Best cheap cycling jerseys 2026 — get comfortable on the bike without breaking the bank

The Altura Icon Men’s Short Sleeve Jersey comes with some clever fabric which really helps on the breathability and anti-whiff front. The semi-relaxed cut means you don’t need to be a racing whippet to wear it, either.

This latest has what Altura describes as a full silhouette redesign, and uses a high-wicking fabric for the main body and a carbon material for the underarm panels; the latter is made by Italian manufacturer Miti, which claims it draws toxins away from the skin to keep you feeling and smelling fresh in key areas. In our review, we found that both fabrics feel soft against the skin and work well, equally so when paired with a another layer on top. 

The sizing on this jersey is on the more generous side, so we’d recommend sizing down based on our review sample. However, if you prefer a more relaxed feel, then your regular size in this jersey might be just perfect! It’s a lot of jersey for the money too.

The Chapeau Club is a great choice for a year-round jersey, at an attractive price (especially at the time of writing, as it’s on sale for under 30 quid). The fit is excellent and it’s available in a large range of styles, though it lacks a zip pocket for valuables.  

This jersey is a mid-range summer top that copes well in a variety of conditions. It may not be at the pinnacle of performance but at this price point, it’s an attractive proposition. In our testing, we found that the pockets are large enough to carry plenty of cargo – though there’s no zipped one for valuables – and the fit is excellent. It’s also available in all sorts of colours and styles if this ‘Denim Coral’ style doesn’t take your fancy.

The fit of this jersey impressed in our review, offering a relaxed fit without feeling too baggy. 

The Galibier Bordeaux Wind Jersey is described as a piece of spring and summer kit, but with a bit of layering and accessories, it works well into the winter too. It blocks the wind, has deep pockets, a bit of reflectivity, and a cut that will suit those who want to wear it for early-season racing or fast training. You get all of this at a bargain price, making this jersey an excellent choice if you want a versatile top that you can wear nearly all year round. 

We tested the jersey from the end of summer and well into winter and concluded it was ideal throughout. The chest and shoulders of this jersey feature Carvico wind-resistant fabric for the chest panels and over the shoulders, and you find the same material on the middle back pocket for some spray protection. These materials do a great job of blocking the breeze from hitting the front of your torso, keeping it warm and toasty, yet the thickness doesn’t affect the stretchability.

The Galibier Regale Ultralight Jersey is very thin, designed for warmer days and, of course, indoor training during the darker winter months. In our review, it impressed us with its comfort, durability and lack of compromise, especially in the pockets, which are deep and stretchy yet surprisingly secure. Not to mention, the sub £50 price is also very appealing.

Galibier says its goal with the Regale was to produce the lightest jersey on the market while still offering sun protection (SPF30). With premium, lightweight materials come slight see-throughness, though, so if you feel sensitive about showing your skin (or more likely, base layer) through the jersey, then a little darker or heavier-weight jersey might be a better option, 

Despite the thin fabric, this jersey still seems well-made and durable, and considering the price, it’s an excellent option for the summer months. 

The Galibier Sentinel blurs the lines on what defines a jacket and jersey thanks to its mixture of weatherproofing, lightweight race styling and short sleeves. It’s not a new concept, but one that Galibier has executed very well indeed, and at a relative bargain price.

According to Galibier, the Sentinel is a jersey designed to work with just a baselayer, within an outdoor temperature range of 7-16°C. We found that at about 5°C with just a summer baselayer underneath and a pair of arm warmers, it performed well. The jersey is coated with a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment, but rather than it being applied at the end of manufacturing, the fabric is treated before production starts, which makes it longer lasting according to Galibier.

The fit of the Sentinel is performance orientated, so it’s cut close. The main outer fabric used in the jersey isn’t quite as elastic as a standard Lycra jersey so it’s worth taking a close look at Galibier’s comprehensive size guide to get it right.

If you don’t want a skin-tight aero jersey for cycling, then Maap’s is a comfy option. Crafted from high-wicking Polartec material, it excels in managing moisture and maintaining comfort across various temperatures. And compared to your regular long-sleeve t-shirt, the Maap Tee’s snug yet relaxed fit reduces flapping while providing stretch for movement. There are also cycling-specific elements like the breathable side panels and a scooped rear hem which add to its functionality.

