All Arround MTB

We’re big fans of Madison’s Alpine jersey here at MBUK. While the colours are bright, the bold stripes keep things looking clean and simple. Thanks to the short sleeves, breathable fabric and mesh underarm panels, it’s a go-to top for hot days. The fit is great and the sleeves are a good length too. At this price, our only complaint is that the back could be cut slightly longer to keep muddy spray out of your pants on wetter days. Price $52

If you’re not a fan of fluoro and are looking for a more understated look on the bike, then the Morvelo Stealth jersey could be the one for you. With only a small ‘MV’ logo on the front and white detailing on the cuff, it’s both simple and stylish. The cut is relaxed but not overly baggy, so it’s ideal for trail riding and downhill too, if you don’t wear bulky body armour. For a 6ft rider we found the large size was bang on. The fabric is breathable, and the construction integrates mesh panels down the sides of the body to help keep you cool and a hidden sunglasses wipe on the inside of the waist hem. Flatlock stitching helps avoid chafing. Being black, it’s never going to be an ideal hot weather choice, but otherwise, if you’re after a subtle, well fitting and wellconstructed jersey, look no further. Price 67$

The Element FR is a classic downhill/freeride-style top with a relaxed fit and a long tail that can be tucked in securely if required. Long sleeves give added protection from wind, mud and thorns, and we like the mesh inserts under the arms and through the sides to help prevent you overheating. But we didn’t love the feel of this jersey – while the polyester fabric wicks moisture away and dries well enough, it’s not as soft and light as the best materials here. For all that the bold graphics are appealing, the construction quality and fabric feel just aren’t quite as good as they could be. That said, the price won’t break the bank and a less princessy wearer might have no problem with the feel, in which case let the good looks (it comes in six other colours too) be your guide. Price 58$

The Flank Core’s cut is excellent, making it feel more like a snug baselayer than an armour shirt. The moulded chest pad stays in place nicely and the shoulder pads are removable, which means the whole thing is easily washed. Made from D3O, the backplate is nicely fitted and doesn’t cause too much heat build-up. It’s compatible with neck braces too. The low pad profile ensures movement isn’t restricted, making it perfect for racing. If you want full coverage then you’ll have to buy elbow pads separately, but it’s still good value. Price 150$

This short-sleeve enduro jersey has a loose fit that’s still tailored enough to suit the female figure. The polyester fabric wicks sweat away easily and dries quickly.

RACE FACE HAVE a habit of making kit with a great cut and this jersey is no different, with flattering lines and lightweight material combining to ensure that there’s no clinging in the wrong places.

AT JUST A smidge und er 35$, Roya l's new Dart jersey packs quite a punch, not only offering a nice, simple, casual look but delivering technically too.

RACE FACE'S TRIGGER jersey does a great job of wicking sweat away from the body on really hot rides and takes next to no time to dry.

THE AM NOMAD is a no-frills, loose fitting, mid-weight trail jersey made from 100 per cent polyester. The fabric does a fine job of wicking away buckets of sweat on long, sun-drenched rides and dries surprisingly quickly considering its weight.

THE ATTACKWAS one of only two jerseys on test to pass the ‘feels just right test’ so it’s no surprise that it shares the highest score. It takes the overall winner’s spot too because every detail of what at first appears to be a straightforward technical T-shirt is so exceptionally well thought through and executed.

IT’S ALWAYS A great moment when you pull on a jersey fresh from the pack and it just feels right. The Singletrack Lite is one of those. The fit is relaxed but not baggy, and instead of just relying on stretch in the fabric, it has a panel construction that articulates perfectly to follow your shape on the bike. This creates a subtle but noticeable difference in feel.

THE ATOM REALM has a basic, no-frills construction, hence its low price. But by virtue of a quality cut it delivers better comfort and performance than many more expensive tops.

THIS DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE T-shirt style jersey from Race Face surprised us with both its details and its performance.

LONG-SLEEVE MOUNTAIN bike jerseys do appear to be harder to get right in terms of fit than their short-sleeve equivalent. Despite the Drop being the best long-sleeve top on test, it would still benefit from longer sleeves – on taller riders, the cuffs sit part way up the forearm and feel too snug.

OUT OF THE box (or off the hanger), the Crossmax looks fairly basic in terms of styling and the relatively thick fabric feels like it’ll be hot to wear.We mentally tagged it as one to keep for cooler days. But out on the bike on the warmest day of the year so far, it slurped up moisture like a dream.

SCOTT HAVE A reputation for using great fabrics in their clothing and happily the Mind 20 is no exception. The jersey is very light, with a weightless, barely-there feeling on the skin, making it extremely comfortable when the going gets hot and sticky.

The Turbulence has a generous cut, but well-shaped shoulders mean that when you move, the jersey doesn’t get pulled in all directions with you, making it comfortable to ride in.

ANOTHER TECHNICAL BIKE T-shirt, the SCUL is made from a lightweight stretchy mesh and has a boxy cut that’s baggily comfortable on the bike.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST want simplicity. The Rail is very much of its type – a casual bike T-shirt made from a performance fabric – but it does the job well.

THERE’S SOMETHING VERY appealing about the simplicity of the Flow, with its bold logos and distinctive fabric. Despite it having quite a coarse-feeling exterior, inside the finish is smooth and very wearable. The material seems durable too – running into a fence didn’t leave a mark on it.