dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey

Considering how thin and lightweight it is, the dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey does a very impressive job of keeping you warm and its lack of bulk means it's great for layering when autumn gives way to winter. It's also great quality and decent value too.

• Pros: Warm but breathable fabric; well made
• Cons: It's hard to pinpoint any real flaws

With the temperature nudging 8°C outside I really wasn't sure how I was going to stay warm with just the dhb jersey and a long sleeve lightweight baselayer on. The fabric is really lightweight and although dhb claims a working temperature range of 6°C to 16°C, I wasn't convinced.

However, the first couple of miles were chilly, as it should be when you first start out, but once I'd got the blood pumping, the temperature of the dhb was absolutely spot on.

The main body of the Equinox is a brushed polyester and that finish seems to trap just enough body heat to keep you warm while also being impressively breathable. I was toasty, but even when working hard I didn't build up a sweat unless I was really attacking the hills or sprinting. Those few times I worked hard enough to build up a bit of sweat it was soon transferred away without the jersey left feeling wet or cold against the baselayer.

Being so thin and breathable means the Equinox isn't going to be restricted to just autumn or spring use as it'll easily fit under a jacket as part of a layering system when temperatures start to dip below freezing.

> How to dress for cycling in autumn

The sleeves use a slightly different fabric with a closer knit to add a bit of wind resistance, and on the inside next to the skin the fabric has a 'peach-like' texture to it for warmth – dhb's words, not mine.

The sleeves are a good length, too, being long enough to tuck in under the cuffs of gloves, and the rest of the jersey follows suit.

The Equinox range uses dhb's performance fit which means it's designed to sit close to the body without being restrictive. It's really well cut, shaped in a way that it works when you are on the bike so there isn't any bunching up of material when you are crouched over in the saddle.

The tail is nicely dropped to keep your lower back covered and the front arches up towards the central full-length zip, which stops any rucking of the material there.

The zip itself runs smoothly and the large plastic tab is easy to operate with chunky gloves on. At the top there is a handy zip garage to stop irritation of the neck.

Around the back you'll find four pockets, three in a traditional style with the right hand one having an extra zipped valuables pocket on the outside, with a water-resistant liner between the two.

The depth of all the pockets is good – they'll swallow pretty much everything you'll need on a ride easily, and without any sag.

A neat touch is the reflective strip along the top of the pockets, plus there is another section at the bottom of the middle pocket for a little bit of extra visibility. The rear dhb logo is also reflective and you get a couple of strips on each arm.

The overall quality is top notch. The stitching is pretty much faultless throughout; the whole jersey is neat and tidy and excellently finished.

With a list price of £75 you really can't knock it for value either. The Sportful Moire Thermal Jersey, for instance, will set you back around £90.

There is some tough opposition out there, though, especially from brands like Decathlon's Triban. Some of its jerseys we've tested lately such as the RC 500 Long Sleeve Jersey at £35 or the RC 100 at just £19.99 are really good.

> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best winter cycling jerseys

The dhb's performance is very good too, though, and it's a quality piece of kit so I still stand by its score higher than average on value for money.

Overall, with the right amount of layering, the Aeron Equinox Thermal jersey will easily work across three seasons and will be an excellent addition to your cycling wardrobe.

Verdict

Great jersey for keeping you warm on its own or as part of a layering system