Isadore is a Slovakia based cycling apparel founded by professional cyclists brothers and are well known for their premium quality, commitment to sustainability, and modern designs. In this review we’ll be looking at two specific women’s cycling pieces in Isadore’s product line: the Debut Shorts and the Signature Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey. The Debut Shorts retail for $145 and have similar construction as Isadore’s popular men’s bib shorts sans the bib straps. They feature dual Power Lycra materials for optimal durability and fit as well as a women’s specific chamois. We paired the shorts with the $190 Signature Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey, a classic long sleeve jersey with 44% Merino wool blend. The jersey’s anatomically shaped fit combines minimalist aesthetics with a warm yet breathable design.
The Isadore Signature Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey and Debut Shorts combine minimalist aesthetics with high performance materials and construction.
| Debut Shorts | Signature Thermal LS Jersey | |
| Rating | Design: A Sizing: A Comfort: B– | Design: A Sizing: A Comfort: A |
| Retail Price | $145 | $190 |
| Likes | + Reflective details keep you visible in low visibility conditions + Sleek and classic exterior design with minimal branding | + Minimalist design with sleek color options + 5 pockets + Warm but breathable Merino wool material |
| Dislikes | – Chamois caused discomfort for our test rider | – Seams for front chest pocket are visible from exterior |
| Where to Buy (US) | Isadore | Isadore |
UNBOXING
With Isadore’s commitment to sustainability, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that all the items are shipped in compostable plastic bags.
DEBUT SHORTS
Using a similar construction as the Isadore men’s bib shorts, the Debut Shorts are high performance cycling shorts with premium aesthetics. Instead of bib straps, the Debut Shorts feature a wide waistband to ensure a comfortable and secure fit. You’ll even find fabric loops on the insides of the shorts on either side that can be used to hang the shorts or help pull them on. The shorts also use a dual Power Lycra construction with soft and stretchy material where fit is important and a more durable material at the contact points. The shorts have contrasting black paneling and reflective Isadore logos on each leg for additional safety in low visibility conditions.
The Debut shorts have a TMF chamois which is seamless and pre-shaped with a 4-level structure to optimize shock absorption. Although the medium size fit our 120lbs / 40” wide hip rider well, the women’s specific TMF chamois wasn’t a good match. Visually, the chamois looked well made, it was a bit too bulky towards the front and was uncomfortable while riding. That said, as with any saddle or shorts review, the comfort level can be subjective to each rider, so your experience may be different than ours. Otherwise, the Debut Shorts are attractive shorts with an affordable price point.
SIGNATURE THERMAL LONG SLEEVE JERSEY
Whether you’re dedicated enough to ride in winter or just have chilly morning rides, long sleeve jerseys are an essential part of a cyclist’s wardrobe. The Isadore Signature Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey combines the minimalist aesthetics, tailored fit, and premium details found in Isadore’s jerseys with a 44% Merino wool blend for warmth and breathability. The jersey has a solid color scheme with no branding aside from an Isadore logo on the side for a timeless visual design. The mint color jersey looks lovely in person and has color matched zippers and silicone detailing.
The jersey has loops on the inside for earphone cable routing. The long sleeve jersey also offers impressive storage with a total of five pockets. There are three large pockets on the rear of the jersey; the center pocket is reinforced with elastic on the inside to prevent sagging. A fourth zippered pocket on the side of the right rear pocket has a waterproof pocket bag and is ideal for carrying credit cards or cash. The fifth pocket is an interesting chest pocket that is only accessible from the inside. It’s great for valuables but has visible stitching on the exterior which breaks the otherwise sleek styling. The jersey material itself is very soft to the touch and has a cozy feel that is similar to your favorite sweater. We found the jersey warm enough to be worn on its own when the temperature was in the high 40oF and easy to wear in colder weather by combining it with a base layer.
Another interesting thing about this jersey is it can be personalized with your team logo or text embroidered in the front right chest area or below the neck in the back for an additional $10 – $14 per placement depending on the size of the text or artwork. You can have lettering in the front and logo on the back or vice-versa. There are several fonts as well as colors available for the text option. It’s an interesting customization option that isn’t typically available for small order sizes. Our only concern with the long sleeve jersey is the raised logo on the front left bottom which looks glued on and could potentially come off after several washes.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Isadore Signature Thermal Long Sleeve and Debut Shorts to be a well made and attractive cycling kit. The long sleeve jersey has a minimalist design with a tailored race-fit that fits well and has enough elasticity to allow for base layers. It’s perfect for riding chilly mornings or can be layered up for winter riding. The Debut Shorts also have a sleek panel design with reflective Isadore’s logos on the legs. For our test rider, the women’s specific chamois on the Debut Shorts were not comfortable as it created pressure points. Otherwise, the combination of the jersey and shorts look and feel premium with Isadore’s classic styling elements.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Isadore. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.