Sportful Giara Warm Long Sleeve Jersey

It might be British Summer Time but it's still chilly enough to have to wrap up warm on a bike ride, and Sportful's Giara Warm Long Sleeve Jersey is a great choice, providing excellent warmth along with great fit and style. It's a bit expensive, but can be found discounted online.

Pros: Warm, comfortable, good fit, looks great

Cons: Might need a wind jacket or vest on windy days

A long sleeve jersey is really useful this time of year. Worn over a short sleeve baselayer it's adequate for milder temperatures, then when the temp drops or the wind picks up you can just add a gilet or wind jacket to increase your protection from the elements.

This top comes from Sportful's relatively new line of gravel-inspired clothing, a range that combines all the material technology of its more race-focused offerings but goes for a more muted and understated style that arguably better suits the adventure and gravel cyclist.

The main thing to take away is that it looks really nice and isn't out of place on any road ride, off-road exploration, the commute or an audax. Plus, as Sportful is keen to remind us on its website, it won't look out of place in the coffee shop. That's important, that is. It's available in two colour options as well.

Providing a good level of insulation for a reasonably wide window of spring temperatures is a brushed thermal fabric. It's fleecy on the inside and soft against the skin. It's not a windproof fabric, which is both good and bad. On warmer rides, it provides good breathability and because a small amount of air can seep through the fabric it manages your temperature well. When it's a cold hard wind, though, you'll want to add a windproof jacket or gilet to stave off the chill.

Generally, it copes with and provides ample insulation for the majority of weather conditions at this time of year. Ride at a brisk tempo and it manages to provide a good level of breathability; throw in a few hill repeats and you won't find yourself drowning in your own sweat.

The shape and fit are excellent, as is always the case for me with Sportful clothing. It's opted for a slightly more relaxed cut with this Giara range, to go with the relaxed styling, but it still hugs the body in all the right places. There's ample arm length, the pockets don't sag when loaded and it's not at all baggy, aided by a silicone-lined waistband.

As mentioned, there are pockets, three main ones, around the back, plus a zipped pocket which I'm a fan of – always nice to have somewhere secure to keep the house keys, you don't want those bouncing out of your pocket and leaving you locked out.

> Buyer's Guide: 10 of the best warm long-sleeve cycling jerseys

At £85 it's not exactly cheap for a long-sleeve jersey – £15 more than the Lusso Terrain and £10 more than the Kalf Club Thermal, but you can get it discounted at various popular online retailers at the moment (see buying links below).

In conclusion, it's a great looking jersey (well I think so, anyway) with a slightly more relaxed fit than some race-focused tops, making it ideal for everyone but the wannabe racers, right at home on the Sunday morning group ride or off-road adventures.

Verdict

Smart looking warm and comfortable long-sleeve jersey ideal for spring weather