Race Face Khyber Glove, Charlie Tech Top, & Khyber Shorts
Khyber Shorts
Size Tested: Medium
Stated Features:
- Tweedster Fabric
- 70% Polyester, 26% Rayon, 4% Spandex, yarn-dyed, textured outer fabric bonded to 100% Polyester
- Durable mesh interior
- Dupont Teflon Shield+ DWR treatment
- 8,000mm; 3,000g/m2 (waterproof/breathability).
MSRP: $89.99
Intended Use: the Khyber Short is recommended for aggressive riding when extra abrasion resistance and durability is preferred
Reviewer: 5’7” 145 lbs
Test Duration: ~10 days
Test Locations: British Columbia; Montana
Intro
Race Face’s Khyber Shorts are burly shorts that bridge the gap between huge downhill shorts and lightweight pedaling shorts. They have a flattering fit and a durable construction that should help them withstand accidental meetings with the ground.
Construction
The Khyber shorts are made of a very durable fabric and are treated to repel water. I was impressed with the material and construction of the shorts right off the bat when on one of my first rides in the Khyber shorts, I managed to slide down the length of a rock slab on my hip and the shorts and my hip came out unscathed. Even after a month and a half of riding, the Khyber shorts still have not shown any sign of wear and look like new. The fabric does a good job of repelling moisture and I have been very happy with them when riding in the rain.
Despite its toughness, there is some play in the fabric which allows it to stretch slightly when riding. The inner waistband is made of a soft plush material that is very comfortable on the waist and hips.
As one might expect of a more durable fabric, they tend to be warm when pedaling on a hot day. They have two mesh-lined zippered vents in the front inner thighs which work well, but overall the fabric can be hot and heavy on a long pedal ride.
These shorts do not come with a chamois. Raceface offers the Stash Women’s Liner, but I haven’t had the chance to try it.
Fit
I have been riding the Medium sized shorts, which is the size that I would normally wear, and they have been mostly true to size. I personally struggle with finding pants that fit my larger butt and smaller waist. These shorts are pretty snug on me around the hips and loose in the waist, but they have a velcro and elastic inner waistband system that allows for a more custom fit in the waist. The shorts also have belt loops for those who need a belt for a bit more closure. So even though they didn’t fit me perfectly at first, Race Face put in some good features to allow me to customize the shorts to fit my body. The shorts have a 14 inch inseam and fit well over knee pads. The waistband does a good job of staying closed with two snaps and a Velcro reinforced strip.
Pockets
Something that these shorts don’t lack is pockets. There are two back pockets with snap closures (each about 6”x7”), two front pockets on the left side that are stacked on eachother and have horizontal zippers (about 5.5”x6” and 4”x6”), one front pocket on the right side with a vertical zipper (about 9”x4”) and one thigh pocket on the right side with a zipper and snap closure (about 5”x5.5”). The closures and zippers have held up well and are still like new.
Bottom Line
These shorts are perfect for a ride where you want a more durable fabric and some extra protection like when running lift laps or at the local freeride trail system. They are good-looking, comfortable and offer all the features that you’d want in a good pair of riding shorts.
Race Face Charlie Tech Top
Size Tested: Medium
MSRP: $39.99
Reviewer: 5’7” 145 lbs
Test Duration: ~10 days
Test Locations: British Columbia; Montana
Intro
The Race Face Charlie Tech Top is a straightforward riding jersey without any frills, but is comfortable to ride in and nice to look at.
Fit
The Medium sized jersey fits true to size. It is relaxed fit so it isn’t too tight or baggy. I think that the length of the shirt is ideal. It is long enough to not ride up when biking especially when wearing a backpack.
Construction
The lightweight fabric is silky to the touch, making this shirt comfortable to ride in. It is 100% polyester and quick drying. The V neck collar allows for plenty of neck space.
The design of the shirt is pretty simple, but there is some cool zig zag accent stitching on the back of the jersey.
Bottom Line
The Charlie Tech Top is a straightforward riding top that is comfortable to ride in and has a simple yet attractive design.
Race Face Khyber Women’s Gloves
Size Tested: Large
Color: Flame
MSRP: $31.99
Test Duration: ~10 days
Test Locations: British Columbia; Montana
Intro
Race Face’s Khyber gloves are lightweight gloves that offer full palm coverage and plenty of ventilation for the back of the hand with a unique cutout.
Fit
I usually ride in men’s gloves in size Medium or size 8. When deciding what size Khyber glove to order, I measured my hand based on the sizing chart on Race Face’s website (which has you measure around your knuckles) and ordered the size Large in these women’s specific gloves. The gloves fit my palms and knuckles well, but the fingers were not quite long enough, especially in the thumb and pointer finger. In comparison to the Medium Specialized Enduro men’s glove, the Khyber women’s Large is a little smaller in the palm and knuckles while being shorter and narrower in the fingers, especially in the thumb.
Features and padding
The palm of the Khyber has no padding with the exception of a second layer of material that protects the fleshy part of the hand. The palm of the hand offers great grip on the handlebar and Race Face has added silicone to the pointer finger which provides good traction on the brake lever. The tip of the middle finger contains a piece of touch screen compatible material. Extending from the thumb all the way to the wrist is a soft and absorbent terry material that is an nice bonus on a hot day and is much larger than I have seen on other gloves.
The elastic cuff sits comfortably on the wrist and the neoprene pull tab makes the gloves easy to slip onto your hand.
The Khyber gloves offer loads of ventilation on the back of the hand thanks to the silky lightweight mesh material and the large circular cutout in the middle of the glove. The material is soft and stretchy so it easily conforms to your hand shape and makes them one of the most breathable gloves I’ve ridden in.
Sexy Time gloves?!
It’s worth addressing how these gloves look. While the mesh and large circular cutout on the back of the hand offer much needed airflow on a hot ride, they kind of look like something that you might find in an erotica shop. Especially when you get the gloves in ‘flame’ red. If you’re into that sort of thing, awesome! If not, then I would recommend getting them in one of the other colors that Race Face offers: black, grape, or sulfur.
Bottom line
If you’re looking for a lightweight, full-fingered glove that offers good grip on the handlebar and brake levers while still providing good ventilation, the Race Face Khyber glove is a great option.