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Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo Long Sleeve Jersey

8
£59.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Medium-weight jersey for chilly rides, especially in failing light, having the added benefit of discreet reflectives
Weight: 
357g

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The Altura Night Vision 2 Thermal long sleeve jersey is a great option if you want a warm top that looks great during the day and even better by night thanks to an array of stylish reflective panels. A well-thought-out design to suit the everyday rider.

For winter commuting I was always a fan of the Night Vision (NV) range, owning the bib tights and jackets because they were just so damn visible in amongst the heavy rush hour traffic. This NV2 Thermo jersey has a much more discreet way of making you seen; it's a little less shouty but still with very impressive results.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The NV2 Thermal has two reflective strips running either side of the centre of your back, but rather than being the usual silver Scotchlite type, they are actually black until light is directed at them. It doesn't quite bounce the light back as effectively as a more traditional reflective (you can see the difference as Altura has used silver reflectives for the label on the rear pockets) but you still show up well from a decent distance away.

Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo long Sleeve Jersey - back.jpg

The sleeves receive the same treatment, with a strip down each one from shoulder to cuff, and it's positioned for visibility from the front with your hands on the hoods. It'd be nice to see another one 180 degrees from this, though, to aid rear visibility especially when signalling.

Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo long Sleeve Jersey - cuff.jpg

You'll find a couple of other little details here and there too, to catch the light, and the whole setup offers good coverage to show following drivers there is a human being up front.

Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo long Sleeve Jersey - tail.jpg

The use of the black reflectives means you don't look like some DayGlo high-vis warrior during the day, which I like, but if I was going to be using this jersey for riding at all times of the day, I would definitely go for either the yellow or red option over this black one.

From a performance point of view the NV2 has a lot going for it. The cut is what Altura calls semi-fitted, and using its Ergofit 3D body mapping system the jersey is designed to be perfect for riders in the saddle. It's close enough to the body to remove excess flappy material without being restricted to those riders with a body fat percentage in the single figures. A jersey for the average sized man, shall we say, although the arms are noticeably slim fitting so if you are muscular you might need to size up to be comfortable.

Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo long Sleeve Jersey - riding.jpg

Sleeve length is good when stretched out, so you'll definitely have plenty of material still tucked inside the cuffs of your gloves.

The tail is dropped a long way to stop it riding up and exposing your back when hunched over in the saddle, and the front arches up to stop the material bunching up. The hem is held in place by silicone gripper.

Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo long Sleeve Jersey - gripper.jpg

The fleecy material that Altura calls Thermo is soft against the skin and seems to do a good job of trapping body heat. With a winter baselayer beneath it I could easily see it being useful to just below freezing. Going for a lighter, mesh-style summer option means you won't get overwhelmed in sweat up to the low teens Centigrade.

Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo long Sleeve Jersey - zip detail.jpg

For storage you get six pockets, three of which are your traditional affair, big enough to carry your usual ride tools and spares. They are taut too, so you don't get any sag from heavy items. Either side of these there are two smaller ones which, thanks to their position, are ideal for things you might need to grab when in the saddle, gels, bars or your phone for instance. They're also particularly handy if you're carrying a backpack, as you can still access them.

Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo long Sleeve Jersey - poacket.jpg

The final pocket is a zippered valuables one on the back which is ideal for cash, debit card or keys. None of the pockets have a water resistant lining, so bear that in mind if you are carrying electronics.

At £59.99 I'd say the Altura offers good value for money – the fit is well thought out, the material works nicely and the overall quality is very good. It's standing up well to daily wear and tear, so durability shouldn't be an issue either. You can get cheaper – Btwin's 700 Warm is half the price, for instance, with plenty of features too, but I would say that the Altura has a more precise cut and the material used feels nicer than the 700.

You can also go much pricier; the Rivelo Felcott jersey shares a lot of similar details with the NV2 – well, other than the reflectives on offer, which is after all the Altura's USP, but the Rivelo is £100.

> Buyer's Guide: The best winter cycling jerseys

In conclusion, I'd say if you want a warm race style jersey to get you through the chilly months then the Altura NV2 is a worthy contender, and if you want to be seen at night then it's one of the better options.

Verdict

Medium-weight jersey for chilly rides, especially in failing light, having the added benefit of discreet reflectives

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo Long Sleeve 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?

Altura says: "A Sport Fit jersey in Altura Thermosuede fabrics that offers superior thermoregulation and easy access rear storage pockets. Our popular Peloton jersey now offered with Darkproof ® Technology to provide maximum dark light visibility."

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

Altura lists:

*Altura Thermo™ technology using thermosuede fabrics delivers body warming insulation and warmth, to maintain core thermoregulation, keeping you warm, dry and comfortable

* Altura Darkproof® technology offers superior retroreflectivity. NV360° performance offers 360 degree reflectivity for maximum dark light visibility

* ErgoFit™ 3D patterning engineered for a more comfortable riding position

* 5 easy access rear pockets with an additional zippered pocket

* Integrated silicon grip delivers enhanced fit

* Semi-Fitted

Sizes Available:

2XL

L

M

S

XL

Colours Available:

BLACK

HI-VIZ YELLOW

TEAM RED

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 fit:
 
8/10

Fit is close without being restrictive.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10

Spot on with what the sizing chart on the website says.

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

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Its dark colours resist mud stains and a simple 30 degree wash keeps things clean.

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

The reflectives work well and are sensibly positioned, plus the material offers warmth without being overwhelming should you get your layering wrong.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

A well-cut jersey that'll cross many seasons with sensible layering.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Normal reflectives offer better visibility.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, but in the yellow or red to stand out better in daylight.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

It's another well made and nicely cut jersey from Altura that offers plenty for the money.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithein

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!

Add new comment

3 comments

Avatar
monkeytrousers | 6 years ago
1 like

Also as it's a "Night vision" product, a photo taken in the dark with flash might have been handy.

Avatar
joules1975 | 6 years ago
0 likes

I know it's called Night Vision, but why make it so stealthy.

I don't care what others say, Black is not a good colour to wear in daylight - unless you always ride with decent lights fitted and turned on even in daytime.

Any chance of a red version? I can't justify a top that I would only use at night.

 

Avatar
Stu Kerton replied to joules1975 | 6 years ago
3 likes

joules1975 wrote:

I know it's called Night Vision, but why make it so stealthy.

I don't care what others say, Black is not a good colour to wear in daylight - unless you always ride with decent lights fitted and turned on even in daytime.

Any chance of a red version? I can't justify a top that I would only use at night.

 

"The use of the black reflectives means you don't look like some DayGlo high-vis warrior during the day, which I like, but if I was going to be using this jersey for riding at all times of the day, I would definitely go for either the yellow or red option over this black one." 

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