Sportful Bodyfit Pro 2.0 Evo Jersey

The Sportful BodyFit Pro 2.0 Evo Jersey is a brilliant summer jersey for racing and fast riding, at a very good price. The breathability, soft fabric, close fit and excellent cut on the arms are only slightly let down by an annoying seam.

• Pros: Soft fabric; great fit; low collar; comfy sleeves; close fit
• Cons: Slightly annoying seam on the shoulder blades; no zip pocket

So far, the 'summer' has provided us with a total split between lightweight jerseys and rain jackets. When the sun has shown itself, I've been really happy to have the BodyFit Pro 2.0 Evo jersey in the wardrobe. It's comfortable to wear on long rides, looks great and breathes very well when you're going full gas on the climbs.

It seems that Sportful has been quietly producing some brilliant cycling recently and not charging an eye-watering sum for the privilege. This, the 2.0 version of the BodyFit Pro jersey, is designed for the Sportful-sponsored Bora Hansgrohe riders when they head into the mountains in hot weather. While it's great for this, it's also a very comfortable training jersey.

The focus of the jersey is breathability and the mesh fabrics do a brilliant job of venting the heat away from your skin. The shoulder/arm panels are the best at doing this, but I can see why Sportful hasn't used this over the whole jersey. It's not the softest fabric, but it remained comfortable after several washes.

That fabric is also used on the side panels and for a small section around the front hem.

The main back and front sections are made from a much softer mesh. It's a bit see-through, so you might want to choose when and where to wear this jersey, but it does mean more excellent breathability.

As a race jersey, some consideration has been given to aerodynamics. It's not as clear-cut an aero jersey as Castelli's Aero Race 6.0, but I found that the BodyFit Pro 2.0 hugged the shoulders and arms well. There was certainly no material flapping around in the wind.

The sleeves are cut to a very nice length and the raw finish means that they sit comfortably without riding up.

I'm a big fan of the collarless neckline too; I find this design more comfortable and this is one of the best I've used. In the riding position, I can have the zip done up fully without the collar being too tight.

A dropped tail with a silicone gripper keeps the rear of the jersey low. The front could be cut just a little higher, but I do have a pretty short upper body.

At the back are the standard three rear pockets, but there's no zipped one, which I'd like for general riding.

Sizing is good. I was comfortable in this small size, though the fit is close so you might want to size up if you've not got a mountain goat physique.

> Buyer's Guide: 17 of the best summer cycling jerseys

At £90, it's not a cheap jersey but it beats many other race jerseys for price: Castelli's Aero Race 6.0 is £110, as is dhb's Aeron LAB Raceline jersey.

If you're looking for a highly breathable summer jersey that offers an aero fit then this is a great option that costs quite a bit less than rivals.

Verdict

Breathable, great fit, soft fabric at a decent price – there's a lot to love