At RRP, this top is just under the £80 mark, but at the time of writing it is on a very good sale.

Madison’s Roam Men’s Merino Short Sleeve Jersey really is a high-performing jersey for those who want a more relaxed fit, and is brilliantly comfortable for days off the beaten track. A balance of merino wool and polyester means it’s highly breathable and very fast drying. The relaxed fit makes it ideal for gravel or adventure riding, or for those times when you aren’t in race mode.

The breathability and ability to keep our reviewer cool received high praise, even at temperatures above 20 degrees. The 150g, 65% merino and 35% polyester fabric allow the breeze to flow through, which is lovely on fast, flat sections or when descending. While you can still get a bit sweaty on long stubborn climbs in this jersey, once your speed picks up the Roam dries impressively quickly.

The Primal Chameleon Women’s Evo 2.0 Cycling Jersey punches above its weight in terms of performance at this price, making it a good choice for sportier riders on a budget and those who like a bold design. Made from Primal’s super-stretchy 100% polyester Q3 Elite fabric, this short-sleeved jersey features laser-cut sleeves, mesh panels at the back of the neck and down the sides, a full-length YKK zip, and three pouch pockets at the rear.

The fit is performance-orientated so you can expect it to be snug, and when testing this jersey our reviewer found that the fit is very different from other Primal jerseys. The cut is proportionally much larger at the bust than the hips, making it best suited to more athletically-shaped women (but with a bosom) rather than more hourglass shapes.

Rapha is a bit of a classic when it comes to cycling apparel, and the brand’s Core range is known for its more affordable price tags. Though this Core Lightweight Jersey has gone up in price to £78 since we reviewed it, it’s performance remains the same.

We found that this jersey offers exceptional performance in hot and humid conditions, thanks to its lightweight and breathable design. The Core Lightweight jersey is made with two ultralight fabrics, and those give you great ventilation while maintaining Rapha’s renowned quality and style. The pockets are well-supported and the top is finished with a secure waist grip. 

While it’s not ‘cheap’, the Core jersey provides a more affordable way into Rapha gear, and you can sometimes pick one up for less on sale. 

If you’re looking for a more casual cycling top with long sleeves, the Specialized Women’s Trail Thermal Jersey is a great versatile and warm option.  The Polartec Power Grid fabric performs well in making this top suitable for various activities in cold weather without compromising on breathability. Despite its lightweight feel and comfortable fit, the kangaroo pouch pocket tends to sag a little when loaded. This one is also sized slightly larger than expected, though that offers a relaxed fit ideal for layering if you want to do that. 

The Van Rysel Men’s Long-Sleeved Road Cycling Summer Jersey Racer Ultralight is a top pick for performance and quality at an affordable price. Though it has long sleeves, it’s ideal for warm conditions from spring to autumn, as the lightweight construction and breathable fabric make it comfortable even in high temperatures. Thoughtful details like zip garages and angled pockets add to its functionality, while the racer’s fit provides a sleek, aero profile. And despite that slim cut, this jersey still offers ample stretch for movement. 

The Van Rysel RCR Women’s Short-Sleeved Cycling Jersey is a great, slim-fitting top for hot summer days or intensive riding, and it comes with oh-so-many pockets!

For just under £40, Van Rysel, Decathlon’s premium brand, has managed to make a good-looking, wearable jersey that works really well on those double-digit days. The key feature of this jersey is a mesh panel that runs down the full length of the underarm and body, and also at the back of the neck. Although the whole jersey is pretty light, with a material that wicks sweat well, the additional mesh makes for a well-ventilated ride and the stripy nature of the mesh means it isn’t overly see-through, so doesn’t highlight bra straps. 

And we mentioned those pockets… as well as the usual three-pocket combo along the back, there are two additional zippable pockets which run underneath the main pockets. If that were not enough, there are then an additional two ‘bin’ pockets which are located above the hip, bringing the total to a mighty seven pockets. We say we want more pockets so, clearly Van Rysel listened to us!