Road

GORE C7 CC

The GORE C7 CC Jersey ($130) is the fastest jersey of the Best Cycling Jerseys. First, a walk through its impressive aesthetics. Three deep and roomy rear stash pockets hold snacks, tool, phone or iPod. A secured zipped pocket on the outside of the middle stash pocket for key or ID.

Second, you’ll find its fit outstanding. Road cycling jerseys run the spectrum from being so slim-fitting to minimize wind resistance that they are uncomfortably constrictive to “athletic” fit, which gives you a little room to breathe normal. Neither are optimal. The ideal fit is a jersey that makes you feel like you’re wearing nothing at all. That sums up the GORE C7 CC jersey. I give it extra bonus points for a front hem that covers my belly when off the bike.

Gravel

GORE C3

The GORE C3 Jersey offers the functionality of a high-end performance jersey without the look and feel of one. Specifically, it has a relaxed fit through the shoulders, a 21-inch belly button-covering front hem (on size small), versatile (I’ve used this for urban, gravel, road and mountain biking), highly breathable (for humid rides), non-choking collar and soft. Yes, soft.

The texture of the fabric, which is actually 100% polyester, feels more like a merino wool blend. It has four highly functional pockets in the back: three unsecured (great for holding your iPod) and one secured zipper pocket for things you don’t want to lose, like a key, ID, credit card, cash or phone.

Urban

Maloja Curuna

Maloja may not be the first name that comes to mind in cycling apparel but the German brand deserves to be on everyone’s radar. The Maloja Curuna has a beautiful, relaxed fit that is comfortable and functional. This is a jersey that I’ve worn to grocery stores, farmer’s markets, Sierra Trading Post, commuting to work and everywhere else in between.

It has one secured zipper pocket on the back that is ergonomically placed to make it easy for me to reach behind and adjust my iPod or grab a packet of Gu without twisting my arm into the Gomukhasana pose. It’s also made from Maloja’s AirDry Polyester fabric, which contains millions of tiny perforations, making it feel more like a tight mesh than a piece of Polyester fabric. This means breathability is optimized and odor from sweat is mitigated.

A jersey for the serious cyclist who doesn’t want to look like a bike tool.

Mountain

Kaden Florence Jersey

Of all the jerseys in this review, the Kaden Florence ($80) stands out the most. First and foremost, Kaden Apparel is woman-started, woman-owned, women-centric. Without openly admitting my age, I remember (with no great fondness) mountain biking when there was no such thing as women-specific gear. I also remember when the industry’s needle of evolution turned ever so slightly that a few big brands begrudgingly instructed their male designers to make women’s shorts and jerseys (with lots of pink, flowers, swirls and questionable quality).

Fortunately, we are now living in an era where most cycling apparel brands have women designers designing the women’s lines. But, even better, we have boutique brands that are started, owned and designed by women—for women. This casts a much wider net for selection and choice.

Soapbox aside, the Kaden Florence jersey lends a simple practical style to the art of singletrack. There is no pink. No flowers. Swirls? Yah right. Think performance jersey cross-pollinating with skateboard fashion. The end result is a high-quality mountain bike jersey made in the United States that is soft, supple, comfortable and breathable in humid weather. A jersey to put on your radar for sure.

The post The Best Cycling Jerseys for Road, Urban, Mountain and Gravel appeared first on gritandgearonline.com.

What I Liked

Material. Soft and very light weight. Per the website: the material is “derived from beech trees, provides excellent moisture wicking and is cool to the touch, while a carbon thread knit into the fabric adds anti-microbial properties.” Most jerseys I own hold onto funky body order. The carbon thread knit also provided nice ventilation.

Deep pockets. So far they haven’t sagged even with keeping a full water bottle in the middle pocket during rides. And the water bottle was snug in the pocket – it didn’t “flip flop” like it was going to fall out of the pocket as I rode over obstacles on the mountain bike trail. The width of the pockets allowed room for my phone & glasses in the right pocket, water bottle in the middle, and a meal bar and gel gummies in the left.

Style. Loved the look. The jersey is slimming and form fitting without grabbing or drawing attention at “trouble” spots (looking at you post-baby belly) and the neckline is flattering without the feel of being strangled by a collar. 

Sizing. I usually have to size up in women’s jerseys just to fit my lady endowments (I am in no way built like a female Eurpoean racer type). But, I wore this jersey in size medium with ample room for the girls. And the length was perfect for my long torso.

What I didn’t Like

No zipper. I’m a full jersey zipper gal and this pull on style took some getting used to. I like to unzip my jersey when it gets hot or after a ride.

Short in the hem. Although the jersey is lined with silicone grippers, when I wore it with the Velocio Women’s Luxe Bib Short, the jersey seemed to keep creeping up towards my naval – ultra annoying and I kept having to pull the jersey down.

Final Thoughts (and a Parting Shot)

Other than the two cons above, I absolutely loved this jersey. The Velocio’s Women’s Recon Micromodal Jersey is a nice alternative for days when you want to go incognito – as opposed to wearing a team jersey slapped with sponsor logos – which seem to serve as a carrot for insecure guys looking to pick someone off the trail or road so they can feel good about themselves (we all know the type). Pair it with a pair of jean capris off the trail for funsies.

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If the fashion industry got smart enough to include cycling apparel, the Velocio Delta Jersey ($99) would grace the catwalks of Milan Fashion week—because not only is it a tailored jersey with a relaxed fit and drop-tail hem, it is made in Italy (as opposed to China).

