Morvelo EFX Nth Series

Brighton-based clothing brand Morvélo is renowned for its striking colour schemes, and this EFX Nth Series jersey continues that theme. Bold graphics aren't there to mask an average product, though, as this top is impressively comfortable and offers superb performance no matter how hard you're riding.

• Pros: Soft fabric, breathable and a great fit
• Cons: Very little if you don't mind paying 100 quid for a jersey

The Nth Series jersey uses a combination of different fabrics in its construction, and by holding the jersey up to the light you can easily see the difference. The main front section uses a material that is pretty thin and has a very small-holed mesh style design which lets through plenty of cooling air but without you getting cold, so the jersey isn't restricted to just the really hot days.

This fabric is used around the neck, top of the shoulders and arms, anywhere part of your body will be facing into the wind.

The back panels of the jersey and those under the arms use a much wider mesh effect to vent body heat away from you. It's not as extreme and transparent as the fabric found on Castelli's Aero Race 5.1 FZ but still works very well at keeping you cool and dry.

Even though the fabric is thin, it comes with factor 50 sun protection, which is always good to know.

One thing all the materials in the jersey have in common is how soft they are, the whole jersey feels absolutely lovely against the skin; it's very comfortable indeed.

This is a performance-orientated jersey and the cut reflects that by way of a long dropped tail to make sure you have plenty of rear coverage when crouched down in the drops. The front sits much higher so you don't get any excess material flapping about or bunching.

The rear part of the hem is held in place by a silicone gripper, while the front has nothing and it all works perfectly.

You also get a high, soft neck which houses the zip in a garage to stop any irritation when it's pulled up all the way to the top.

The pockets (made of the same fabric as the front) are taut enough for carrying your ride essentials without fear of bits bouncing around or flying out when riding on a rough surface. Their depth helps too. You get three of them in a traditional style across the back, with the right hand one also having a zipped valuables pocket.

Also on the right hand side you get a slimmer 'gel' pocket which makes mid-ride snacks in the middle of the bunch easy to grab.

Some riders may baulk at paying £100 for a short-sleeved jersey but for that money you are getting a very well made, high-performance product. Quality is high: it's handmade in Europe and you get details like double stitching around the pockets for strength and those technical fabrics. The stitching throughout is neat and tidy with no stray threads, and the fit is spot on for the faster rider.

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At this price it does have a lot of competition, like the aforementioned Castelli Aero Race 5.1 which is also £100. That's a bit more specialist compared to the Morvélo, aimed at really hot days, but the Nth Series feels very comfortable – something the Castelli was criticised on – and is more adaptable to a variety of conditions.

Milltag's offering, the Sector – which scored highly – is similar to the Morvélo and a touch cheaper at £90.

If funds are more limited, you might want to take a look at dhb's Aeron Speed jersey, designed for racing in warm weather and priced at £55.

Still, for a small company like Morvelo to be producing jerseys of this quality and taking on the big brands for value is impressive.

Verdict

Stand-out comfort levels from a top-notch fabric selection, with impressive performance however hard you ride