Sportful BodyFit Pro Race Jersey

If you want a lightweight and aerodynamic top for racing or hot summer rides, the pro race-developed and tested Sportful BodyFit Pro Race Jersey is a really good choice, though the fit is on the small side so you may need to size up.

Sportful updated the BodyFit Pro Race last year; the Italian company focused its efforts on making a jersey for racing in mountain heat, but says it was surprised when it found it was the most aero jersey it had ever tested when it stuck it in a wind tunnel.

Aero is the biggest buzzword in road cycling right now. Everything is getting more aerodynamic in cycling, and with the body producing about 80% of the overall drag you face when cycling, it's clear there are big savings to be had in upping your aero clothing game.

Achieving this jersey's claimed aero gain is down to the excellence of the fit. It literally hugs your body like a second skin. It's not at all baggy, there's no excess material to flap in the wind and cause drag, it's very streamlined. You feel fast just wearing it before you've turned a pedal in anger.

The sleeves, made from an Aero Stretch Mesh material, continue the aerodynamic theme. There are no hems or extra material, instead, a raw-cut opening ensures the sleeves lie flat over the arms. I found wearing a sleeveless baselayer best with this jersey – short-sleeve baselayers tend to ruffle up the very tight sleeves.

It is an extreme fit, and I found it a little tight across the chest between the shoulders when standing upright for the photos. Hunched over the handlebar with your shoulders rolled forwards a little, matters improved greatly. So remember that when you're trying the jersey on in the shop, and try to get into a cycling position to really test the fit.

Sportful makes no aero gains, and road.cc has no wind tunnel to conduct its own aero testing, but it's well understood that close-fitting clothing provides less drag than baggy clothing. So if you're trying to reduce your overall air resistance this is a good jersey to consider. It's also reasonably priced compared with other aero jerseys on the market.

Where the jersey also excels is in the heat. The material is lightweight, very breathable and excellent at mopping away excessive sweat. It's Sportful's own DryPro Light fabric and has a sort of mesh construction that helps it to dry quickly. A full-length YKK zipper provides extra ventilation when you need to get rid of more heat on the climbs. It's a great choice for hot weather riding, whether on those few rare hot days in the UK or a holiday to the French Alps or Majorca.

> Buyer's Guide: 15 of the best summer jerseys to beat the heat

You get three good sized pockets on the back of the jersey for storing all the food and tools you need on a ride. The outer pockets are slightly angled to make it a bit easier to get at the contents. I had no problems loading the pockets up – they didn't sag one bit, helped no doubt by the silicone gripper tape lining the hem.

To sum it up, this isn't the jersey you want for relaxed recreational riding, but if you're heading for hot climes where you'll be riding hard and fast, it's spot on – and you could pay a lot more for similar performance.

Verdict

A breathable, lightweight and aerodynamic jersey but the fit is on the tight side