Madison is a UK brand that has been making well-priced technical riding kit for a while now and often features in our best waterproof MTB trousers and best MTB pants lists, and it has just announced details of its latest autumn and winter clothing range. It looks like the brand has really upped its game with new technical partners and some great-looking new kit.
We had a sneaky peek at some of the new products at the Icebike event back in March, where Madison had some pre-production versions of the new range on show, including the attention-grabbing DTE waterproof pants, which look perfect for wet and wild fun in the upcoming Northern Hemisphere's winter.
As part of the most technically advanced range the brand has ever made, it has signed up with various material partners such as Primaloft, D3O, and AX Suede to help produce some seriously high-end kit, with the DTE range at the top of the tree, followed by the Flux line, both available in men's and women's versions.
As well as the tech improvements, Madison has also made its sustainability credentials clear, with 90 percent of the materials used made from recycled products, all zips recycled, and even the packaging now plastic-free. The company has also announced a garment repair service to go alongside the limited lifetime warranty it offers on all products, allowing them to repair, alter, or adjust products under the guarantee or for a small cost, further increasing the lifespan and avoiding landfill.
The DTE range
The DTE range, short for ‘defy the elements', has been developed to keep you riding in the filthiest of winter conditions, and features jackets, pants, shorts, and gloves, all using DWR-treated waterproof fabrics. The new jacket is one of the highlights with a competitive 20K/40K waterproof/breathability rating but at a reasonable £200 pricepoint. It features an articulated fit in a 4-way stretch fabric, with a dropped tail, an adjustable hood, and multiple large pockets to hide your hands away from the cold when standing by the trail.
The men's version comes in Midnight Green or Orange in sizes from S-XXL, and the women's in Black or Orange in sizes from 8 to 16. Both retail for £199 / $TBC.
The bib trousers are the true star of the range for me, though. As someone who spends a lot of time riding in wet conditions I've never got on that well with waterproof pants, but the DTE bib trousers look to be a very clever take on salopettes or waders to help keep you dry and warm. They use a 4-way stretch fabric and a similar cut to Madison's existing trousers but have a high torso section to keep out chills and spray from the rear wheel and a set of bibs to keep them in place without any tight spots or annoyingly fiddly velcro adjusters.
The waterproof dungarees come in Black or Midnight Green, in sizes S-XXL, and retail at £199 / $TBC.
The Flux range
The Flux range is made up of lighter-weight items designed for trail use in less grim conditions, such as the 3-layer waterproof trail jacket, which packs down neatly and can be stashed in a hip bag or rucksack, or the DWR trail trousers that are a lightweight pant developed in conjunction with the Madison Saracen Factory Race Team.
Much like the DTE range, both men's and women's versions are available in the waterproof jacket, long-sleeve trail jersey and DWR trail trousers, and there's a unisex range of gloves offering differing levels of warmth and breathability. All are designed to offer a high level of feel and control, essential for trail use in harsh weather.
We have a range of kit currently on test, which we will be putting to use once the unseasonably warm weather comes to an end, so keep your eyes peeled.
For more information, head over to Madison.cc.
