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review
£56.00
VERDICT:
A fine jersey that really delivers luxury quality and performance as well as value for money
Weight:
280g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
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Ignore the Scandinavian name. TØRM is a small British company run from a bike shop in Broadstairs by two ex-corporate scientists, Paul and Al, with an appreciation of classic cycling style. The Torm T7 Jersey is an excellent example, almost perfect apart from the pockets...
We last reviewed Torm products in 2010. The copyright implications of hoops and wool, in relation to a certain other British brand, were chewed over thoroughly by the road.cc sages in the comments section. However, both the sages and both manufacturers themselves quickly reached an agreement based on the definition of the word 'retro': that no one manufacturer owns the copyright of the sort of hoops, zip pockets and materials sported for much of the 20th century by past cycle clubs.
That's the hoops jumped through. Let's crack on with the review. First of all – materials.
Being a mash-up between pure wool and a synthetic, Sportwool is never going to be the first choice for the hottest days. That said, living in the UK, and especially combined with Torm's own good quality arm warmers, what you are paying for is a pretty versatile three-season jersey. Sportwool shifts sweat pretty well and you'd need to work very hard to get this jersey heavy with moisture. It doesn't dry as fast as 100 per cent polyester, but it's not especially cold or unpleasant when a bit damp – it still feels okay next to your skin. More importantly, the merino is naturally anti-bacterial and resistant to odours so you won't be left sitting on your own in the cafe after flogging the country lanes on the way.
How's the fit? Like all Torm's jerseys the T7 sits and somewhere between race and club fit. Laying it down flat, pockets up, against a typical club jersey it gives the impression that it is more svelte than it actually is – an optical illusion of the cut, which luckily gets passed on to the wearer.
The Sportwool weave runs in vertical bars that complement the snuggish fit. I'm a mighty 42in chest, Classics build rider (at least in my mind) so the XL was the correct fit for me. The jersey holds you where it counts, in the sleeves and torso, yet is long in the back – it comes with a gripper on the waist – and with a high enough collar to protect the longest neck. It's a well fitting, seriously comfortable and flattering jersey.
Being broad across the shoulder blades, my constant bugbear with tighter summer jerseys is the way the sleeves ride up over the biceps as you stretch in the saddle. Torm has left a generous length on the sleeve and the overlapping double cuffs help to keep them in place. Personally I'd like another inch on the sleeves but aero length sleeves aren't to everyone's taste.
What about the details? The YKK zip is silky smooth with a well-made chin guard.
The classic three pocket configeration comes with a couple of twists. Torm's own pocket configuration comprises a ring-pull zip valuables pocket on each side, with vertical reflective stripes for dark days and a narrower centre pocket. If, like me, you have condensed your essentials down to zen-level purity and you are used to cramming a very compact toolkit into the centre pocket and then slapping a rain jacket or gilet wrapped around a pump on top, you will find the centre pocket just a little narrow.
As with earlier jerseys, the rim of the outer pockets is cut at an angle. Combined with the narrower inner pocket, they still create a very neat and slim profile to the rear of the jersey while retaining enough pocket capacity for most rides. Torm states that 'the left and right cargo pockets are reinforced to maintain the integrity of the fabric'. Useful if you're the kind of rider who likes to pack their pockets like a squirrel packs cheeks on the last day of autumn.
Because Torm is a two-man operation with small garment runs, it's very responsive to customer feedback and now its jerseys all feature pockets an inch deeper than previously, to meet the demands of larger phones on the market and those extra nuts...
> Still too much? Read our guide to the best cheap cycling jerseys
Torm jerseys seem to be striking a chord with many cyclists and it's easy to understand why. Its signature jersey features twin arm hoops but the whole range looks great and they come in a wide range of styles and colours: no 1980s contrasting colour panels, string vest technology or tacky logos here. Just elegant classic style. Performance on the bike is great and, more importantly, they're a fraction of the cost of competitors' jerseys made from the same materials. They even wash well. I ride with someone who has owned a T7 since 2013, and they report no signs of bobbling or colour fading after repeated washes.
Paul at Torm reiterates the company's ongoing philosophy. "We hope our jerseys have a timeless feel to them which means they don't go out of fashion and they are durable so you don't have to replace them often." Not the usual marketing approach to making a profit, but Torm is content to keep it simple and small – it's just jerseys, arm warmers and now caps. In 2015, Torm introduced a women's range that's been doing as well as the men's. So well in fact that it's had demands from men wanting men's jerseys in the women's colours.
Verdict
A fine jersey that really delivers luxury quality and performance as well as value for money
road.cc test report
Make and model: Torm T7 Jersey
Size tested: XL
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
This is a good quality Sportwool jersey aimed at riders who want to sport a classic retro style at a cheaper price than some other manufacturers offer on the market.
Torm is a two-man team – Paul and Al are ex-'commercial scientists' who now run a bike shop in Broadstairs. They state that 'practicality' is their overriding concern and the desire to offer 'simple and clean' designs 'so you can look good on and off the bike'.
