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February 2017 Product Picks: Effetto Mariposa, skingrowsback, Pedalit, Dual Eyewear

by Matt Wikstrom

February 22, 2017

TECH SUPPORTED BY GIANT

In the second edition of Product Picks for February 2017, Australian tech editor Matt Wikstrom takes a look at some helmet padding from Effetto Mariposa, bifocal sunglasses from Dual Eyewear, laundry bags from skingrowsback, and body care products from Pedalit.

Click the links below to skip through to a particular review:

• Effetto Mariposa Octoplus kit
• Skingrowsback laundry bags
• Dual Eyewear bifocal sunglasses
• Pedalit laundry detergent, sunscreen and chamois cream

Effetto Mariposa Octoplus kit

by Matt Wikstrom

Effetto Mariposa created its Octoplus kit to serve as a universal and customisable padding kit for any road or cross-country helmet on the market. Made in Italy from high quality foam covered by a durable and sweat-resistant fabric, the padding takes the place of the original padding by sticking to Velcro tabs.

The company decided on an eight-pointed star as the most adaptable shape to fit the many shapes and contours of modern helmets. There is an additional eight spots (four large, four medium) that can be used for pressure points and four strips for the brow or elsewhere.

Ten adhesive Velcro tabs are included with the kit along with a chin pad.

Our take:

If you’re like me, then the first thing that wears out for a helmet is the padding, and if you’ve ever tried finding replacement pads, then you’ll know that it can be difficult. This is one of my major complaints that concerns every helmet on the market: after all, those pads are relatively inexpensive, and when the asking price for the helmet can be hundreds of dollars, the buyer deserves at least one set of replacement pads, yet they are rarely ever supplied.

Thankfully, Effetto Mariposa’s Octoplus kit addresses this industry-wide shortcoming. I was initially concerned that the star-shaped padding would be a poor fit for my aging Kask Mojito, but it proved to be as adaptable as Effetto Mariposa promises. I only needed a few minutes to finish the job and it immediately breathed new life into the helmet.

The only thing that will affect the appeal of this product is its availability because the price is fair and it works exactly as promised.

Price: AUD$24/US$20/€14
www.effettomariposa.eu

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  • George Darroch

    Any product that can survive a hot day’s sweat in the Australian sun is very welcome. Have just bought a box of their cleaning products, so I’m interested to hear how their sunscreen compares to the plain old Cancer Society blue bottle.

    • JCJordan

      I grabbed a bottle of the sunscreen before the TDU and used it throughout and loved it. It stood up to my considerable sweat rate and best of all did not get the sticky sensation that I get from the cancer council sports which always seems to leave my leg covered in road grit.

  • Yi

    $20 for a laundry bag, when i can get one for $2.80 at Daiso – some pretty questionable value

    • Allez Rouleur

      C’mon now, you can customize your zipper pulls!

  • Mike Williams

    I’d order the OctoPlus today (for my worn out summer helmet) at 10Euro it’s a lot cheaper than a new helmet…but the 20Euro extra to get it shipped to Canada is crazy…lets hope the manufacturer finds a NA distributor in the next 2 months.

    • 044373

      If you click through to their site they have a comment on the bottom of the product page referencing a Canadian distributor.

    • Rodrigo Diaz

      I’ve gotten their stuff from Cantitoe (USA), but always try to bundle a significant order since this is still fairly expensive. Didn’t know of the CAN distributor.

  • Allez Rouleur

    Have you guys done an article on helmet replacement? Not trying to open a can of worms, but I have read various different opinions on when you should replace one. The recent article on DRLs was full of good information.

    • Wily_Quixote

      i remember researching this myself and came to the conclusion after reading some reputable material that you don’t have to replace your helmet unless you crash in it. The helmet substrate does not deteriorate markedly in UV/heat etc.

      That said, the liners inside only last a couple of years in my helmets.

      I’ll try and find the links.

      • Allez Rouleur

        Thank you, Wily! That’s kinda how I feel…if plastic is going to be living in the ocean and in landfills long, long after I’m gone, can’t see it degrading that quickly on my head from some sweat and sun.

        I’ve gotten some pretty good life out of my current favorite helmet, and LG Quartz. I’ve gotten great deals on mine, can’t stomach $200+ on a helmet, but this one is a Pro Tour level helmet and I’ve gotten mine for around $60 USD. Very light, fits my head well and nice looking. (though they have changed the design a bit and they don’t fit me as well. Shucks.)

  • ridein

    The good news about the Pedalit sunscreen is no avobenzone ingredient, since that tends to cause those orangey-rust stains on clothing. The bad news is it costs so much more, compared to the store brands about 6X as much.

  • velocite

    I am not even slightly tempted to handwash my gear with that pedalit soap. Machines wash better, certainly than my handwashing, and I would need persuading that handwashing would extend the life of knicks – I reckon most wear happens on the bike. I’ll continue to chuck’em in the machine and wash in cold water, ordinary washing powder with an anti fungal/bacterial rinse.

  • Richard Braginton

    tried out some bifocal sport sunglasses some years ago, they are great for bring ing the computer screen into sharp focus unfortunately when checking what gear your in (another sign of ageing forgetting what gear your in) your vision of the cassette becomes blurred as you are still looking through the bottom of the lens….gone back to squinting

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