Gear Shots #60 – WTB, Race Face & Fox

WTB Stout 2.3” tire
Words and photos by Stuart Kernaghan (unless noted)
WTB is a storied name in the annals of mountain biking, with a history dating back to the early days of fat tire bikes in Northern California. The company makes more than 20 different tires, along with saddles, hubs and wheelsets, but for some reason I’d never spent time on any of the NorCal rubber. That all changed when WTB sent me a set of their new Stout 2.3” all-mountain tires earlier this year.

The Stouts are made from WTB’s 60a durometer DNA rubber compound, an aramid synthetic fibre bead and a lightweight outer casing. The tires measure out at 55mm from casing edge to edge and 60mm from the outside edge of the lugs. (That’s 2.36”in the normal world of tire measurement.) Moderately tall lugs are spread out in a pattern that’s designed to roll reasonably well but still offer lots of bite on the trail. Stouts are only available in the 55/60 size, and weigh in at 863g each.

The Stout tread pattern isn’t ramped in any way, but the knobs are siped to give extra traction. These tires had the most whiskers I’ve ever seen…

WTB says the Stout is suited for wet to dry / loose to rough conditions, and those were exactly the types of conditions that I’ve been riding in trails all over the Shore, in Whistler and in Squamish. During that time, trail conditions ranged from dusty during the middle of the summer to prime traction after a bit of rain to your standard Shore winter wetness. The tires have been on big climbs, through mud holes, over roots, up and down ramps and beaten down by rocks of all sizes on both an all-mountain full suspension bike and a chromoly hardtail.

Traction on the Stouts, which I’ve been running both front and rear, has been very good almost without exception. I haven’t had any issues with spinning out on wet roots or slipping on wooden stunts, which is always the sign of a good tire in these parts. That was likely due, in part at least, to the siping on the knobs. They handled high-speed singletrack well and provided lots of confidence in technical terrain, whether it was rooty or rocky. The Stouts never felt like they were squirming around under me, as can be the case with tires that have tall lugs, and the front end hooked up well in wet or dry conditions. When they did break away, it was always predictable and consistent, which made them easy to control.

I was actually a little surprised at how well the Stouts performed in wet weather, given the 60 durometer rubber. I usually use something much softer in the winter for extra traction, but the Stouts provided virtually the same grip as my regular 42 durometer tires – even at 40psi. That pressure might sound a little high, but at 220lbs. without any gear, I run my tires at a higher pressure to avoid flats. Even when the pressure did sink below that, I didn’t have the same issues with flats that I usually have with single-ply 2.35” tires. Score one more for the Stouts.

The Stouts doing their thing on a technical section of trail. They were equally at home going up or down this kind of terrain.

I do have two things to note with the Stouts. First, there will be a bit of rolling resistance if you ride hardpack or pedal to the trailhead. Not a big deal, especially given the fact that these tires are designed to dig in on the rough stuff. Check out something else, though, if you’re interested in a smooth, silent ride. Second, the 863g weight is a little on the – well, stout – end of the spectrum when compared to other 2.35” all-mountain tires. Single-ply Maxxis Minions are 825g, while Kenda Nevegal are 763g. Two hundred grams over a set of Nevegals isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, but gram counters and light riders might notice that. At my size, though, I generally overlook those kinds of things.

I’d heard mixed reviews about certain WTB tire models in the past, but I’ve been really pleased with the Stouts. They offer very good traction in the types of conditions you find around southwest B.C., predictable handling, reasonable weight, above-average flat protection and good wet weather performance. I’ll definitely be on the hunt for a new set once these ones are worn out.

MSRP for the Stouts is US$49.95 / CAD$57.50.

Race Face 3 Over 4 Pants
Words and photos by Stuart Kernaghan (unless noted)
Race Face’s apparel line has always been quite robust, and with 13 different “below the belt” garments to choose from, this year’s shorts and pants collection was no exception. The new 3 Over 4 pants (get it: ¾ , as in three-quarters length) are part of the spring-summer line-up, but I found that they’re well-suited to late season riding as well. They’re also a good option if you’re looking for more coverage than shorts provide, or as in my case, can’t find riding pants that are long enough.

