RH+ PW Dual Cell Xlight Jersey FZ

There's no doubt that the RH PW Dual Cell Xlight Jersey FZ is dear but it is a high-quality piece of work that's very light and highly breathable.

The main fabric is a lightweight polyester made using what RH call 'Dual Cell technology'. Dual Cell? What's all that about?

The fabric has a textured honeycomb appearance – well, it's actually a pattern of circles rather than hexagons. The circles are raised and thicker than the bits between the circles, the idea being to improve the breathability.

That Dual Cell fabric is very stretchy and the non-textured nylon/Lycra side-panels even more so. That means you can get a close fit without the jersey feeling tight or uncomfortable. Quite the opposite, in fact. With flatlock stitched seams throughout, the Xlight jersey is very comfortable, even if you don't use it with a summer base layer.

The waist is an elasticated band with a raw edge (don't worry, there's no chance of it fraying) that sits very flat while the collar is quite low by cycling standards, which makes sense for a summer jersey (but don't forget sunscreen on your neck). The full-length front zip that runs between them has a fabric backing so it doesn't irritate your skin, and there's a zip garage up top that prevents it from irritating your neck. The zip itself, from YKK, stays put wherever you position it.

Around the back you get yer customary three pockets along with a fourth zipped one for your valuables – if you're lucky enough to have any. Reflective print on the sides adds to nighttime visibility.

Our large sized review jersey hit the scales at just 126g. When we talk about the weight of a summer jersey it's obviously not because saving a few grams is going to get you to the top of a climb any quicker, it's more to give you an indication of how it'll feel when you have it on (of course, it's not the only factor), and the Xlight is certainly a summer weight. It'll help keep you cool even on very hot rides.

To tell you the truth, I don't know if that Dual Cell technology is responsible or not but this jersey does feel good in hot conditions. When you work up a sweat on a big climb it will get damp, of course, but it doesn't tend to stick to your skin very easily. Instead, it dries fast and effectively, especially if you use that full-length zip to full effect.

We had a little colour bleed in the washing machine despite following the instructions. When the washing cycle had finished, the red sleeve came to rest on the white back panel and left a few pink marks on it. They came out with subsequent washing but maybe you'd want to do the first few washes by hand to avoid this. Not a biggie.

Verdict

Lightweight and very breathable high-performance jersey in a form fit