I think they've succeeded.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
MATERIAL
Main fabric: Merino Wool / Polyester SportWool™ (165gsm)
100% silicone gripper on 100% Polyester elastic
FEATURES
YKK 3C Zip - the best zip available
Flat locked seams and reinforced pockets
Side panels for improved fit
2 rear zipped pockets for left/right handers
3 cargo pockets with reflective strips
Drop tail with silicone waist gripper
Naturally itch free and odour resistant
Machine washable can be tumble dried
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
The Sportwool weave runs in vertical bars, which complements the fit. The YKK zip is silky smooth with a well-made chin guard. The rear pocket zip with the ring is strong and slick too.
Torm states that 'the left and right cargo pockets are reinforced to maintain the integrity of the fabric'.
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
I found the centre pocket just a little narrow.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
I ride with someone who's owned a T7 since 2013 and reports no signs of bobbling or colour fading after repeated washes. The added thickness of the material stops the stretch stress weakening at the pockets.
Rate the product for fit:
8/10
I'm a 42in chest and the XL was the correct fit for me. The jersey is snug were it counts, in the sleeves and torso, yet long in the back and with a high enough collar.
Rate the product for sizing:
8/10
Torm advises buyers to select one size smaller in the full-zip T7, but I found my normal size across jerseys was spot on.
Being broad across the shoulder blades, my constant bugbear with tighter summer jerseys is the way the sleeves ride up over the biceps as you stretch in the saddle. Torm has left a generous length on the sleeve and the overlapping double cuffs help to keep them in place. Personally I'd like another inch on the sleeves.
The bottom gripper works well and the length of the back gives comfortable cover over the haunches.
Rate the product for weight:
8/10
If you're contemplating riding a TT then this isn't the jersey to do it in. Aero considerations aside, the Torm comes in around 100g heavier than an average polyester mix summer jersey, but bearing in mind the durability and the versatility of use for colder days, it's 100g that weighs very lightly.
Rate the product for comfort:
9/10
I remember the bad old days of woollen jerseys and they were itchy and cloying. I was expecting to feel a little claustrophobic to be back in wool, but this jersey hugs without squeezing – psychologically as well as physically. I wouldn't wear it on days above 25°C but I'd wear it for any other UK day, so that's 340 days of the year...
Rate the product for value:
8/10
Apparently the Sportwool comes from the only supplier in Europe, also used by other more prestigious brands. At half the cost with no discernible difference in materials and durability, this is a real bargain.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
A light sports wash with the rest of the kit, and it comes up fresh as a daisy.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The build quality: this really feels as if you should be paying more for it.
The classic simple understated good looks help. No 1980s contrast side panels or ersatz netting materials here. Torm produces a small range of colour combinations and hoops across the range.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The tight middle pocket is a small irritant. Something that could be easily fixed along with reducing the valuables pocket to one.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Absolutely
Use this box to explain your score
It's lost marks purely on pocket configuration for me. Everything else about the jersey is nigh-on perfect and the score reflects that. I like it so much I've just bought another jersey in my club colours which is looking mighty fine.
About the tester
Age: 47
I usually ride: A 20 year old Condor Italia on the school run. My best bike is: Condor Moda Ti - summer bike
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding
Latest Comments
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Add new comment
28 comments
I also agree on the arms being (far) too short. I love the fit of the medium jersey, I am 5'11 and the arms are at least 2 ins too short. I recently ordered the large, arms were fine but the body well baggy. I had to return.
This isnt an issue with any other manufacturer I have tried. For example I have just purchased a MAAP rain jacket in medium and it is a very althletic fit, but the sleeves are at least 2" longer than your medium jersey
I would love top buy a medium sample with longer sleeves though please, otherwise I will have to for out the extra for Rapha I think..
IMG_0230.JPG
I agree that for some the sleeves may come up a little short for some, and for others a little long (eg shorter stockier frame), and I would expect rain jacket arms to be longer than cycling jerseys as they perform a different job. Can you email me on mail [at] torm.cc and I'll see what would be a useful compromise for this ?
Me and my mate rode up Ventoux last year in our Torm T7's, it was 30 degrees at the bottom but chilly at the top, the jersey is good for varying temperatures, I would dissagree with the reviewer that you can't wear them in high summer. I would love a bit more length on the arms, maybe they can do a race version? The reviewer needs to go down a couple of sizes too, I am 6ft6 and 85kg and wear a medium
.
Fit is a very personal thing and this is an XL jersey.
I'm 5'11" and 76kg and can fit into XS/S/Med/Large...I've got pictures if you want to see them !
I've got one a T7 which used to be my 'best' jersey and the go to for all long spring/summer/autumn rides when I lived up north. The fit was great and the zip pockets meant i wasn't constantly terrified of losing my keys/cake money. Downsides? The fabric/stitching around the pockets has run/ripped, probably due to my only main gripe, the centre pocket was too small for my preferred jacket - a Sportful Hotpack stretch even without the phone which is my normal packing system. I hate having a jacket in a side pocket, just feels so uneven/unsymmetrical!
