30Seven electric heated baselayer as reviewed in Issue 27. © Cyclocross Magazine
In Issue 27, we reviewed the European-based 30Seven company’s cycling products. The brand has begun to establish a name for themselves in the world of skiing, and we were wondering how well their products stood up to the riggers of cyclocross. As we head to Founders Brewing Barry-Roubaix today, with the gravel race starting in 13 degree weather, we can’t avoid forgetting about the 30Seven heating products that kept us warm in December. Be sure to see our huge list of product and bike reviews in Issue 27 (also available instantly on here and on iTunes).
30 Seven makes a wide variety of heated gloves in different thicknesses with different applications. We tested their waterproof cycling model. The lithium-ion battery is placed inside a zippered pouch at the bottom of the wrist, and the heat-control settings rest on the top of the wrist, with an LED display showing the current setting. The heat is dissipated to the back of the hand and fingertips.
For race-day applications, the 30 Seven waterproof gloves are impressive. To achieve the same level of warmth with standard gloves, you’ll need a lot more insulation, which translates to squishier brake feel and problematic shifting. The 30 Seven gloves can make cold weather more than just bearable, and while I wouldn’t describe it as a thin glove, it’s far thinner than the alternative. They come in five sizes (XS-XL), claim to last up to eight hours, and are priced at $225.
30 Seven has a solution for your other extremities—your feet—with their electric heated insoles. They utilize the exact same batteries as those that come with the gloves, only the system comes in two parts: an ankle bracelet that houses the battery and settings, and an insole connected by a detachable wire.
I won’t lie: I was extremely skeptical when I saw the detachable wire between the ankle and foot during testing, and made it my mission to separate them with exaggerated remounts and high strides over barriers. To 30 Seven’s credit, it never happened. Unlike the gloves, though, I would likely reserve the insoles for training rides and sub 30-degree race conditions. The heat and settings work wonders, but the weight of the system, and its ankle location, hampered my cadence and my attempts at clean remounts. Only its weight is the problem—I found that the device itself sat snug and secure around my ankle, never bobbing around.
30Seven gloves as reviewed in Issue 27. © Cyclocross Magazine
Riders who have fitted insoles, like myself, will have to replace them with the 30 Seven-supplied heating elements. I can’t complain too harshly about this because in New England’s December racing I would much prefer the ability to feel my toes than have a cold insole that conforms to my arches. The heated insole slipped into the length of my shoe perfectly, although the heater element tends to run wide, making it feel as if you have to force the side edges of the heated insole into your shoe. They come in seven sizes, from 40-48 EUR, and go for $210.
30 Seven’s electric heated base layer comes in three parts: an elastic open-mesh base layer, a removable heating element that lines the back of the base layer and two lithium-ion batteries. The heating element is extensive and warms the muscles of the shoulders, back, hip and neck. The heated base layer is a little more bulky than its traditional counterparts, and does feel strange under a skinsuit, but I was pleasantly surprised at how it didn’t seem to restrict fluid movements during dismounts. That being said, I would argue that 30 Seven’s electric heated base layer is better- suited as a companion on those long outdoor training days than on the cyclocross course for two reasons. The first is that the batteries, which are twice the size of the batteries that come with the gloves or insoles, rest on your hip bones. They are not obtrusive on a tempo or base-mile ride, but on several occasions, I butted the batteries against my saddle during a Wednesday Night World practice—to ill-effect.
The second problem is that the heat settings on the heating element are located directly on the batteries. While adjusting the temperature of your shoes would be hard during the intensity of a race, attempting to turn off the base layer underneath a skinsuit would be downright impossible. My shoulders and neck welcomed the heat on longer days in the saddle, and the base layer cuts down on a rider’s number of excuses for not going out for rides during the winter. The MSRP on the base layer is $245.
Video of 30Seven Cycling Line:
30 Seven Heated Gloves, Insoles, Baselayer Specs
MSRP: Baselayer ($245)
Gloves ($225)
Insoles ($210)
Sizes: Gloves (XS, S, M, L, XL)
Insoles (40-48 EUR)
For more information: 30seven.eu