Constructed from moderately light stretchy fabric (97% nylon and 3% elastane), the 3 Over 4s fall between my knee and ankle; they will sit a bit longer on riders under the 6’ mark. A soft, fleecelined fabric on the inside of the waistband ensures comfort against the skin, while two deep front pockets, two side and two rear pockets make it easy to carry all of your crap. The rear pockets use a heavy-duty snap closure, while the side pockets use a snap and zipper. Other features include double-reinforced seams, fully functional belt loops, a zip fly, snap closure at the waistband and embroidered Race Face word marks.

Attention to detail on the 3 Over 4s was very good. Darting at the knees meant that they weren’t overly baggy, while the contrast stitching was a nice touch. The snaps are still holding tight after many washes.

Race Face says these pants are inspired by hipsters and couriers, but being neither of those things, I just put them on and hit the trails. They saw action on numerous all-mountain and big bike rides during the latter part of the summer and into the fall in temperatures that ranged from near-freezing on the low end to the low 20s on the Celsius scale in August and September.

The first thing I discovered is that the 3 Over 4s are not the best pants to wear in warm weather if you’re prone to overheating. As I am. Nylon and elastene without any sort of venting doesn’t breathe very well when you’re working hard and it’s toasty outside. There was even one ride where I rolled them up in order to keep from melting on a particularly long climb when the sun was beating down.

On the flipside, that added warmth came in handy on cooler rides where shorts wouldn’t have cut it. Pair the 3 Over 4s up with a long-sleeve jersey and a wind-proof vest and you’ve got a perfect set-up for single-digit (Celcius) riding. Be aware of the heat factor if you’re the kind of person who usually complains about being too hot.

Fit on the 3 Over 4s was very good for my body type (long legs, average mid-section). More importantly, though, they weren’t burdened with the things that really ruin riding shorts / pants – a long, droopy crotch and useless fit-adjustment systems. The pants are short through the rise without looking like low-rider jeans, so I never ran into issues with them catching on the nose of my saddle. Race Face also had the good sense to build them with a good zipper, beefy snap and a very useful set of belt loops.

Wide loops make it easy to thread a belt. The seat is a little faded from many miles in the saddle, but it is still holding strong.

I have a real beef with baggy shorts that either a) don’t have any size adjustment mechanism at all or b) have a totally crappy one that doesn’t work. The latter is almost worse. What the hell is the point of putting on some sort of cheap-ass webbing and buckle system or elasticized tabs with hook-and-loop closures if they don’t stay tight or can’t be made tight enough in the first place? Few things annoy me more than having to hitch up my shorts during a ride, and a simple set of belt loops do away with that problem. I was initially worried that a belt would be uncomfortable under the waistband of my hydration pack, but it was never an issue.

A good indicator of durability for cycling gear is its ability to take repeated washings. Gear that stands up to regular washing will be with you for a long time, and the 3 Over 4s are unscarred after more than a dozen washes. I’m pretty confident they won’t come unravelled on the trail. Being the diligent tester that I am, I also tested their crashworthiness. One fall that resulted in a serious skin abrasion and bruise on my hip didn’t leave a mark on the pants, and even numerous pedal slips or get-offs haven’t torn the fabric.

Although the 3 Over 4s are supposed to be for hipsters, they’re surprisingly comfortable with leg pads. I’ve worn them with both knee and knee/shin pads, and the combination of large leg openings and stretchy fabric mean that there is almost none of the biding or tightness that you get with stiffer materials.

The 3 Over 4s came half-way down my calf. Check out the way the fabric stretches. || Photo: Vicki Cunningham

Sizing is accurate – I have a 35” or 36” waist depending on the week and the size large 3 Over 4s was perfect. The pants did stretch out a little bit over the course of a ride, but an adjustable belt made it easy to deal with this, and they came back to size after washing.

One area where these pants have been a bit disappointing is for wet weather riding. The nylon fabric doesn’t shed water at all, and actually holds it. Over the course of a wet ride, the 3 Over 4s pick up a lot of water, making them heavier and a little saggy. This isn’t a deal breaker by any means – I’d just choose something else if I was heading out for a ride in the rain. Race Face’s DH 3Quarter shorts or Indy pants would be good multi-season alternatives, while the company’s Aquanot pants are specifically designed for riding in the slop. Tall riders are still better looking at the DH shorts – the Indy pants have inseams that are better suited to Euro roadies than North American freeriders.

