RH+ Ride jersey

The RH+ Ride Jersey FZ is a pretty straightforward polyester top for the summer, performing well enough in warm conditions.

The Ride jersey doesn't boast the high-end fabrics or pack in the features of the Xlight that we've also reviewed recently, but that's hardly surprising seeing as it's less than half the price.

RH+ use the same plain polyester fabric throughout this jersey, just in different colours for different panels. It's not an especially technically advanced material but it's light, breathable and reasonably quick drying – just not as light, breathable and quick drying as higher-end fabrics out there. It can stick to your skin when it gets wet a bit more easily than some other fabrics, and when it does that it's slower to dry out, but it's all relative, of course. The fabric still puts in a reasonable performance.

RH+ manage to include a couple of decent features here like the full-length YKK zip (although, unlike that of the Xlight, it's not backed so it sits right against your body) and a silicone gripper inside the waist band. You get reflective tabs sewn into the hems at the back too. The front zip in particular is hugely welcome, for me at least. It doesn't matter how breathable a fabric is, an easily adjustable zip can do more to keep you comfortable and sweat-free on a hot day.

You could say the Ride jersey is quite basic with just the usual three lower back pockets (no zipped option), standard (rather than flatlock stitched) seams, and regular sleeves rather than super-duper high-tech options – which is fine, if that's what you're after. It's a decent top, just without the whistles and bells.

The cut is what RH+ describe as 'regular'. That means you'll fit into it if you're more or less a regular build. You don't have to be some 5% body fat racing snake to wear the Ride comfortably. That does mean, of course, that if you are a skinny sort, you might have a bit of excess fabric, but probably not much because the jersey is very stretchy and it's designed to accommodate a range of different body shapes.

Verdict

Decent polyester jersey with a couple of good features for comfortable summer riding