Through the use of a super lightweight fabric, DHaRCO’s Men’s Race Jersey is not only a mega stylish long-sleeve MTB jersey but it’s also ideal for big, exposed summer days at the bike park. It wicks moisture effectively and the fact the fabric is recycled is another plus. However, you’ll need to shell out for the luxury and consider sizing up for the best fit.
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DHaRCO Men’s Race Jersey – Technical details
The DHaRCO Race Jersey is fully made of recycled polyester using FTF fabric tech which is responsible for its colourway. Claiming that the fabric is lightweight and breathable, the brand is commendably honest about its durability, admitting that because it’s designed to be so lightweight, it’s not quite as hard-wearing as a more conventional jersey fabric.
On top of that, this jersey is as simple as it gets. It’s been designed with the Commencal Muc Off DH team, so it’s been crafted with racing in mind. As such, its fit is meant to be slimmer than the brand’s standard jersey and there are no pockets to be seen, allowing it to be tucked in seamlessly.
Sizes range from S to 2XL and there are six quite bold colourways to choose from – the ‘fade to black’ one tested here is perhaps the most subtle of them but if you want to stand out there’s even a leopard-inspired option available.
DHaRCO Men’s Race Jersey – Performance
Usually, I reserve long sleeve jerseys for those days where it’s cool, but not cold enough to warrant additional outer layers. But impressively, despite its long sleeves, this Race Jersey has been a top I’ve reached for more frequently than I first thought, especially as we hurtled towards summer.
Overall, the fit is very good and the jersey’s proportions match mine rather well. The shoulders are broad enough to avoid bunching around the neckline and generally, it hangs without issue. However, I’ve found the sleeves on this medium top to be a little on the short side. Some may find this useful as another channel of airflow but when getting right off the back of the bike, the sleeves creep up the wrists. Taking that into account, I’d perhaps consider trying a larger size as well.
The long (but shortish) sleeves aside, this jersey is remarkably cool. I’ve ridden in this top during sweltering bike park days when the mercury has risen well above 20c and it’s just like wearing a light t-shirt. However, as it’s a full-length jersey I’ve benefitted from the extra sun protection of those longer sleeves.
Thanks to the super lightweight fabric chosen, breathability is superb as air feels free to flow through, keeping it perfectly cool on even the hottest days.
Where breathability is great, moisture wicking has to be balanced well for maximum comfort and it certainly is. Even though I’ve found myself profusely sweating, the Race Jersey has expelled moisture, keeping it away from my skin and boosting comfort further. Better still, it dries almost as fast as it wicks so it rarely floods with sweat, at least for long enough to become a problem.
Although DHaRCO states that the jersey isn’t designed to be very durable, it’s been plenty hardy enough to cope with multiple washes without bleeding its colour. It’s also looking rather healthy after months of riding where I’ve navigated overgrown trails and upped the likelihood of snagging the fabric. Now, I wouldn’t expect it to stay in one piece after higher-speed spills but I hardly expect any jersey that’s not specifically reinforced to do so.
DHaRCO Men’s Race Jersey – Verdict
The main hang-up of DHaRCO’s Race Jersey is the price. At £77 it’s certainly up there, staking a claim as a premium product with the likes of Rapha and its Long Sleeve Technical T-Shirt at £75. However, Rapha’s jersey packs more for the cash, including a lightweight fabric but that material has also been crafted to be snag-resistant. On top of that, Rapha provides a repair kit with the jersey, and many of its other garments which boosts potential longevity.
Endura’s Burner Lite jersey also comes cheaper at £60. Again, it’s built using super light fabrics for plenty of breathability as well as laser-cut perforations – but it doesn’t deliver breathability quite as well as the DHaRCO’s Men’s Race Jersey. It also doesn’t use as much recycled fabric, but it gets silicone grippers to help keep backpacks in place.
If you’re happy to plumb the cash for extra style, DHaRCO’s Men’s Race Jersey is a serious option, even if there are some cheaper jerseys around that offer a little more in terms of tech. It performs as good as it looks, with excellent breathability and moisture-wicking properties in a cool-looking fade colour. But if you’re between sizes, definitely consider sizing up.
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