Lusso Depart Jersey

Lusso's Depart Jersey is a very light, highly breathable and comfortable summer top. You get an aero fit with a low neckline for great on-the-bike fit. The body was a little long for me, but this will be perfect for taller riders.

• Pros: Comfortable, lightweight, breathable and aero fit at a pretty sensible price
• Cons: A little long in the body for me

Designed as a jersey for warm weather racing, the Depart jersey was perfectly capable of dealing with body heat in the last of the warm summer sunshine. Out on the bike, I was happy to wear this in a mix of different weather conditions. The high breathability means it works really well under a thicker layer on cold and wet days. But in the warm weather that it was designed for, this works really nicely, feeling fast and cool without the commonly associated price tag.

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Let's start with the fabric as I feel it's the main strength of this jersey. Lusso says that it is made from a 'super lightweight Italian Aero Fabric', but it's actually made up of three main materials.

The shoulders and sleeves are a very thin Lycra that offers a close but comfortable fit thanks to the high levels of stretch. The main part of the body is made using a close mesh, while the side panels and pockets are made from a different, less stretchy mesh. It is all put together using a panel design. That leaves quite a bit of stitching, but it's all soft and strong.

The breathability of the material is noticeable while riding. It feels like the air is going straight through to the skin. On a warm ride, this is bliss, especially if you're tackling the hills. I also decided to give this a go on some cooler rides when I'd be wearing a jacket. The jersey works well here, preventing undue overheating which can be pretty easy in a rain jacket.

The cut is quite good. Lusso has designed this to be a 'race fit'. The shoulders, neck and arms are comfortable, with that stretch in the material giving a close fit, but I do feel the front part of the jersey is a little too long. I found quite a bit of bunching when riding in the drops although I am relatively short in the upper body (it's not me in the photos). Personally, I'd size down and pick the small as I feel the amount of stretch in the fabric would mean comfort isn't compromised.

I really like the way that the neck is cut. We're seeing this become a more common design and it's one I prefer. There's no material around the neck to irritate you and it's also a little more aero. The zipper is smooth and doesn't irritate at all.

The hem of the jersey is finished with a gripper which kept everything in place when I had pretty full pockets. There are also grippers on the cuffs. These are spread over a nice wide area, comfortably holding the sleeves where they should be. That'll please those of you who like your tan lines to be crisp!

At the back are your three standard pockets and a zip pocket for a phone or keys. It fits my iPhone 6s in its case but it won't fit anything bigger than that. The pockets are slightly stretchy and hold a mini-pump, jacket and other bits securely.

Washing the jersey is simple. It can go in a mixed load at 40 or 30 with no issues. I'd hang dry this as the arm grippers will peel in the tumble dryer. It dries very quickly thanks to the thin material, so that's not an issue.

> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best summer cycling jerseys

If you're looking for a performance jersey without a crazy price tag then this is a very good option at £64.99. In fact, it's difficult to find a similar jersey under £100. Rapha's Pro Team Climber's jersey is double the price at £130, and Castelli's Climber's is £85.

If you want a low weight or highly breathable jersey, this is a very good option.

Verdict

Breathable, comfortable and a great price – a very good climbers' jersey