Sugoi Firewall tights -- how low can you go??

[Crankin]

Hmm, I have the mid zeros and sub zeros; never heard of the Firewall tights. I can wear the sub zeros in the 30s, however, I also tend to wear my Ibex tights that I wear x country skiing. I also do not regularly ride when it's in the 20's, although that's not to say the mercury has not ever slipped below 30 when I've been riding. The Ibex have a wool back and are more windproof. The Firewall tights kind of sound like a pair of tights my DH has. Total windproof, sort of heavy, almost neoprene material. He rode to work one morning last winter, in them, when it was 18 degrees.

[ny biker]

How are the Subzeros at blocking the wind?


These are the Firewall tights I'm looking at:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSU_40553F.html

[Crankin]

The only difference between the mid zeros and subzeros is the thickness of the fleece inside. There is no special wind blocking material; it's the same as the mid zeros. For me, realistically, the Firewalls would be overkill, because I don't ride when it's super windy, anyway, and I have the Ibex tights that can serve the same purpose. I wear those x country skiing and snow shoeing when it's -10 F, up to about 32. Of course, wind on your legs, when you are in the woods is less of an issue in those sports!

[ny biker]

Thanks.

I'm thinking that wind-blocking tights would be better for me, since I seem to suffer from the cold more than many people. I have Ibex capris, but I don't love the way they fit so I don't know that I'd like the tights. Also I'd like to get something from TE, since I'm going to ask for the tights for Christmas (or for a gift card to put toward purchasing them).

I know that PI Amfibs are reputed to be very warm, but PI bottoms don't always fit me well.

[Catrin]

I LOVE my PI Amfibs - very warm, great wind-blockers as well. Mine don't have a chamois - is there a local source where you could try them on to see how they fit?

[Crankin]

You know, generally Ibex bottoms don't fit me that well. They are made for tall people with boyish figures (I once tried on a pair at the Arcadian Shop in Lenox, MA while on a TE field trip. That had me laughing quite hard, as I couldn't get them over my knees. And they were a size bigger than I normally wear). The Ibex pants I have are old; bought in 2005 for me by DH. Probably ordered from STP. THe elastic is totally out of the waist and they are getting pilly. But, I don't think these are made anymore.

[Owlie]

Try the Amfibs. They're very warm and have the nice windblock material, and are reasonably water-resistant. It seems like PI changes the cut on their shorts a little bit every year, so it might be worth trying them on.

[zoom-zoom]

I know that PI Amfibs are reputed to be very warm, but PI bottoms don't always fit me well.

I have the Amfibs without chamois, but am NOT fond of the fit. I've wondered about the Firewalls, since I LOVE LOVE LOVE my SubZeros and I'd expect them to have a similar fit.

[Owlie]

I have the Amfibs without chamois, but am NOT fond of the fit. I've wondered about the Firewalls, since I LOVE LOVE LOVE my SubZeros and I'd expect them to have a similar fit.

I like the performance of the Amfibs (I've worn them in snow and was warm and dry) but not the fit. I can't quite put my finger on why I don't like the fit, though.

[pll]

Here's a different issue on winter tights: I have both an older version of the Sugoi firewall and the Pearl Izumi Amfibs (neither one has a chamois). The thicker fleece and wind proof material cause enough pressure on my patellas that it becomes painful fast. I also tried the Assos LL.uma S5 and I could tell it would be trouble on my knees within minutes. A couple of knickers I have (Shebeest and Assos), without windblock, will also lead to patella pain, just not as fast. What works best to avoid the pain is to have tights that are a size bigger than what you normally would wear. I stay away from the windblock fabrics because they are less pliable. Instead, I apply some vaseline on my knees before putting the tights on.

One of my friends has the same problem with her knees, and she also wears tights that are a size bigger than normal. I wonder who else has experienced this.