First Look: Fabric's 2017 Product Line

British brand Fabric started out in 2014 with the Scoop saddle and the more distinctive ALM, Line and Cell models. At a rainswept product launch in a sleepy village in Somerset, company founder Nick Larsen unveiled his intentions to expand Fabric into a complete accessory brand, with the launch into new categories including commuting lights and pumps, as well as the expansion of existing product lines such as pumps, grips, and its innovative cage-less water bottle. Most of these new products will be available in shops this August.



Saddles

It all started with saddles for Fabric, so we'll start this segment of their product line. No major changes to report, a few new colours and width options but the biggest news is that Fabric is now catering to women with the launch of the new Scoop Gel (£44.99). It’s loosely based on the regular Scoop, the shape looks very similar, but it combines a Radius curved profile and increased width (155mm) with soft gel inserts in three key places, at the nose and under the sit bones. It weighs 280g and comes in nice colour options including Jade, Purple, and Aqua.



Tools

There’s an expanded range of tools for 2017, following the launch of the Chamber tool this time last year. The Six, Eight and Sixteen multi-tools are more conventional designed than the distinctive Chamber tool, but they still combine a sleek design aesthetic and pleasing functionally, based on a little time using the tools.

The biggest Sixteen Tool (£21.99), and the smaller Six Tool are both made with CNC machined tool parts sandwiched in a lightweight aluminum body. The available tools for the Sixteen include a 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 Hex bits, T25 Torx, Phillips head screwdriver, 13, 14, 15 and 16 spoke gauge and Mavic spline tool, a chain splitter and last but not least, a bottle opener.

Smallest of the new tools is the Six which features just a 3, 4, 5, and 6mm Hex tools, a T25 and Phillips head screwdriver. Its compact design is ideal for stashing in a pocket if you’re travelling very light and sans-hydration pack, and should get you out of most minor mechanical problems.

There’s now a dedicated Chain Tool (£17.99) which is so small and beautifully curved that you can’t help but turn it over in your hands a few times. The chain splitter is made from hardened steel and is compatible with 8 - 11-speed chains. No word on whether it works with 12-speed chains…


Pumps

Fabric steps into the inflation market with a range of mini and track pumps. Fabric has really looked at current pumps on the market and focused 100% on function, with a stripped back design that is all about the simplicity of use. All of the pumps use a smart head that easily fits both Presta and Schrader valves and an extendable rubber hose on the smaller models. The R150 (£24,99) and R200 (£29.99) are the smallest in the range (180mm and 235mm lengths respectively) and designed for high-pressure tires up to 120psi, and feature lightweight aluminium bodies, an over-handle design and extendable hose with a smart head.


The bigger M200 (£29.99) is best suited for mountain biking, with a large aluminum barrel capable of inflating tires up to 90psi. It uses an extendable rubber hose with a smart head that deals with Presta and Schrader but relies on a more conventional flip lever to lock the head onto the valve. At 235mm long it’s compact enough to fit in a regular hydration pack or can be mounted to the frame.

For home use there are two track pumps, the cheaper TP02 (£44.99), and the TP01 (£69.99), which wasn’t ready in time for the launch event. The pump features a very big reinforced polymer platform so it’s super stable, and a large analog pressure gauge that is easy to read when you’re standing at the pump. An extra long rubber hose is fitted with the same smart head as the mini-pumps and it’ll take tires all the way up to 160psi. The pricier TP01 features the same essential design but swaps in a wooden handle, cast base and nicer materials throughout.


Bottles

The Cageless Water Bottle was one of the most interesting products we saw last year, and it’s now available in a larger 750ml (£11.99) size to complement the original 600ml (£9.99) bottle. If you need reminding, the Cageless bottle does away with the conventional water bottle cage and instead uses two small plastic studs that fit the frame mounts. The bottle has two moulded recesses that mate with the studs. It’s a beautifully simple design, and is ideal for mountain bikers that want to ditch the hydration pack.

There’s a growing trend for carrying tools on the bike (like Specialized’s SWAT solution) and the new Tool Keg (£12.99) taps into this popularity, though it’s based on a system that is popular with road cyclists as an alternative to stuffing jersey pockets with tools. It’s 144mm tall and uses the same Cageless stud mounting system, with a screw top and a neoprene bag that contains any tools, spares or snacks, and stops the contents rattling noisily.


Grips

The original Slim Grip has now been joined by a range of three new lock-on grips. Grip shape is a very personal thing so Fabric has developed three different models with varying levels or ergonomically shaping. The Silicone lock-on grip (£11.99) uses an ovalized shape and it’s made from a medical grade silicone that is said to be durable. It has a nice tactile feel in the hands, but we’ll reserve judgement on the performance until we get the chance to test them. The Ergo grip (£15.99) uses a flared design that is “shaped to the contours of the hand and palm” using a silicone material to provide plentiful grip and comfort. Sitting somewhere in the middle is the Semi ergo grip (£15.99), which has a slightly curved shape that feels really comfortable in the hand. It’s not too chunky in the hand with quite a slim profile.

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View additional images of Fabric's 2017 products here.

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fabric.cc / @Fabric