Review: All-Season Clothing From Ornot

I’ve been riding in this quite a bit this winter, one because it’s been atypically cold here in Bellingham, and two because even for being a warm standalone sweater, the Pullover regulates heat remarkably well. Often I’ll just wear a lightweight t-shirt as a base, and this over top, and just keep that going all day, even on some reasonably hard efforts. For most rides above 40°F, I think things would get pretty steamy in this, but even when it’s wet with rain or sweat, things remain comfortable and warm. The age old maxim of be bold, start cold still rings true, but you can stretch those boundaries a bit with something this flexible.

Off the bike, the fit is comfortable and loose, so I see no reason not to wear this to a function where looking overly-kitted would be gauche. The face fabric handles dirt and trail spray very well, and hasn’t shown any signs of staining or discoloration after quite a bit of use.

Ornot Trail Magic Jacket

I’ve been wearing the Trail Magic without the removable thermal vest on most of my rides recently, and am blown away at how long I can ride without feeling like I’m overheating in the shell. When you’re moving quickly enough, there is a slight breeze that can be felt through the fabric, which indicates the breathability quite well. You could rely on it as a windbreaker if need be, but I’m happy to say it really feels like the jacket was biased towards active performance rather than standing still in a storm.

With the Polartec fleece vest attached, you can push the Magic Shell into far lower temperatures, with the breathable performance changing very little. I haven’t found myself wearing the vest as a standalone much, but that might be more common as spring rolls into the dark woods of Bellingham. The hood fits nicely over even the thickest spherical-layer XL helmets, and is stretchy enough to move around in if you have it donned.

The only real drawback to the Magic Shell that I’ve found – besides the price – is the packability, as the jacket can’t stow quite as small as other more gossamer-like shells out there. Luckily, I found myself stashing the jacket far less than others, thanks to the fact that you can just keep riding without getting all hot and bothered. One note on fit is the sleeve length; I have pretty long arms, and the sleeves feel long even on my frame, so folks with a more T. Rex-like geometry might have to cuff them a bit. I was stoked to have the length while riding, but noticed it when hanging out in the jacket with my arms down.

All in all, the Trail Magic sets a high bar for just how well a rain shell can perform when working hard on trail, and it stays soft and comfortable while doing so.

Ornot Mission Pants

The zippered pockets are slim and well hidden, and the overall fabric feel is athletic and stretchy. As this pair wears in (read: gets stained), I’m sure they’ll see more trail use. For now though, they remain more of a bike-life pant than a dedicated trail item.

Ornot UV Trail Shirt

On super hot days, it’s not a perfect replacement for light merino or a cotton-poly shirt, but the fabric feels perfect for most sunny weather. The Ornot jersey handles cool weather well, as it stays dry, and keeps you from feeling too sun-cooked when days get warmer.