But for £55 they're a steal and really good jerseys, especially when compared to that 'other' London brand...
The pocket area has been increased and strengthened in recent models to accomodate bigger phones and pocket stuffers !
I was thinking the same! where are these jerseys made far east?
Yes that's correct, me and Al do the colours, designs and provide the fabric etc which are passed to a small family run modern facility. We wanted to work with a facility that had the same ethos as ours (keep things simple and high quality) and were flexible to allow us to make changes quickly, rather than from a mass produced factory.
Am I the only one to think the collar looks wide or "stretched" on the model?
+1 for Torm whilst we're having a love-in.
I've got a T1 short sleeve and a T5 long sleeve jersey and they are both great. My other half has even described them both as "quite nice" which is an good an endorsement as any cycling kit is likely to get.
They wear well and wash brilliantly. And are incredibly comfortable in all but the hottest weather. I guess my only gripe is that the long sleeves could be an inch or so longer, but maybe that's just my orangutan arms.
Agreed here. I have the long sleeved (can't remember the version, it's in claret - great colour) quailty fantastic, material has just enough snug with the cut, length on the bike great.
Arms a little too short. I don't think I've got that long arms, and it's a small gripe as the rest of the package is top notch.
I'm also not sure the pictures above do the jersey justice either, but hopefully the comments below will compensate.
How much longer would the sleeves ideally be ?
Personally, no more than about 20-30mm. Marginal numbers I know, but it currently leaves a gap between the arm end and gloves. Fine for warmer wearing, but would be better longer in cooler times.
Maybe I do just have slightly long arms. I've got 91cm inside legs on a 175cm height so you'd probably get better odds on it being me being slightly off then the jersey....
Accomodating everyone is always difficult...I'm 5'11" but am all body so my jerseys tend to be longer then some, and I'm sure there are many different arm lengths and shoulder widths on the same size chest of cyclists! I added some length to the arms of the ladies jerseys recently after they requested an extra inch or two so I'll do some samples of jerseys with longer sleeves and I'll let you know how it goes.
I cant rate these enough. Im not sure the photos do them justice.
Must have about 4 or 5 now, there is just something different when putting them on, I think you can just feel the quality. They run with the attitude of doing one thing well, and that they do.
Great product, amazing customer service and for the price you would be silly to buy the other brand!!
I'm too hefty for mine now, need to get some weight off and start wearing it again. I had to buy the other brand just recently as they fit a little larger.
It's the thumbs up for Torm from me too. I also have two of their jerseys - one long sleeve and one short sleeve. A couple of years back, I had an accident, came off my bike, and ripped my precious long sleeve one. I contacted Torm and they sent me a free patch enabling me to repair my jersey. Great kit, and great service from a great company.
I've got two of the TORM jerseys, both are fantastic. Perfect for the British weather, I've used them for commuting, days out and several day credit card touring.
Definately reccomend these jerseys. I have the T7 and it is awesome. I was looking for a jersey that would be suitable in the Welsh weather. This keeps me cool on hotter days and warm on the cooler ones. I like pockets on my jerseys and this has 5, it's great! And the 2 zipped ones are great for keeping notes in or your phone as they are sweatproof. Execelleent affordability too, you are basically getting a Rapha jersey for half the price but personally I think the Torm jerseys look smarter than Rapha. I also never fail to get style points from fellow riders when wearing my jersey!
I have two of their jerseys and they are my go to commuting wear. the sweat wicks away so well that you are not pulling on a damp polyester soggy jersey for the return ride. They are ideal for the British climate, warm in the cool morning and not stiflingly hot on those (rare) warm UK days. Good value with their excellent arm warmers as well.
Highly recommended.
I was riding with someone who was in a Torm jersey on Saturday. I commented what a good idea it was to have two zipped pockets for phone, wallet, keys and so on. Yes, she said, but the pockets are no good on the road because they're too high up on the back – can't reach them while riding.
Can you ask her to get in touch...I'd like to see what we can do to help.
I've got one of their jerseys and quality aside (and it is good quality) this is the level of customer service you can expect. I was in two minds about sizing and ended up ordering a jersey that was too large. I was hoping to take it to Mallorca a few days later so they put the smaller one immediately in the post while the larger one was going the other way which meant it arrived just in time. I'd definitely recommend their jerseys but just wish they'd incorporate lycra in the arms to keep them snug.
Thanks for your kind words...is that in the short zipped or long zipped jerseys ?
I've got the long zipped short sleeve jersey in solid claret (http://torm.cc/t3.html#ad-image-3).
Wow! I'm just off on holiday
so it'll take a little while but I'll pass that on to her.
just a matter of flexibility. I can tap my vertebral prominence from below with my palms, and can scratch between my scapulae by approaching from bottom-below.
When you can make your upper body into a pretzel, no pocket is unreachable
I have two Torm jerseys and love them. Can't recommend them highly enough. My go to kit for anything other than high summer. And they are smart enough to be worn off the bike if the need arises.