As we slipped through autumn into the winter months, this excellent top from Altura became more and more essential. In the milder months it was used with a light baselayer, then with a heavier baselayer and, finally, in full blown winter, we used it as a layer underneath a wind or waterproof. In short, it got a lot of use and always delivered a comfortable ride.
The fit was close, but a stretchy and soft-touch fleece backed 'roubaix' type fabric made it all very pleasant to pull on, and with an excellent long back and sleeves we felt well covered in the saddle.
We were also very impressed with the grey 'darkproof' reflectives, looking very 'unreflective' and doing a great job of blending in with the design of the jersey until called upon. Experimenting with a torch they lit up almost as much as more traditional silver reflectives, so altura deserve a stiff pat on the back. Excellent protection without the commuter look and all very handy for the time of year you are likely to be using this jersey - we had at least two rides where we were caught out riding back at dusk, very glad of this boost to our visibility.
Pocket space is generous on the NV2, with five large bellowed pockets spread around the base of the back. The outside two on either side were easily accessible, even when wearing a pack on the mountain bike, while a small, side-loading and zipped sixth pocket, off centre, was just about big enough for a key and money.
Being very flexible over a wide range of temperatures this jersey ended up being worn a lot over the test, so if you did buy it you would most certainly get your £60 worth in a short time.
