Review | Merlin Brody D3O Single Layer riding shirt/Dunford riding jeans

A relatively new name in the bike clothing world, British-based Merlin has carved its niche with its stylish, mainly retro-themed kit. This includes everything from trad waxed cotton jackets to jeans, hoodies and more, all made with the same attention to detail and focus on discretely integrated armour for style off the bike as on. Here we try the Brody riding shirt and Dunford jeans combo.

The idea of riding in a shirt is at once liberating and slightly scary considering how conditioned we are into wearing more protective materials like leather or modern textiles but the latest developments in armour and fabrics make it possible. To be fair most only offer the minimum A level of protection so are best kept for lower speeds and urban posing, which is fine. The Brody is a bit different, the Level 1 D3O Ghost armour on the elbows and shoulders thin enough to be almost unnoticeable when you wear it but, in combination with the thick cotton twill, enough to score an AA rating. You’ll want to slip a back protector in it as well, which is another £45 for the official Merlin Level 2 version, and it takes a leap of faith to accept the single layer fabric offers the same abrasion resistance as similarly rated leather or textile jackets. Suffice to say, we didn’t put it to the ultimate test, instead enjoying a design straddling the divide between shirt and lightweight jacket. We went with the Small and the fit was good for a slimmer build, a degree of stretch keeping it comfortable. Going by this we’d say Merlin uses ‘British’ rather than ‘European’ sizing, so choose accordingly. Features include solid feeling metal YKK zips, four external pockets in addition to extra ones inside and on the sleeve, a connector zip to compatible jeans or press stud ‘Euro hoop’ to the same ends. Stylish enough we’d consider it as casual wear with the back protector removed it’s available in a wide range of colours and in sizes Small to 4XL.

A perfect match with the Brody shirt, the Dunford riding jeans use the same D3O Ghost armour for discreet, comfortable protection on the knees and hips while scoring the same AA rating. Perhaps a tad less stretchy than some other riding jeans, the single-layer Cordura denim promises more abrasion resistance than feels possible so we’ll take it on trust they’re up to the job. The fit is on the tighter side, which suits a slimmer build though we found ourselves somewhere between the 30 and 32 sizing. The former are ‘suck it in’ tight though comfy once on, which felt more confidence inspiring than the looser 32s on the basis the armour didn’t sit as securely on our knees, though you can adjust its position via Velcro tabs in the pockets in which it fits. The chunkier of leg may get on better here but it suggests there’s perhaps quite a big step between the sizes and if you’re between them you may struggle. As ever, try before you buy. Also available in a short leg option our regulars had enough length to cover ankles when seated on the bike and if you prefer to ride with them turned up you’ll find some neat reflective material on the inside as well. A horizontal loop on the waistband meanwhile connects with the same on the Brody shirt.

There’s no lack of choice in the riding kit market so credit to Merlin for carving out its own little corner with a range of what looks like very high quality and carefully thought through kit. Image is as an important a consideration for many riders as function but with this combo you can seemingly have both, with an above average level of protection for riding your retro out on the lanes as well as in the city. The quality also feels very high, and we have every confidence the kit will last. If not cheap you seemingly get what you pay for, and on this showing we like Merlin’s combination of modern protection and classic styling.