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dhb Windslam Long Sleeve Jersey

8
£47.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Versatile year round windproof jersey, highly breathable and amazing value for money
Weight: 
279g
Contact: 
www.wiggle.co.uk

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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DHB's Windslam jersey is, as the name suggests, a windproof jersey designed to be worn either on its own or as part of a winter layering system.

The key to keeping the breeze out is the polyurethane membrane added to the front panel by sandwiching it in between layers of the polyester fabric. It also provides a pretty decent water resistant barrier against road spray and drizzle with the water beading and sitting on the surface. The rear neck section also uses the membrane to keep the wind whipping over your shoulders from giving your upper back a chill.

The rest of the jersey is made from 100% polyester which is very breathable so it's not like the membrane makes the Windslam a boil in the bag affair. Hold the jersey up to the light and you can see the knit is quite wide, almost a kind of mesh to let the hot air and sweat wick away.

The fit is close. DHB call it 'Performance' as opposed to their more race orientated 'Form' fit. It's a flattering cut that has a decent amount of stretch in the material to move with you and the size guide on Wiggle's website is bang on, with the medium fitting me perfectly.

A dropped tail means your lower back remains covered when in the saddle and there are three good depth pockets in the usual place. The material is taut across the top of them so anything you put in there is staying put even when you're in a racing crouch. You also get an additional zipped pocket for anything valuable.

Head out for a ride when the ground is covered in frost and you notice the membrane doing its job straight away. While the rest of your body is still warming up your chest and stomach feel snug especially pleasant if you're heading straight out into a headwind.

One thing worth mentioning is the low neck, especially at the front. On really chilly days I found a Buff or collar was needed to keep your throat warm. It does however mean that there is no zip digging into your chin should you get into a stem kissing position.

The real beauty of the Windslam is how thin the material is, making it ideal for layering beneath a waterproof jersey or softshell without feeling like you've got loads of clothing on. The wicking works well even when used under other layers and you've got to be really putting the effort in to overwhelm it. Even if you do overcook it dries very quickly once you ease off the gas.

For night use there is some 3M reflective detailing on the chest, forearm and back which provides enough to get you noticed and to help you stand out in daylight the DHB comes in Red/Black, White/Black and Blue/Black.

Overall the Windslam is a hugely versatile jersey that can be used for at least three seasons of the year and would even be ideal early morning or late evening in the summer. The quality is really good with tidy stitching and neat details.

When you take the price of £47.99 into account the Windslam is exceptional value for money. The tailored fit and material quality makes it look and feel much more expensive than it really is.

Verdict

Versatile year round windproof jersey, highly breathable and amazing value for money.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Windslam Long Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: Medium, Blue/Black

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?

The Windslam jersey is designed for winter/autumn use either on its own as a windproof or as part of a layering systam on really cold days. The thin fabric works well individually and means layering is comfortable without too much bulk.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

*Lightweight breathable wicking polyester jersey back, body and sleeves

*Wind resistant membrane on front panel

*Full length, lock down zip

*Hi-visibility 3M™ Scotchlite™ reflective detailing on chest, forearm and back

*Performance fit

*3 vertical pockets

*Zipped pocket for valuables

*Internal chin guard

*Internal elasticated silicone gripper on hem

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Really well, it does a good job of keeping the cold wind off of your internal organs and wicks sweat away impressively.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I'd like a higher neck at the front.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit and its versatility.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Whatever needs testing or Genesis Flyer, fixed of course!  My best bike is: Kinesis T2 with full Centaur Red

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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3 comments

Avatar
nowasps | 10 years ago
0 likes

I have the short sleeve version from last year, and it seems to do the job...

Avatar
bollandinho | 10 years ago
0 likes

I've spent all winter commuting in Glasgow in the Roubaix version of this (I've got two now, so they've been washed.)

Unless it's raining heavily, I've been wearing just this and a warm base layer (Uniqlo Heat Tech, base layer fans) and I've been warm without overheating all winter. Always a bonus when there's no option of a shower at work.

Avatar
jstreetley | 10 years ago
0 likes

I have the previous model year - good bit of kit.

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