Santini Redux Short Sleeve Jersey

The Santini Redux Short Sleeve Jersey performs well as the mercury begins to climb with excellent cooling and a figure-hugging aero fit, but this comes at a price.

• Pros: Great in hot weather, UV protective
• Cons: Expensive

When I was sent this jersey I looked outside at the 6 degrees day and the rain that I'd ridden to work in and thought that this was going to be a difficult review. However, three days later I found myself out in the Kent hills in 28 degrees – which was prime reviewing conditions for this jersey.

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Santini has sold this jersey almost exclusively on its ability to keep you cool in hot conditions, with the Italian company giving it a 5/5 for breathability and anti-UV protection. You only need to look at the famous picture of Chris Froome after he'd tested out the latest Team Sky mesh speed suit in 2014 to realise that one without the other is a recipe for disaster.

Breathability on the jersey live up to the marketing: it's exceptionally good and I found that even when I was midway through a regular long slog of a climb I was surprisingly cool, with sweat being wicked away quickly keeping the jersey dry to make sure that this cooling effect was maintained. Santini recommends this jersey for rides between 18 and 35°C and I'd concur: I tried it at around 13°C and it certainly would have been nicer to have a little more insulation.

It is also UV protective, which is proven by the tan lines on my arms; because this is an aero jersey the sleeves are elongated, and when wearing a brown T-shirt the day after my ride I realised I looked like a tub of Neapolitan ice-cream. This is impressive because the material is so thin, with breathability being such a key design feature, but Santini has still managed to incorporate UPF 50 protection.

Helping with breathability is the full zip, so if you do end up getting too hot despite its breathability you can just unzip and let in more air.

Santini markets the Redux as an aero jersey, with the fabrics wind tunnel tested, and there are some strong design features to reflect that such as the collar-less element, which also stops irritation around the neck, the silicone grippers at the bottom of the jersey which stop it riding up, and three laser cut pockets at the back.

Santini must have recognised that the material used throughout most of the jersey would probably be a little too thin for the pockets, so a thicker fabric is used here, with slits cut close to the top for access. Although not the largest, the pockets are big enough for everything I need on a hot ride, and to be honest the kind of rides you'll do in this jersey probably aren't those where you'll need to store larger things like jackets or even arm warmers.

As the fit on the jersey is designed to be as aero as possible, it is form fitting with an impressive amount of elasticity in the material meaning that, although tight, it isn't restrictive. Sizing is as you would expect from an Italian brand, with the large I tested being similar to a medium in UK or US brands.

One thing that does count against the jersey is that the high breathability and well-thought-out design come at a cost: an RRP of £135. Okay, it's £5 less than the Rapha Pro Team Aero Jersey, but it's £35 more than the Castelli Aero Race 5.1. However, if you are in the market for a lightweight, hot weather, aero jersey, this is certainly up there with the best.

> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best summer jerseys

Overall I was really impressed with the Redux Jersey; it has very impressive breathability, kept me really cool, and has some very well-thought-out design features. Price is definitely going to be an issue for many, as a short sleeve jersey for over £100 is steep, but performance-wise, if you are in the market for a high-end hot-weather aero top you won't be disappointed.

Verdict

A very good hot weather jersey with cooling and UV protection, but the price is hard to swallow