The 3 Over 4s have been a great addition to my spring and fall riding wardrobe. The stretch fabric makes them comfortable, they don’t get hung up on the saddle, they’re able to take a beating without showing it and they add an extra degree of warmth on cool days. I will, however, be reaching for something else during the summer or if it’s pouring outside.

MSRP for the 3 Over 4 pants is US$80 / CAD$85.

Fox Launch Shorty knee pads
Words by Dan Austin
These days, body armour is essential equipment for anyone pushing their limits in the quest for progression on the trail. As a result, there is a huge variety of arm, leg, hip and body armour on the market to choose from. Thankfully, my choices are often made for me by the armour I am assigned to test; in this case, it’s the Fox Launch Shorty knee pad.

Motivated by rider demand for knee-only hard shell protection, Fox created the Launch Shorty knee. Based on the same construction and design as the Launch knee/shin guard, the Shorty trims a few inches off the shin pad to provide you with knee and upper shin protection only. (For a better look at the full length Launch Knee/Shin pad, see Stuart Kernaghan’s review.)

The Launch Shorty. Much like the Launch, but shorter. || Photo: Stuart Kernaghan

Fox describes the Shorty as the most technically advanced leg protection. In regular English, that means a low-profile, ribbed plastic shell backed with cloth-covered, closed cell foam. There’s also a moulded knee cup and asymmetrical shin pads, which give you more protection on the outer side of the shin. Make sure you have them on the correct leg to take advantage of the protection.

Everything is held in place using Fox’s unique ‘X-Up’ strap system. Elastic straps criss-cross behind the leg and connect to plates that lock into each side of the knee cup. This system makes it quick and easy to put the pads on or take them off, and is designed to keep pad movement to a minimum.

Performance on the Shorty pads was good, but it wasn’t perfect. The knee cup and shin guard, two separate hard-shelled pieces connected via some of the lining material, fit well and gave me full protection. This hinged area was very comfortable while riding and pedalling – provided they were in the correct position.

The Shorty is well vented with multiple holes on the face of the hard shell. That, combined with the moulded foam backing, directs airflow from those holes over your entire shin and knee, keeping things nice and cool. The open backing on the Shorty also does wonders to keep your calves from overheating, but does nothing to stop mosquitoes or pedal slips.

The Shorty protects the areas of your leg that take the most abuse. Combine them with a long pair of sox and you’ve almost got full coverage. (And no, those aren’t Dan’s legs.) || Photo: Vicki Cunningham

I used these pads for most of the summer season at Silver Star and they worked as advertised – almost. They took numerous beatings in crashes, leaving me unscathed, and the venting and open rear helped keep my legs cool, but comfort on the Shorty was transient.

Although the pads never twisted out of place, which was a plus, gravity works against all armour and the Shorty pads were not immune to its pull. With no full-length shin guard to halt downward migration, I found myself often pulling them up on on sections of trail where it was possible to take my hands off the bars.

One other beef that I had with the Shorty was that the strap system would sometimes come unhooked. If the inside of my leg hit the frame, the hooks would pop off quite easily and force me to stop and reattach them. This wasn’t an everyday occurrence, but it happened often enough to bug me.

The author ripping down a semi-secret trail at Silver Star in the middle of an early September hail storm. Thankfully, the Shorty pads didn’t come into play that day but they did on other occasions. || Photo: Stuart Kernaghan

My final concern is that these pads are one-size-fits-all. They fit me okay, although they felt a bit large in the knee cup area. If you’re smaller, you are definitely going to want to try these on to see how they feel because they may not fit well – or even at all.

The bottom line on these pads is that when in place, they protect your legs well and do it comfortably. They do suffer from the pull of gravity, but what pad doesn’t? The single size may also prove to be an issue with some riders. At US$59.95 for the Shorty, the price is reasonable but with so many pads out there to choose from, it’s a good idea to make sure they fit and feel good before you buy.

Wondering if the Stouts will be good for your neck of the woods? Think that stretchy pants are a bad idea? Or that there is only one Launch pad and all others are pretenders? Spout off over on the boards.