Sugoi RS Jersey

Sugoi's RS jersey is one of those pieces of kit where if you have to do a double take when you first see the price - in a good way.

Cut for a racing fit, the sleeves are ergonomically shaped to fit in the ride position and everything from the neck to the dropped rear is in proportion.

The materials are a mixture of Gobi, a diamond knit that creates a very fine mesh that gives plenty of breathability and wicking. It's a very fine knit though it looks like a standard knit jersey to the naked eye. The yarn and the knitting process are said to offer superior abrasion and snag resistance plus the close fit is provided without the use of Lycra.

Covering the shoulders (front and rear) and the armpits and the rear hem is what Sugoi call Vector Stretch. A two layered mesh structure that is all about cooling the rider. The bottom layer sits against the skin while a second layer sits away from the skin. The bottom layer then removes moisture up to the space between the two layers as the cooling wind from riding blows through keeping you dry.

It certainly works and is one of the cooler jerseys that I've been wearing while the majority of the UK basks in 30°C heat. Impressive considering we're testing the black version as well. If things get too hot there is also a full length zip.

Three pockets adorn the rear with a decent enough depth to keep your essentials in place and the RS jersey has a tight enough kit that the rear doesn't sag when the pockets become overloaded.

There are five more colours in the range, red, blue, green, silver and white in sizes S to 3XL.

So then the price, £55, which in the grand scheme is pretty much mid-range but the RS feels and performs like a jersey around the ninety to a hundred quid mark. The material feels great against the skin and moves with you without any rucking or bunching while the dropped tail and pre-cut shoulders mean the jersey stays in place throughout the ride.

The quality is great with well finished seams and even though the majority of test miles have been done commuting with a rucksack on my back there is no signs of any bobbling or snags in the material.

Overall the RS jersey is a lot like the Louis Garneau Superleggara we recently tested in terms of performance and ventilation while almost matching the level of fit and cut. That's no big issue though considering that the RS is half the price and is harder wearing to boot.

Verdict

A pro level jersey at an intermediate price.