dhb Aeron Rain Defence Short Sleeve Jersey

dhb's Aeron Rain Defence jersey is the Wiggle own brand's attempt to deal with Autumn's damp weather, with mixed results. It keeps out the rain, but its breathability could be better.

Lets deal with its ability to deal with rainfall first. On this front it's very good. Hydrophobic, as long as it's washed with technical wash or, at the very least, a delicate soap, it'll keep the elements out in an impressive manner. It must be said that's partly down to the thickness of the jersey, in that it takes a lot of water to penetrate through the fabric. In a fairly heavy early autumn downpour it stood up to the challenge even when the beading had become a sheen on the surface of the jersey.

>>Read more: 10 spring/autumn/winter survival jerseys

As a result, you feel protected when the heavens open, and thanks to its mid-weight nature feels like a layer of armour over your skin. Additionally, it's supplemented with a decent-length storm guard, zipper wind guard and high collar to keep out water and draughts, both of which perform well; the neckline is especially comfortable, and doesn't chafe even when zipped right up to the top – even if it was slightly restrictive on my thicker neck.

Naturally, this has a downside, in that breathability is limited. While the Aeron Rain Defence jersey features small mesh panels under the rear shoulder flaps, they're a bit like trying to get water out of a sink using a pipette. They don't allow moisture and heat to escape in anything like the required amount to be able to call the jacket 'cool' in mild conditions.

That's a shame, because dhb themselves claim the jacket to be breathable as one of its headline perks, a claim it, in my view, just doesn't live up to. On one particularly fresh morning (just into double digits), this became less of an issue as the protection afforded by the mid-weight, almost softshell-like fabric worked as a welcome insulator, but nevertheless in general early-autumn weather, it really can't cope.

So then, it's really a jersey for when the weather starts teetering towards ten degrees; a temperature much more likely to be seen mid-autumn and onwards in the UK. However, there are question marks about whether it's truly suitable for deep winter riding too. The cut is relatively slim, meaning it'll probably be your innermost layer, base layer notwithstanding. That means fans of layering will probably be stuck with it, regardless of its breathability level – equally important in the very cold to stop your clothes getting soggy with sweat, and subsequently making you irretrievably cold anyway.

As the cut it slim, it fits snugly around your arms, shoulders and waist. The 'Aeron' name hints towards this; it won't flap around you, and as a result does keep you at least slightly efficient when cutting through the air. That's a positive for people who like to get a move on, even in the winter.

Other useful features on the jersey include three decently-sized pockets, lined with high-visibility trim, and a zipped fourth pocket that is described as 'water resistant'. Why this isn't fully waterproof on a jersey like this escapes me, but it's hardy enough to trust your phone and money to, as long as you keep those in their own covers as well.

It's a decent-looking jersey, too. The all-black version is sleek and stylish with branding decals on the outside of the forearm. If that's not your bag, you can also choose a version with red arms and shoulders for a splash of colour.

At £95, this isn't a cheap garment, and for that kind of money I'd hope for a good all-rounder in terms of performance. It falls short of that mark, because of the lack of breathability when the weather isn't distinctly cold (and dry).

Wiggle claims that in the Aeron Rain Defence the 'performance of a jacket meets the fit and feel of a jersey'. In some areas (primarily the water resistance, build quality and cut) it achieves this. However, it's short on breathability despite claims to the contrary, which is a shame for a garment that thus has limited appeal outside of winter.

To be fair, few of its rivals in the category of 'jerseys that are like the Castelli Gabba' are highly breathable either. The idea is that by protecting you from cold air when you're riding tempo, they keep you comfortable, even though you may get a bit damp. The Aeron Rain Defence jersey does a decent job of that, and it's the cheapest in its class.

Verdict

Decent quality, good water resistance in a protective jersey, but lacks breathability in mild weather