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Nalini Malosco Jersey

4
£99.99

VERDICT:

4
10
Striking looks but design and dye-run issues really let it down
Weight: 
360g

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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The Nalini Malosco has the makings of a decent jersey, but is really let down by some basic flaws.

The first thing you notice is that the Nalini Malosco is considerably heavier than others in a similar price and temperature range. For instance, the Rapha Long Sleeve Pro Team Jersey is a full 30% lighter and designed to be worn in similar conditions.

The material used is also thick, which can be good on cold days, but does affect the jersey's moisture wicking ability when you're really pushing up a hill. Combined with the relaxed fit this makes it feel a bit like wearing a jumper rather than a cycling jersey.

The fabric has a polyester outer layer with a fleecy inner, which makes it warm and comfortable to wear on short or low intensity rides. It is not particularly stretchable throughout, which makes the cut of the jersey look almost baggy in places. On the cuffs and collar the material has more elasticity and feels almost like cotton. One of the issues that I had with these is that after only one or two rides, the material started to bobble and I would be worried about the durability of them over a longer period of time.

The relatively relaxed cut can also be a slight issue as it creates excess material that flaps. The cut is fairly non-standard throughout, the size that I tested was a large, the same jersey size that I am for most makes, but the body came up relatively short and the arms came out long, with excess gathering close to my wrists.

With this in mind though, it does offer very good thermal qualities. The claimed temperature range is 6-12 ˚C but I would say that above 10 ˚C would be uncomfortable for anything over 30 minutes of riding. I also used it down to around 3 ˚C and it kept me warm throughout.

It is only designed to be slightly water resistant, but the collars and the cuffs tended to stay wetter than you would want after a shower. This issue of waterproofing is also a flaw when it comes to the colouring of the jersey.

The striped colours divided opinion, with some saying that it looks retro and others saying that it is just ugly. However, the bigger practical issue with the colour scheme is the dyes bleeding. It has black, burgundy and purple next to pure white, and the colours had bled slightly into the white before I had even washed it once. This was just from a normal amount of sweat within the first two hours of wearing.

The back pockets also have problems. There are three, and the right-hand pocket has a zip. I'm right-handed, so this is the pocket where I want to keep the items that I am going to be using the most, like food, as it's the easiest to access. To me, a zipped pocket is for keys, change or phones, the things used least during a ride, so it should either be an additional pocket on the outside of a regular one or in the central pocket, which is the most awkward to reach while riding.

Even the pull for the main zip can be quite annoying as it is solid metal and large. With the jersey zipped up to my chin, I thought I had something rattling on my bike until I realised that it was just the zipper clashing against my helmet buckle. Having a simple piece of material to hold it in place would have solved this problem.

The stitching and general construction of the jersey is good (apart from the collar and sleeves). The stitching seems to hold together well and I had no worries about the main areas of the jersey in terms of durability.

The £100 price tag does seem steep for a long sleeve jersey with these flaws. For that kind of money I would expect to see a better cut, a thinner material, better breathability and more thought in the design.

Verdict

Striking looks but design and dye-run issues really let it down

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Nalini Malosco Jersey

Size tested: Large

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?

It is an autumn/winter jersey that Nalini claim is designed for aerodynamics, warmth and keeping you dry.

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

Warm stretch jersey

Fitted sleeves

Full front zip

Silicone gripper at hem

3 external back pockets

1 zipped back pocket

Temperature range: Warm - 6/12°C

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
5/10

Good stiching, but collar is already bobbling and the deep colours bleed into the white stripes. Also the basics of where the zipper pocket is and the size of the zipper at the top of the collar should have been better thought out.

Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10

It performs well in terms of keeping you warm, but needs to have better waterproofing and is not aerodynamic or particularly breathable.

Rate the product for durability:
 
5/10

With the collar and cuffs already bobbling, I don't know how hardy this product would be in the long run.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
6/10

For a jersey designed for 6-12 ˚C it is heavier than many others in a similar price bracket.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

For relaxed riding this is very comfortable and warm, but when you hit a hill and you heat up, the breathability needs to be better.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

£100 is a high price for a jersey that has flaws like this, I would put it closer to £60-70.

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

As it is designed and advertised to be aerodynamic, I don't think that it fulfils its purpose. The fit is relaxed rather than aero. That being said, for more relaxed rides in colder conditions, it makes a good mid layer.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

For relaxed riding and keeping warm, it works well.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Some of the basic design ideas like zipper placement, the top of the collar and cuffs and the size of the zipper on the front need to be rethought.

Did you enjoy using the product? Sometimes.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

If this had some added breathability, better colour choice and the zipper placement/size had been better, it would be on the way to being a good jersey. As it is at the moment, for £100 this needs to be a lot better.

Overall rating: 4/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

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

 

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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2 comments

Avatar
Johnny Crash | 9 years ago
0 likes

For that price, I'd expect the attention to detail such as the stripes lining up on the side seams too.

Avatar
crikey | 9 years ago
0 likes

Sweet Baby Jesus.

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