Tested: Dakine Darkside / Vectra Kit
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In a Nutshell
Dakine’s new Vectra shorts and pants are a comfortable choice for anyone looking for a big-ride-ready bike bottom. And the Darkside jersey is our go-to for chilly rides.
Intro
Dakine released their new Vectra lineup of bike shorts and pants this spring, and I’ve spent the last month riding in them, combined with Dakine’s new Darkside jersey. The Vectra pants and shorts are designed to be lightweight, do-it-all options. Some folks might associate Dakine’s bike wear with baggy, heavy, freeride-focused options, but the Vectra pants and shorts fall much closer to the minimalist end of the spectrum. They’re built from a lightweight stretch fabric, with minimal pockets and features, apart from the perforated vents around the crotch area.
Dakine says the Vectra is ready for anything from big backcountry adventures to days in the bikepark, and I’ve been using them for all sorts of trail and enduro riding.
The Darkside jersey is a unique take on a long sleeve jersey. Its chest, and the front of its shoulders are covered with a windproof polyester panel, while the rest of the jersey is made of a lightweight mesh. It’s meant to cut the breeze on chilly rides, while still allowing any moisture created by your body to wick away and evaporate.
Together, the Darkside and Vectra combo represents some of Dakine’s most performance-driven outerwear. So how does it compare?
Fit
At 6’1”, 200 lbs, I very consistently choose XL tops and Large bottoms in my bike clothes, and it felt like the Darkside / Vectra kit fit true to those sizes. The XL Darkside jersey is comfortable on me without being excessively baggy. I could probably size down to the Large, but I prefer the extra length of the XL.
I fall close to the middle of the Vectra bottom’s sizing. I have to cinch down the waist of both the pants and the shorts, but not enough that I want to swap to a Medium. The Vectra shorts have a false fly, the fabric of the shorts just folds over here, with no zipper, and is secured with the ratchet buckle. This is a nicely executed false fly. The otherwise very similar Fox Flexair short doesn’t have one, uninterrupted fabric panel behind the false fly, so when riding things can get out of place and leave you with your fly very open. That’s not a worry with the Vectra shorts. They also have a nice wide waistband that spreads the tension of the waist closure over a wide area without pinching.
The Vectra's 14" inseam is long enough that I never had issues with the shorts riding up and creating an unsightly gap above my kneepads, but they're short enough that you don't feel like a baggy freeride bro if you wear them to casual events.
The Vectra pants take the bold measure of using only a snap button and drawstring to close. I found myself frustrated by this closure. The draw string isn’t continuous around the waist of the pant. Instead, it’s two separate strings with elastic in the middle of the back. That means that it’s pretty hard to get the waist to tighten all the way up, without the pants sagging. And once you do get them tight, you can really feel that string, digging into your gut. A wider waistband, belt loops, or a more traditional waist closure would be much appreciated here. With my phone in my pocket, weighing down the pant, I was always worried about exposing my rear end to riders following me on any sort of sustained descent. They're a nice length for my 34" inseam though.
Both the Vectra pants and shorts have a slim, athletic fit. They’re a touch slimmer than Fox’s Flexair kit in the same sizes, but baggier than NF’s new lightweight collection.
Performance
I was initially skeptical of how useful the Darkside jersey would be. The windproof section on the front seemed unwieldy and uncomfortable, but riding with the jersey on I didn’t notice it in a negative way at all. What I did notice was that on chilly mornings, the Darkside jersey has a really unique feel. It doesn’t exactly make me feel “warmer” instead it makes me feel less cold, by cutting wind chill to my core. That’s a really neat sensation on the bike. I generally run warm, and don’t like a lot of insulation, even in my colder weather layers. But, I do hate the chill associated with higher speeds or pavement descents.
The Darkside manages those conditions really well. It’s almost like a built-in wind vest, cutting the chill when you need it, but still letting your body breathe. It’s quickly become a favorite for dry but chilly mountain bike rides and commutes.
Dakine absolutely nailed the material of the Vectra shorts and pants. It’s light and breathable, without the sort of plasticy feel, sound, or drape that a lot of other brands have in their lightweight gear. It feels really comfortable against my skin, and that comfort, along with the perforated vents mean that this kit feels really airy and light. If you’ve got big sweaty rides in your future, the Vectra shorts or pants are a comfortable option.
As far as pockets go, if I’m only going to get two per garment, they might as well be the zippered lower thigh pockets that both Vectra options use. They hold a phone, wallet, and keys securely out of the way when pedaling or descending. I did find that because the Vectras are so comfortable, I wanted to wear them more in casual settings, but ended up leaving them at home since they don’t have any sort of hand pockets. These are meant to be a technical, minimalist short, not a casual crossover. But another pocket or two would be much appreciated.
Both the Vectra pants and shorts felt lighter and more comfortable than their Fox Flexair equivalents, and had a softer feel than NF’s new Lightweight collection. That said, their waist closures, especially on the pants, aren’t the absolute best on the market, so make sure they fit you well and that you’re not relying on the drawstring to keep your trousers up.
What kind of rider will get along well with the Dakine Darkside / Vectra kit?
The Darkside jersey is a really practical option for anyone who regularly finds themself on rides that are a bit chilly, but aren’t wet. It’s one of those layers that seems a bit odd at first, but then just disappears and enhances your comfort as soon as you get on the bike.
The Vectra shorts and pants are a great lightweight option for riders looking for a comfortable, minimalist package.
Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.
