye-catching to those following, and for side on visibility there are also reflective logos.

Value

Quality is high-end with very neat stitching and finishing by the UK manufacturer, and that's what you're paying your £39.99 for. Yes, you can get some decent leg warmers for around half that, but it's the extra attention to detail that gives the HTPs the upper hand.

> Best winter cycle clothing on a budget - find out how to stay warm and dry for less

Also made in the UK are the Lusso Max Repel leg warmers, which come with a water repellent finish too. They retail for £29.99, but the attention to design detail is a bit more involved on the Pioggias.

They fit and perform better than the GripGrab AqualRepels though, which will set you back £48.

Overall, these are everything I look for in a pair of leg warmers and I'm very glad to have no issues with the seams. They're comfortable, effective and smart.

Verdict

Excellent fit thanks to ergonomic design, and great weather resistance

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road.cc test report

Make and model: HTP Pioggia Leg Warmer

Size tested: Black

Tell us what the product is for

HTP says, "Our aim is to create a wet weather cycling wear system and leg warmers are a staple item for cycling in between seasons. Whether it be chilly autumn mornings or colder winter rides, you can never go wrong with the right pair of leg warmers. The Pioggia Leg Warmers have been designed and manufactured in the UK with the best Italian performance fabric, which features a water repellent outer with a fine brushed fleece thermal inner to help retain heat."

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

Thermal Roubaix DWR Fleece-backed fabric

55 % nylon / 17% Elastane / 28% Polyester

Water repellent coating

Made in UK

Italian Fabric

Thermal

Water repellent

Windproof

Moisture transfer

Tailored Fit

Shaped left and right

Light compression for muscle support

Ergonomic fit

Non-slip silicon leg grippers, 45mm top 25mm bottom

Duel-sided top silicone gripper

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

No problems with sizing at all. HTP has details on its website with regards to fit.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

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

HTC recommends washing them in the bag supplied, or handwashing. Following that I had no issues.

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

Keep both wind and light rain at bay.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Great fit and performance.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing really.

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

It's in the right ball park for this kind of quality and performance. They sit in between the prices of the Lusso and GripGrab options mentioned above.

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

Very well thought out design, and finished to a quality with plenty of performance.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  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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