Capo Padrone Winter Tights Review - BikeRadar

Capo's Padrone winter tights boost the proven insulating abilities of fleece-backed Super Roubaix stretch fabric with generously sized Windtex panels covering the front of the knee, outer thighs and upper shins. Combined with a high-cut front and back that offer a little more warmth than usual around the lower torso, we stayed comfortable on training rides even in bitterly cold and humid conditions down to about -4°C (25°F).

That's notably better than we can normally manage with fleece tights that don't any sort of barrier against cold air. The Padrone tights aren't just for cold conditions, though – excellent breathability extends the comfort range upwards of 10°C (50°F), even in bright sunlight. Other features include an excellent multi-thickness stretch chamois (made by Cytech) that's well positioned in the body for all-day comfort, reflective detailing on the ankle zippers, and a short zipper up front for easier nature breaks.

Overall fit is good, especially considering that the windproof panels are much less stretchy than the surrounding materials. As compared to previous versions, Capo have trimmed away some of the Windtex from around the upper thigh in order to infuse a little more give for riders with bigger legs but without overly compromising the Euro-like trimness.

That being said, we still wished for a slightly tighter fit around the front of the hips and some refinement to the pattern around the knees. Currently, Capo wrap the Windtex panel much further behind the knee than seems necessary and the straight cut isn't terribly conducive to such a huge range of movement. As a result, we experienced some chafing on longer rides. We'd suggest trimming the Windtex panel closer to the side of the knee and giving it more of an hourglass profile – not unlike what glove makers do around finger joints – in order to maintain the protection but give a more form-fitting feel. 

Riders with generally medium-sized waists but longer legs might also find the Padrone tights could use a touch more length, so be sure to try them on before buying. Overall, the protection is impressive but for this kind of money, we expect the "Made in Italy" label to bring with it a perfect fit, too.

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