GOT A NEW Year’s resolution to keep fit and get in shape for summer? Well, German discount supermarket Aldi can’t be faulted for helping you there.

We trialed some of their cycling and running kit and found it’s a lot, lot better than the basement prices would suggest.

You could be a bit of a brand snob and dare to never wear anything that comes from here but you’d be doing yourself – and your pocket, a massive favour by getting on down because in the words of Bruce Forsyth, ‘the price is right’….

Here’s why.

The cycling and running equipment the retailer giants stock doesn’t last long and with good reason too – it’s bloody good.

Though the ‘Special Buy’ offers we’re all familiar which might only cater for sports enthusiasts a few times a year, we’re pretty sure whenever you enter a store there will still be some kit lying around.

Generally, the stock is short-lived and gets snapped up very quickly, so if the offer is for a Thursday you’d better get there on the Thursday because by Saturday or Sunday (or next week) all that’ll remain is oversized or unwanted items.

That’s the first complaint we have with the apparel; the sizing is often the problem and it’s hardly surprising when the smallest size is medium.

Having said that, I’ve tested out a lot of Aldi equipment over the years and without hesitation I can say some of it is the best stuff I ever bought for running and cycling.

The sleeveless base layers are superb and have been my go-to cycling item for three years now.

It’s warm and fits tightly and for a tenner it represents one of the best value items I’ve ever bought, let alone for sport.

Interestingly, it’s the smaller items like this that Aldi do very well and after buying the base layer I followed it up with two pairs of winter and fingerless summer gloves – both of which I still have two years on and use every day of the week.

The running-specific gloves contain lycra and are a breathable stretch fabric while they are also lightweight and really comfortable. The latter (running gloves) allow you to use your phone too!

Top marks for these. The running neck-warmer is another item I initially found hard to fault.

This is designed to protect your neck from the elements when running or cycling in the winter. It can also be maneuvered into covering your ears and worn under a helmet.

It is very versatile and stretchy but it eventually became too stretchy after a few washes and doesn’t offer a whole pile now – though I did get a good hard winter out of it.

I waded a little deeper and bought the running shoes for under €25. What do you expect?

The best feature is the padded and removable insole and extra protection in the heel which makes running a pleasure, but like all shoes, they lose that ‘spring’ after a while.

And a short time in this case.

However, for the casual gym-goer like me and not the 75km a week pavement guy, they are outstanding.

Granted, the design isn’t hectic.

They have a breathable textile-mesh so your feet feel quite ‘free’ and this, I imagine, helped to prevent blisters – though the Aldi socks can take credit for this as well.

Inside the runner, there is a textile lining and padded collar and this makes them very comfortable for just walking around in – which is what they are mainly used for now.

In terms of heavy lifting in the gym – avoid.

It’s not all good, however and one area where Aldi fall down in is in the more complex items like bib shorts.

We’ve featured them here before and unfortunately the verdict hasn’t changed.

They are simply not designed by a cyclist because a) there’s too much padding up the back and b) the padding (or chamois as it’s known in cycling) is not dense enough.

This means after an hour of riding you have no cushion for your behind…and that’s not fun if you have a 100-miler planned for the weekend.

In short, anything for casual cycling or running from Aldi gets the thumbs up. For more serious athletes, it’s perhaps not what you’re looking for, though this percentage represents the absolute minority!

Pros: Cheap, smaller items are often as good as premium-priced items.
Cons: Sells out quickly, sizing is poor, quality can vary.

If you’re doing the same thing in the gym after 5 years then it’s time for something to change

Don’t let the wrong gym derail the right intentions