The term ‘cycling jersey’ can cover many different styles and levels of protection, from a simple summer trade top with short sleeves and thin Airtex style fabric, to a fully windproof layer that will protect you on chilly winter morning rides.
Of course you choose your weapon for the prevailing conditions, so a seasoned cyclist will often have an embarrassing volume of gear crammed into their cupboard to combat the ever changing environments in which we choose to ride, especially in the unforgiving and fickle British climate.
We’ve ridden and rated countless jerseys in the quest for a perfect solution for each set of conditions, all with the purpose of filling your wardrobe with the right kit.
Gore Wear C7 Windstopper Pro Zip-Off Jersey | £190
BEST FOR Road, mountain or touring cyclists who hate constantly changing clothes.
£190 for a jersey we hear you cry? Well, to be fair the C7 Windstopper Pro Zip-Off does walk a tightrope between jersey and jacket. Constructed of a taped Windstopper shell it keeps those chilly morning warm ups comfortable with a close and sleek fit, zipping up to effectively seal out even moderate showers without the need to throw on a shell.
Getting too hot? Just zip the long (colour coded) arms off to reveal a much cooler, short sleeved jersey for the rest of the ride. This makes the C7 massively versatile over many different conditions, so, suddenly, that salty price tag starts to make sense. This is a jacket you will pull on in the autumn and not remove until spring.
VERDICT A cracking staple for any cyclists wardrobe, capable of shrugging off a multitude of weather conditions.
Giro Chrono Long Sleeve Thermal Jersey | £125
BEST FOR Hard working, chilly days on the road.
Based on a luxuriously thick and stretchy Italian roubaix type material, we really enjoyed wearing the full length zipped Giro Chrono jersey over the cooler months of the year. Not having windproof properties it doesn’t block out chill winds, but as long as you are working it breathes superbly and keeps the temperature topped up. When the conditions worsen it makes an excellent mid-layer too, with the cosy fabric trapping air to fend off the coldest of weather. Great pockets at the back swallow a ton of gear, handy in winter conditions, and neoprene cuffs help to finish the superb, close fit.
VERDICT A top jersey for winter workouts.
Endura MT500 Thermo L/S Jersey | £85
BEST FOR Mountain biking in cool, dry conditions.
With a windproof chest and shoulders, boosted with a layer of insulation, the MT500 is capable of shedding the coldest of mornings effectively by keeping it away from the riders core. While this keeps the chill out, a very breathable stretch back panel is busily removing moisture and ventilating the worst of the heat, so it cuts a very acceptable compromise for hard days on the bike.
Two zipped pockets at the back are useful for small items and are neatly placed so not to interfere with hydration packs, while two large handwarmer pockets slide in behind the insulating core at the front to provide a great place for rejuvenating cold digits.
VERDICT An excellent, breathable and comfortable mountain biking jersey.
Alpkit Rhythm Thicky | £49
BEST FOR Any type of cycling in cool weather.
Alpkit boldly advertise the Rhythm Thicky as highly wind resistant, a fact that we would debate as it passes air through pretty steadily in our opinion. That aside, we did genuinely love the Thicky as a wonderfully comfortable and superbly fitting jersey with the brushed fleece interior sitting luxuriously against bare skin. Three pockets at the back are handy, if a little stretchy for loading up with heavy kit, and they’re supplemented with some subtle dark reflectives that had our back on late evening dashes for home.
VERDICT An excellent, if not entirely wind resistant, long sleeve jersey for any type of riding.
Pearl Izumi Tour Jersey | £45
BEST FOR Touring or road cycling where casual looks fit in better.
In a market where gaudy pro-team logos with wafer thin fabrics make up the bulk of short sleeve jerseys, it’s refreshing to find a more classically styled jersey. The Tour Jersey is just that, with a subtle two colour design keeping your identity as a cyclist much quieter once you stray from two wheels. A popper, rather than the more usual zip, collar is a case of form over function as, while it is harder to manipulate on the move than a zip, it looks far more retro and stylish. We loved it despite the practicality concerns.
VERDICT Casual looks combine with practical fabrics to make a viable trade top alternative for more gentle road rides.
Conclusion
Okay, it's the most expensive and the most expensive isn't always the best, but in this case we couldn't deny the versatility, performance and quality of the Gore C7 Windstopper. It's a hefty investment but if you've got the cash it's worth it, making out our best cycling jersey of 2019. On the other end of the scale, in monetary terms but not necessarily performance, we find the Alpkit Rhythm Thicky which is hard to beat for cold weather cycling so we've awarded it our best budget cycling jersey of 2019.