What I Love

Made in Italy, not China. I have grown weary of the prolific “Made in China” tag on 99% of every product on the market. Italy may not be the United States but in terms of being sick to death of Made China products, it’s close enough.  

Outstanding temperature regulation. The Velocio Delta jersey is made from Polartec Delta mesh fabric that holds moisture off the skin, thus “actively” cools the cyclist when riding. But on a long mountain bike ride in western Wisconsin at the end of July, I discovered (unintentionally) that it works similar to merino wool. The ride started out warm and humid, which happened to be ideal conditions to wear the Velocio Delta. However, five or so miles into a fifteen-or-so mile ride, a deluge of rain passed through. Because the Delta jersey is 100 percent (recycled) polyester, I had expected to be cold. I wasn’t. The key to this merino wool-like experience is that the Polartec fabric reduces the clingy feeling of a wet jersey because, as I said earlier, the mesh holds moisture off the skin. No matter the conditions of that ride—hot, humid, wet, cool—I was as comfortable as if I had been wearing merino wool.

Fit. I identify as more of mountain biker and urban commuter than a roadie so I prefer the semi-relaxed and longer jerseys to the second-skin style with the short front hem. The Velocio Delta jersey is definitely in the semi-relaxed/slim-fit category that I love.

Versatility. It’s also great for trail running or just about any high-activity pursuit because it’s design doesn’t scream, “Look at me! I’m a cycling jersey!”

Price point. For only $99, and Italian-made at that, it’s nearly half the price of the higher-end jerseys made by many American brands.

What I didn’t Like

Color availability.  It comes in a light dismal gray, and Tweety Bird yellow, neither of which are colors to which I’m drawn. I’m not looking for pinks and pastels, just something colorfully subtle like black or teal. To be clear, this is entirely a personal preference and not a ding on design or performance.

Final Thoughts

This was my first time experiencing the Velocio brand and wow. Impressive. Even if two colors in which it is available are lackluster. I love that it’s a lot of jersey for the money. I love that it isn’t made in China.  I love that it’s a long-sleeve jersey that I can comfortably wear in the height of summer thanks to its cooling fabric. I love that it’s a jersey I can wear for just about any high-activity pursuit, like running or perhaps as a baselayer for cross country skiing this winter.

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Kudos, Pearl Izumi!

What I liked

Breathable mesh side panel

Excellent breathability on hot days, humid rides. The key to this feature is Pearl Izumi’s Transfer In-R-Cool® fabric. It is a heat-reflective fabric that (supposedly) reduces absorption of UV rays from the sun. In addition, the PRO jersey has mesh side panels that increase ventilation. I live in Minnesota and I began testing this jersey in mid-May when the temps were (finally!) in the high 60s and I started training for longer rides in excess of 45 miles. A month later, the temps are in the mid-70s to low 80s and humid. I certainly sweat during the exerting rides but the In-R-Cool fabric and mesh side panels work in tandem to encourage airflow and drying time.

Pockets galore

Pockets galore. The old adage still rings true. “If you build it, they will come.” In this case, it’s “if you add it, I will fill all six pockets with a cell phone, iPod, multitool, ID, money, sunblock and lip balm.” Three pockets are nice and deep. The two outer deep pockets have a slash pocket on the outside. There is a secure zippered mesh pocket out the outside of middle deep pocket. Nicely done, Pearl Izumi.

Sturdy zipper pull. Wowz! Finally. A women’s jersey with a hefty zipper pull that is full-fingered glove-friendly. In past lines Pearl Izumi has seen some wimpy zipper pulls. The PRO jersey’s zipper pull is all mighty and powerful.

Loaded with reflective elements. For riding at night, it is illuminated with a large logo strip and two thinner strips on the rear and two strips on each arm. A total of six reflective elements if count the little PI logo on the front. 

What Could be Better

The Kielbasa Effect

Fit. Pearl Izumi says the PRO jersey’s “feminine cut and longer articulated sleeves create a modern silhouette that is a natural fit on the bike, while still comfortable pausing mid-ride at the cafe.” Well sure, if a modern silhouette means the sausage casing look. I know this jersey is designed for fast riding. Any chance for wind resistance has been mitigated. But even on me, who is 5’6” 124lbs, the sleeves are noticeably tight. Not cut-off-the-blood-flow-to-my-brain tight but tight enough to be noticeable. If you’re a cyclist with chiseled arms and superbly elastic skin this will not be an issue for you.

Short hem. My size small is 17 inches from top to bottom in the front. When I compared this length to the Pearl Izumi ELITE Pursuit jersey with 18.5 inches down the front and the Pearl Izumi Pro Mesh at 18 inches, the PRO jersey comes up a little short (pun intended). With this length, my stomach is only covered off the bike if I walked hunched over or I’m physically holding the hem down. However, I can walk tall and proud off the bike in the ELITE Pursuit and Pro Mesh jerseys. If you’re a cyclist with chiseled abs this will not be an issue for you.

Final Thoughts

Despite the shorter front hem and tighter arms, I’m loving this jersey. The fit is a little skewed for my tastes but still allows plenty of comfort and excellent fit around the neck and under the arms.

I’m also excited about Pearl Izumi’s new Social Purpose. They have pledged to use their business practices and products to reduce their carbon footprint. They’ve always made products that reduce our carbon footprint but now they’re walking the walk and talking the talk. What’s good for us is good for them.

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