Sportful R&D Ultralight Jersey

Sportful's R&D Ultralight jersey is a feathery light and meshy jersey that offers incredible cooling properties, stopping you from overheating on warmer days or when slogging away up long mountain climbs.

Watch the Tour de France over the past few years and you'll notice a subtle change: jerseys have got thinner and more see-through. That's because the racers want to stay as cool as possible when the temperature ratchets up, especially in the mountains.

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Sportful works closely with the Tinkoff team it sponsors and their demands for a lightweight and highly breathable jersey for the hottest days and races culminated in the development of this jersey.

As a result, it's the lightest jersey in the Italian clothing company's range, with the one pictured here (a size small) weighing just 103g. That's not much at all, and is bang on target with its rivals – though not as light as the exceptional Adidas adizero jersey tested a couple of years ago.

Granted, the temperatures in the UK don't tend to reach the same figures as they do in the French Alps, and the suggested working temperature of 25°C and above can be a rare thing indeed, but when they do, this jersey really comes into its own. I found it worked well below that temperature guide, too, and it's a good choice if riding a hilly course or sportive as it copes exceptionally well with high levels of sweat.

It's made from a Diablo Mesh fabric with AirMesh on the shoulders, with raw cut sleeves and a low collar. The fabric is soft next to the skin if you do forgo a baselayer, and the extra stretch in the shoulder panels gives it a really comfortable fit with no hint of restriction when moving about on the bike. The fabric has a UPF10 rating to protect against the sun.

A snug fit is usually expected of any Italian garment and especially one designed for a professional racing team, but even though it feels close-fitting when zipping up the YKK full-length zip, it isn't at all restrictive, whether stood upright for a photoshoot or crouched over the handlebar. The shape of the panels, the placement of the seams and the raw cut sleeves are all intended to maximise the aerodynamics, and while I didn't test it in a wind-tunnel, it certainly feels fast.

Compared with a regular jersey, the R&D Ultralight feels almost like you're wearing nothing at all, it's so light and airy. Nothing really compares to how breathable it is on a warm day, or grinding up one climb after another with little airflow to cool your sweaty brow. The material very effectively allows sweat to be whisked away and it dries almost instantly.

> Best jerseys for staying cool in the summer heat

It may be best in the high temperatures that it's designed for, but it works well in typical British summer weather when the sun is shining, and as I've said, it's also a good choice for very hilly rides, where the low weight and breathability come into their own. It would also be a good jersey for the privateer racing who values breathability and aerodynamics.

The only downside is that the jersey can leave you more exposed on cooler days or if the weather turns during a ride, so you might be reaching for a gilet sooner than you would with a regular weight jersey.

It's available in a wide range of sizes and colours, and it's also worth shopping around as you can get it discounted.

Verdict

A feathery light and highly breathable jersey for warmer days