Review: CAM Cycling Kit

CAM cycling kit is a new brand available in South Africa through Chris Willemse Cycles. We put both the men’s and women’s CAM cycling kit to the test.

Women’s: CAM Tweeg Elite Shorts and the CAM Dini Elite jersey

First impressions of the kit were good. I like the simple nature of the designs, the shorts are plain black, with just the clean white text of the branding on the left leg, while the jersey is plain black except for pink floral sleeves, which add a fun touch and a burst of colour. The fabric of both shorts and jersey felt soft, light and breathable. The chamois of the shorts did not feel excessive (a pet hate of mine), and the panels were well placed, with neat stitching.

When worn the kit did not disappoint. The shorts are a good length- not too long, which is helpful for summer tan lines, but are not short hotpants either, so you don’t feel over exposed. The chamois is comfortable, and does not get in the way, or cause chafing. Despite the fact that they are not bib shorts, they were very comfortable, even on 4-hour plus rides and they stayed firmly in place without the help of over shoulder straps. I found the shorts noticeably cooler than a bib on hot days. They also did not create or accentuate the dreaded muffin-top, which can be a concern with shorts that are not bibs.

The jersey has an unusually long length and is nicely fitted: aerodynamic and perfect for road riding. The sleeves are mid-length on the upper arm, which provides good sun protection. The most noticeable feature for me is how light and cool the jersey feels, despite the dark colour. Well-positioned mesh panels under the arms and on the back allow good ventilation. It should be noted that a downside of this mesh is a slight lack of sun protection- I had a distinct sports bra tan after a longer road ride in summer.

On to the pockets: the jersey has three pockets, plus an additional zipped pocket- perfect for safely storing keys and a credit card. There is also a pocket on the inside of the top which might be useful for storing cash or car keys discretely. I found the pockets a bit difficult to get items in and out of for some reason, but once inside items are held snugly in place.

So far both shorts and jersey have held up impressively to several months of repeated wear and washing, without fading, stretching or unravelling.

The shorts retail for R999 which is on the high end of the scale for shorts that are not bibs. The jersey retails for R699, which is line with market prices. The quality, durability, and comfort on offer, warrants the price tag in both cases.

Men’s: CAM Gji Gji Elite bib shorts and CAM Tuffle jersey

The Gji Gji and Tuffle kit features a more conservative design than the Dini Elite jersey design above (although you can get the floral flavour in a men’s fit).

CAM Tuffle jersey

The Tuffle top features a mixture of black, blue, white, and grey with the main design element being a classic three colour stripes around the chest. There are three storage pockets on the rear with a small reflective piece on the right-most pocket. There is also a smaller pocket hidden on the inside of the kit.

The top has a grippy strip on the hem around the waist that helps prevent it from creeping up, while the sleeves are simply hemmed for a tight yet comfortable fit. There is less ventilation on the men’s jersey than the women’s with mesh only applied under the armpits and not over the shoulders as well. However, while riding this kit through summer, it never felt overly warm.

CAM Gji Gji Elite bib short

The Gji Gji Elite bib shorts are largely black with CAM logos on either side of the legs. Wide elasticated cuffs hold the shorts firmly in place on the thigh, resulting in some geometrically perfect tan lines.

The bib straps are a mesh material and connect around the circumference of the shorts. This holds the bib in place evenly around the waste. The only discomfort being the sizing tag on the inside, which can be easily cut out.

The chamois is a decent thickness on the contact areas. The outer cut is very thin which, in my case, helped ease the potential of chafing. Overall, and considering the price point, the chamois was comfortable. On a handful of occasions, nearing the end of longer rides there were some signs of mild discomfort but nothing out of the ordinary for me.

Fit and durability

The fit of the top is moderate, neither too tight or too lose. It will suit the everyday rider that doesn’t have a Tour de France physique. The Gji Gji bib on test was a size small for me. This meant that the cuffs were slightly tight around my thighs and the straps were a bit stretched but once hunched on the bike it all came together for a comfortable ride.

The durability has been good. I have ridden the kit for the past six months both on and off road including a few tumbles on the mountain rides. So far there has been no sign of wear or unexpected fatigue.

Pricing

The Tuffle jersey has a recommend retail price of R1,300 which is a fair chunk for a jersey that is reasonably light on features. That said, Chris Willemse Cycles currently have the Tuffle on special for a much more palatable R599. The Gji Gji bibs are currently available for R1,299.

In the end

Both the Men’s and Women’s CAM Cycling Kit prove to be comfortable, durable, and stylish. No frills, no fuss, just good kit for all kinds of riding.