Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

HOY Vulpine Valldemossa Race Jersey

8
£69.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Effective and stylish summer jersey with comfortable fabric and casual fit
Weight: 
170g
Contact: 

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.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Hoy Vulpine is a collab between a couple of folk we like a lot here at road.cc. Chris Hoy needs no introduction, and his successful range of bikes like the Sa Calobra have shown he's got a good eye for what UK riders like, not to mention something of an obsession with Mallorca. Hooking up with Vulpine was a smart move for his new range of clothing - Nick Hussey's outfit have created a strong brand in a relatively short time, largely through the incorporation of neat details and sharp styling into quality cycling apparel.

The range of products for the initial collection is modest, and reasonably-priced. There's a couple of jerseys, some bibs, and some more casual wear (t-shirts, a polo, casual shorts). The collection isn't really aimed at racers (and in fact they plan to drop the "Race" from this jersey's name), more at riders who want smart, comfortable and well-made gear to feel good on their bikes.

Valdemossa is a village nestled in the hills towards the western end of Mallorca. The jersey which bears its name is a soft and very comfortable short-sleeve, cut to suit the average figure rather than the waifish grimpeur. It's available in men's and women's sizing; five sizes each, giving an option for a wide range of body shapes. There are three colours available, the Orion blue you see here (with red detailing), plus an Orion blue and black version and finally a rather brighter red and Cobalt blue. Styling is simple and classy, using raglan sleeves and flatlock stitching to maximise comfort. Vulpine don't tend to go in for shouty branding, so there's a couple of their trademark V decals paired with the usual muscular HOY logo; small on the breast and sleeve and larger on the centre pocket at the back.

The fabric used is a polyester blend including 30% of a yarn called S.Café, the first time we've come across this here at road.cc. S.Café uses a patented process involving waste coffee grounds, resulting in a fabric which resists odours and stays comfortable and dry as the temperature goes up. Among the claims is that it is "up to 200% faster drying when compared to cotton". Pretty much any modern cycling jersey will dry much faster than cotton, so I'm unmoved by this particular claim, but in any case, I found the fabric to be very comfortable and pleasantly soft against the skin. A nice touch - there are no itchy labels inside, all the necessary information being printed directly onto the inside of the jersey.

If you check out the official marketing shots, they've got Chris Hoy looking into the middle distance, bulging arm muscles pulling the jersey sleeves tight. My arms aren't a lot like Chris's, and here the fit doesn't really work for me, if I'm honest. It's comfortable, sure, but I prefer a more fitted and less flappy sleeve. Dave, in the pictures, is 15kg or so heavier than me and his arms don't fill the sleeves either. That's a medium in the pictures, too, so it's fair to say sizing is on the large side. Vulpine tells us that this was a deliberate decision, making a jersey which performs well but which has a more casual fit than out-and-out racewear, which can be intimidating or off-putting to new cyclists. Dropping the Race from the name sounds a good idea. My only real objection to the looser sleeves is that they won't hold up arm warmers unless you're Hoy-shaped.

It's a jersey for warmer days, really, where arm warmers are but a distant memory of the springtime. A full length zip is always welcome, and this one comes with a nice big pull, making one-handed ventilation adjustments pretty straightforward on the bike. There's a zip garage to keep your neck from irritation. The fabric breathes and wicks well, I had no complaints on the warmer days of spring. It's a medium-weight fabric, suited well to the sort of summer days we get here in the UK.

At the back are three pockets, with the outer two having angled openings making it much easier to get your hands in there. The central pocket is taller and a little narrower; not an out-and-out pump pocket, but it works fine for a mini pump or a phone. The combination of pockets worked fine for me, with enough room for the stuff I generally want to carry. There's no zipped key pocket, but I can live with that. Below the pockets there's a short section of elastic sewn inside the hem to cinch the bottom of the jersey together and - combined with some silicon circles - hold it in place.

This is a decent jersey for those who aren't going to race in it (and let's not forget, that's the vast majority of cyclists). There's smart, understated looks, a comfortable fabric and cut, and the sort of neat unobtrusive details that Vulpine are known for. It's available from Evans shops and also from Vulpine online.

Verdict

Effective and stylish summer jersey with comfortable fabric and casual fit

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: HOY Vulpine Valldemossa Race Jersey

Size tested: Medium

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?

Details details. With Chris' constant help and testing, we wanted to take an all time cycling classic and move it on. So we haven't messed with the basics, but nailed the details.

First we've chosen a softer, more comfortable and flattering fabric, with S.Cafe technology to defeat odours and make faster drying jersey. Its even more UV resistant, for days in the heat.

Next we chose a full length YKK zip for maximum temperature control and ease of use, finished with a very grip-able trackstripes zip pull for use at speed, with gloved hands. We've angled the outer pockets so your hands can access the contents more easily, and reinforced the pockets.

Add flat lock stitching and no labels (we print all the information on the inside instead) for maximum skin contact comfort. Plus our specially designed circles gripper.

With subtle style, comfort and packed with detail, this is a jersey of beauty and functionality.

Pair with Men's El Toro Bib Shorts for top to bottom style, comfort and performance.

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

30% S.Cafe yarn, produced from coffee grounds, adding softness, fast drying, odour control & UV protection.

*Trackstripes rubberised zip pull for single hand use at speed.

*Tough full length YKK zip for maximum temperature control.

*Flatlock stitching throughout, for against-skin comfort and stretch.

*Trackstripes authentiity tab.

*Unique HOY Vulpine silicon circles gripper at rear.

*Printed care information, no scratchy labels.

*Three rear pockets, angled for easier use at speed.

*Tough contrast HOY V logo prints.

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:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

You wouldn't call £70 for a jersey "cheap", but the Hoy Vulpine range has been priced a little lower than Vulpine kit generally is, with an eye on broadening the brand's appeal. It's a fair price, I'd say.

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

Very well, it's a lovely top for sunny rides.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Well thought-out details like the pocket layout and the zip pull. Comfy fabric.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I'd prefer the sleeves to be snugger.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Maybe

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 190cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Boardman CX team for the daily commute  My best bike is: Rose Xeon CRS

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Jez spends his days making robots that drive cars but is happiest when on two wheels.  His roots are in mountain biking but he spends more time nowadays on the road, occasionally racing but more often just riding. 

Latest Comments