15 years sounds right. That must be about the time Endura stopped putting magnetic closures in short pockets. All downhill from there...
I worked for Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op back in 2006ish when they first opened in Leeds. For obvious reasons Endura were one of their key, pride of place brands in the store, they had some excellent, high quality, innovative kit that others were not doing, it was incredibly durable, their rep was brilliant and used to visit the store to give us all the latest info and sales stuff, it lasted forever and we could sell it all day long from its reputation.
Come 2024 and I've flirted with various bits of Endura kit over the past few years hoping to find the qualities that I rembered from then, but unfortunately just had generic, mis-shaped or mis-sized, overpriced tat that falls apart. Seam taping on jackets and shorts in particular seems to last a few weeks at best - in fact, I'm pretty sure I have some Endura pieces bought using my bike shop wage in 2006/7 that is currently in better condition than kit bought it the past year or two.
Genrally, just dissapointed.
Decathlon stuff is way better made for half the price.
All downhill from there…
In the context of a bike forum that's often a positive.
I like Endura kit, I've commented before that I prefer some older styles but have been impressed with recent MT500 and Singletrack pieces. The sizing is inconsistent but kind of predictable - race-style gear uses a smaller cm than general all-day riding stuff. I've found Madison sizing to be considerably further off the mark.
I find their gloves fall apart at the wrists but remain perfectly useable (with a bit of sewing) - whereas other brands (661 particularly) break or wear at the finger ends and become useless.
If anyone has any lightly used Zyme 3/4 in a medium, do please pass them on! My favourite commute/work legwear for six months of the year.
I’m liking my much newer MT500 waterproof jacket but it’s too hot unless the weather is really bad.
The sizing does seem all over the place (but they’re not alone with that!)
I really like their kit, it's my go to. I had a few issues with their gloves splitting at the seams and the fingertips wearning out about a decade ago and gave up on them but had the same problems with all other brands I tried. I just order larger gloves now- problem solved. Their shorts and trousers are consistantly a perfect fit for me as are their tops. I recently bought the MT500 waterproof jacket and it seems to be well designed, manufactured and the fit is spot on. Similar tops from other manufacturers exist I'm sure but I've had a whole range of problems with zips, stitching, delamination and more with e.g. Altura and TLD that I've not had with Endura. It could be that I've been lucky with Endura, but all my mates seem to have dodged the same bullet too. Good kit in my view.
Endura should definitely start making Zyme 3/4 lengths again.
How did they handle your warranty claim?
@chakaping - I did contact them but they wouldn't deal with me (direct) and said I had to return through the reseller - as this was CRC I saw little point in pursuing so wrote them off as a bad punt. I wouldn't want them replaced anyway TBH.
I’ve been using Endura kit for I guess about 20 something years, but I’m sure the quality went very patchy when their manufacturing went offshore. (I too still have a pair of the nigh on indestructible winter bib longs with waterproof shin panel). I still like some of their kit and wear it, but after my exasperation with their useless warranty department (also offshored), I’m very reluctant to buy any more Endura waterproofs.
(The seat area on my £160 MT500 waterproof trousers delaminated after about 2 to 3 hours riding in Scottish rain…and it wasn’t even that muddy! My previous pair had lasted two winters worth of riding).
From reading others comments above, I think I’ll be sticking with other brands from now on.
Don't know about the overall financial picture, but been given a little insight about actual sales from someone who ought to know. While Europe and USA sales are not overly healthy, they are apparently still shifting units in the UK.
Their sizing is utterly hopeless too.
Now ordering my 3rd Primaloft gilet (originally a Xmas present, so want to end up with one). Based on my experience with a hoodie where the XL drowned me and the Large I now have is still a bit big...
I ordered L. It wouldn't even meet at the front and ended just below my navel. Returned and rebought as XL - at £30 more as offer had ended. Still too ****ing small. Will zip up, but is far too tight and still short. Now ordered XXL - the biggest size available.
I'm 5'11" and about 87Kg. I could do with losing a few Kg, no doubt, but there's no way I should be in the biggest available size.
Bunch of clowns.
You should see the size of the footwear they make!
I’m with fenderextender on this, their sizing is so waaaay off that it’s pretty much pointless. In fact, this is relatively recent (last 10 years in my experience) and probably something to do with either cost cutting to maximise their profit or shifting manufacturing somewhere else (or both). I recently sold a load of Humvee shorts & 3/4 length shorts. The size large still fit me fine, the XLs were too big. I tried some new ones (possibly MT500) in XL and it was like trying to squeeze into a medium. Their stuff used to be true to size when compared to any wardrobe item, it’s now skinny roadie sizing that doesn’t actually fit the average recreational cyclist.
You should see the size of the footwear they make!
TBF, in the footwear stakes I'm more concerned about the soles coming off within 6 months (two pairs of Burner SPD shoes now - my home cobbling referred to in an earlier post gained me an extra couple of months before failing totally).
Their gloves are shite - leather palm went black and brittle and stitching came undone within a couple of rides.
Their shirts are made of a horrible thin, plasticky material that clings onto any sweat like a bin liner.
Their trousers seem OK, but they're not cheap and often deals can be found on comparable or better ones.
On the other hand, I have one of their sleeveless thin base layers that has lasted ages and is now so worn out that it should have fallen apart. But it continues to hold on.
Overall, though, not impressed nowadays and getting more sceptical by the day.
Well there must be variation in different production runs because the L that I originally had would have been suitable for someone around 5'7" and probably no more than 75 Kg.
The sizing on the gilets I have had versus the hoodies is laughable - even if you, obviously, take into account that hoodies are 'baggy' and gilets are 'roadie'.
Added to all my annoyances over the quality of shoes, gloves and shirts - I'm pretty pissed off.
had a few things in recent years the 4 way stretch singletrack shorts are great, as are the MT500 softshell hoody and the GV500 gravel range looks great too. size wise yep i'm a m or l but most brands are like that
Received word yesterday from the secretary of the cycling club that I'm a member of that Endura are closing the doors of their custom kit factory next month. They are going to carry on making clothing but not custom, i.e. club, stuff.
Our club switching supplier to KALAS.
“It is just about the right size for my 5’11” and 85kg frame.”
I’m the same height and weight (within half an inch and a couple of kilos) and my Endura MT500 jacket is a medium! Aaaarghhhhh…
And, what with the iffy formatting on this forum, I'll re-raise you a 'FFS' too.
I will say though, once I’d cut out the pointless inner cuffs on the MT500 waterproof, it’s a bloody great jacket for horrible weather. The over helmet hood is a revelation! Shame the main zip has a habit of snagging but as I got it massively discounted from sports pursuit I can’t complain.
Our club switching supplier to KALAS.
We used Kalas for the kit last year and we're really happy with it, obviously it's MTB kit but the road stuff they sent as testing was great too.
More than happy to recommend them. The process was clear and concise, lots of changes were made without issues before final design. They then sent out a test, which was a large piece of fabric showing colours and logos etc.
