It’s raining men – Hallelujah! Dirtlej Dirtsuit Core Edition long-term review

You were looking forward to riding your ebike on the weekend, but the weather forecast dashed your dreams? With the Dirtsuit Core Edition, Dirtlej promise that the conditions will always be perfect, whatever the weather! We put the Dirtsuit through its paces for you in our long-term review.

If you’re the type to insist on hitting the trails with your ebike even though you’re in the middle of monsoon season, you’ve probably thought about getting rain overalls. Unfortunately, this often makes you think of a toddler in a romper suit and you go back to your two-piece combo and accept that the wet and dirt will inevitably find their way inside. It doesn’t have to be that way. With the Dirtsuit Core Edition, Dirtlej offer an alternative that allows you to stay dry without the style police escorting you from the trail centre in handcuffs.

17 zippers, 7 velcro fasteners and an 18,000 mm waterproof rating – The Dirtlej Dirtsuit Core Edition has lots to offer

Dirtlej’s Dirtsuits are designed for tough off-road use in the worst weather. The Core Edition is the most waterproof variant in the Dirtlej Dirtsuit range, with an 18,000 mm waterproof rating and a breathability rating of 13,000 g/m²/24h. The one-piece suit is available in two colours and six sizes from XS to XXL, as well as the women-specific ladies cut. Although overalls are not known for their style, we were able to warm to the brawny looks of the Dirtsuit. The suit is an eye-catcher on the trails and guarantees appreciative looks from passers-by on the way home from a mud fight. The Dirtsuit Core Edition uses a three-layer membrane fabric, with the outer consisting of 95% polyamide and 5% polyester, and the inner material is 100% polyester.

In size L, the suit weighs 1,380 g. Waterproof stretch inserts on the back connect the pants and the top. Two adjustable velcro fasteners at the waist serve as a belt and ensure that the suit stays where it should. In addition, elasticated cuffs close tightly around your wrists and prevent dirt from getting into the suit. The generously sized hood can be easily pulled over a half-shell helmet and tightened with three elastic cords so that it doesn’t flutter in the wind. When you don’t need the hood, it can be rolled up and tucked away with a wide strap. Reflective elements have been sewn into the suit under the hood to ensure good visibility. There’s no shortage of places for you to stash small items. Two zippered pockets at the hip and one on the chest, position valuables such as your smartphone out of harm’s way. The upper arm pocket is a convenient place for a contactless lift ticket in the bike park or some cash for a coffee or an after-ride beer. The Dirtsuit also has two regular trouser pockets on the backside. All zippers are sealed, keeping out dirt and water and thanks to the cords and loops they remain easy to open while wearing thick winter gloves. However, be careful not to get too much dirt into the zipper. Some started getting stuck during the course of our test and had to be cleaned by hand. We could no longer close one of the zippers after four months of testing.

In good times and bad

Despite being waterproof, the suit has a breathability rating of 13,000 g/m²/24h, though that doesn’t take into account when the material is covered in a thick layer of mud. Should the rain suddenly stop and the sun come out, you can open eight large zippers to let the hot air escape and prevent the inside of the suit from turning into a sauna – two on either side of the thighs, two on the chest and another two under the armpits. Apart from the armpits, all are covered with mesh fabric so that even when they’re open, there’s no chance of mud getting into the suit. A permanent ventilation flap located on the back between the shoulder blades also allows hot air to escape. Unfortunately, this also creates an uncomfortable draft on your back on particularly cold or windy days. If all of these ventilation ports aren’t enough to keep you cool, the trouser legs can be detached from the suit via zippers below the knees. Unfortunately, the zippers’ construction creates gaps at the backs of the knees, which allow water in, in heavy rain. Additional zippers on the sides of the trouser legs mean that you don’t have to remove your shoes to get in and out of the suit or when zipping off the legs’ bottoms. Super convenient! This makes it a lot quicker and easier to remove the trouser legs and your feet stay clean and dry even when you haven’t got a dry place to get out of the suit.

In the eye of the storm – The Dirtlej Dirtsuit Core Edition put to the test

We tested the Dirtsuit on muddy trails and in freezing temperatures in the snow. It also formed an integral part of our bad weather off-road commuting gear. It had its work cut out over a period of four months, subjected to a few crashes and doing several rounds in the washing machine. The only thing the Dirtsuit didn’t see much of was good weather.

The material looks high-quality and hard-wearing and, indeed, it proved to be near bulletproof. The suit survived being blasted with a high-pressure cleaner and occasional crashes. Nothing could damage the outer layer. The suit has additional reinforcement around the seat and on the ankles to better withstand abrasion from the saddle and cranks. The downside is that the suit feels stiff and less flexible than comparable models from the competition. Furthermore, the suit’s weight and pack size are at the heavier and bulkier end of the spectrum for functional clothing. It isn’t the kind of rain suit you would pack in case of bad weather. Either you wear it or leave it at home or in the car, because it will easily fill half of a 20 L backpack. That makes it ill-suited to carry along and disqualifies the Dirtsuit as an option for long, multi-day rides and changeable weather. The baggy, bike-specific cut accommodates knee pads, elbow pads and back protectors and is designed to offer unrestricted movement on your eMTB. The disadvantage is that the suit can rub against the frame depending on your riding position and stature. During the test, the Dirtsuit convinced us with its freedom of movement, robust construction and, apart from the gap at the backs of the knees, almost complete waterproofness. With the material being windproof, it allows you to be more flexible with the clothing you choose to wear beneath the Dirtlej. You no longer have to rely on a warm jacket and can usually get away with a simple base layer.

The Dirtlej Dirtsuit Core Edition is a reliable wet weather companion, turning couch days into bike days. If durability and warmth are more important to you than weight and pack size, the robust one-piece Dirtsuit is the right choice. Smart features such as the detachable trouser legs, the generous hood, the ventilation ports and the various pockets are extremely useful on the trail. However, a lighter combination or a two-piece jacket and pants make more sense for changing weather conditions, long rides or regular commutes.

Tester: Rudolf
Test duration: 4 months
Price: € 319
Weight: 1,380 g in L; 1,610 g in XL
For more information, visit dirtlej.com

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Words: Rudolf Fischer Photos: Jonas Müssig