The stratospheric growth that Rival Kit – one of the UK’s leading rowing performance apparel providers – experienced in their first few years on the market meant that simply coping with the demand was an all-consuming challenge. Although they brought numerous innovative features to the racing kit market – including faster delivery times, digital presence and various cutting-edge technologies to their merchandise – the next step for the brand is to continue disrupting and, critically, enhancing the industry. Step forward, the AIOX.
Tried and tested by various JRN contributors, Rival’s latest all-in-one is a step forward in apparel technology and wearability. “I’m a huge fan of the new grippy material inside the legs,” said Lara Robinson, who has been rowing in Oxford for several years. “I’ve been erging and rowing in it and have had no problems with the legs riding up at all, which happens with almost all of my other unis across a range of brands”.
“The Rival unisuit is the perfect blend of comfort and function, with a great choice of material,” said Ben, who edits all of our Irish content and rows out of King’s College School, Wimbledon. “It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor sessions and I have put the unisuit through its paces, and it has performed well in all situations. The different parts of the suit, in particular the grips towards the bottom of the leg, ensure that it stays in the right place for as long as needed.”
Felicity, another of our junior contributors who plies her trade at Shiplake College, also commented on the kit’s breathability. “The new Rival all-in-one has swiftly ascended to the top of my rankings. The snug fit, coupled with the breathable fabric, ensures I feel composed without the discomfort of restriction or overheating that some other all-in-ones may cause. I have utilized the All-in-One for both UT1 and UT2, on the erg and the water, and it has consistently provided me with both comfort and confidence in all conditions. The mesh and no-seam cut is also excellent”
Poppy, who also sits in our junior cohort and will be joining our editorship next year, took delivery of the kit in the autumn of last year and has been using it throughout the winter. “My first impression when I got it out of the parcel was very positive,” she remembered. “The material felt thicker than previous all-in-ones I’ve had, and the colour still looks vibrant.”
Like others, she also noticed the grippy section at the end of the shorts and thought that was a very good idea; her intrigue lay in whether it would work. “I think the best bit about the all-in-one is the grippy band at the bottom of the shorts; in my entire three-hour session (erg and water), the shorts didn’t roll up once, making for a much better experience. I really like the cut on the shorts too. I think the no-seam design is more comfortable, plus the mesh panel down the side adds to the design, making it cohesive from the top to the shorts. Overall, it’s a very good all-in-one for quality and design, with the new material and the grippy band making it much better than previous editions.”
As Rival Kit continues to refine its offering in the sporting apparel space, they are continually open for feedback. Their mission is to serve as many different programmes in the best possible way, and the newest evolution of the all-in-one will only serve to enhance and amplify that aim.
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