Answer Racing has been around for nearly 50 years, with the brand producing apparel since 1982. The latest Answer Racing Akron Nitrus gearset offers high-quality pants and a jersey for a total of $165. The Akron Nitrus line sits below Answer’s premium Elite gearset and above Answer’s standard Akron and budget Syncron lines. We headed for mountain single-track trails and the wide-open desert to test the Akron Nitrus gearset.
Answer Racing Akron Nitrus Jersey
Answer describes the Akron Nitrus jersey as “race grade” and it lives up to the claim. Not for the heat of the summer, the Nitrus jersey features a tighter weave in the body, with plenty of open mesh in the arms.
The polyester is extraordinarily soft to the touch and is roomy enough to fit over body armor, including an Alpinestars Tech-Air Off-Road System airbag. The rounded collar is soft and does not bother the neck. The cuffs are lightly elastic, and never feel tight at the wrists. The long tail stays tucked in without bulking up.
The Akron Nitrus jersey is made of durable materials, and the graphics looked as good after repeated washings as they did the day they came out of the bag.
Answer Racing Akron Nitrus Pants
The Answer Racing Akron Nitrus pants are soft, comfortable companions to the jersey.
Putting on the pants is interesting, as there is no zipper. Instead, there is a large fly with hook-and-loop for customizing the fit. There is also an off-center hook-and-loop belt to get just the right adjustment for comfort.
The Akron Nitrus pants are stretchy for a great fit and plenty of flexibility. The knees are generous enough to easily accommodate braces, and the short inner liner makes the pants easy to get on.
As with the jersey, the Akron Nitrus pants are a good choice on cooler rides. There are no mesh panels; instead, the pants employ two parallel columns of nine 1/8-inch holes on each leg for ventilation. This is plenty, as long as you aren’t riding in the dead of summer in California’s deserts.
The pants offer the same durability as the jersey, taking on nasty desert and mountain shrubbery without a nick or hole. A hard crash in a rocky desert section resulted in minor damage—a dime-sized hole where the jersey got between a rock and shoulder armor. The rubbery Answer logos protected the pant knees from destruction. The Akron Nitrus pants and jersey held up far better than one could reasonably expect.
Answer Racing Peak Gloves
We tested the Akron Nitrus jersey and pants with a pair of Answer Racing Peak gloves ($35/pair). They’re lightweight gloves that have the durability you want on the trails, though they lack any sort of impact protection for the fingers or back of the hand. Despite that, they held up well when taking on bushes on bikes lacking hand guards.
A hook-and-loop wrist closure allows fine-tuning of the fit, and the finger length was as expected. Silicone is applied to the index and middle fingers for lever grip, resulting in a sure feel, with the Clarino synthetic palm being thin yet offering a bit of cushion from the grips. These gloves are suitable for off-road riding, especially if your bike has hand guards.
The Answer Racing Akron Nitrus gearset—jersey and pants —along with the Peak gloves, performed well during extensive off-roading across a variety of conditions for $200. If the weather isn’t baking, you’ll feel comfortable and protected from the abrasion attacks the outdoors loves to dish out. You can decide for yourself if you like the appearance of the gear; I think the styling is excellent.
Answer Racing Akron Nitrus Gearset Fast Facts
- Jersey sizes: XS – 2XL
- Pants sizes: 28-42 (even numbers)
- Colors: Red/Black/White; Blue/Black/White; Blue/Black/Hyper Orange; Black/Grey
Answer Akron Nitrus Jersey Price: $35 MSRP
Answer Akron Nitrus Pants Price: $130
Answer Akron Nitrus Gearset Review Photo Gallery
