We’re just going to begin by saying this is the toughest piece of outerwear we’ve ever worn. And by “tough” we mean that when we blast through a tangle of tree branches, we look back to see if the tree is ok.
The Rex Mono Suit is the top-level and highest-priced mono suit Tobe Outerwear offers. It features a 3-layer shell construction with Sympatex nylon. It also features a Sympatex 45,000mm waterproof membrane and is fully seam sealed.
On the knees, inner leg and cuff you get heavy-duty Armortex Kevlar––stuff that is not going to get ripped, cut or torn on running boards or sharp sticks. It’s dang near bulletproof, although we stopped our testing shy of that benchmark.
The Rex is windproof and waterproof, and we can attest to both of those features. We wore the Rex on numerous outings, ranging from hellacious sub-zero blizzard conditions to warm sunny days. The Rex is non-insulated (thank goodness). We didn’t feel the sting of cold in this suit—maybe the tough-as-nails shell kept it out like a bouncer at a club. Seriously––putting this suit on made you feel a little bit of a connection to Iron Man when he slipped into the first homemade suit in that Afghan prison. Wear a Rex and anything that winter has to throw at you bounces off with a weak thud.
Pockets galore on this suit, which is great for riders who like to keep things like a spare set of thin gloves, a balaclava, GoPro, snack bar and a couple tools close at hand. There’s also a goggle pocket, cell phone pocket, nice leg gaiters and a durable metal ring for your tether.
We didn’t mind not having inner suspenders, though we normally prefer a suit with them. The Rex could use a couple more vents, too.
Of modern Tobe mono suits, this is the second we’ve done full-season tests with. Two seasons ago we tested the Vivid (and fell in love with it). Tobe is on top of its game with the current catalog of winter gear. We suggest you take a look.
Price: $999.95
Contact: us.tobeouterwear.com