Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Solo St Neith Jersey

8
£80.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Stylish summer jersey with high-quality features
Weight: 
201g
Contact: 
www.paligapltd.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

New Zealand brand Solo has been around for a few years now but it has recently got improved distribution in the UK so you're likely to see more of their products, such as this St Neith jersey, than previously.

There are several screen-printed Solo Classique jerseys to choose from and, living up to their name, each has a classic look. Call it retro if you like, there's a kind of 1950s or 60s vibe here with enough going on to make the jersey look interesting but not so much that it's cluttered. It's going to come down to personal taste, of course, but I reckon the Classique tops look stylish across the board.

Their St Neith jersey is made from Nuovotech polyester which is a mid-weight summer fabric. It's not as light and airy as a mesh but it does a good job of wicking sweat away from your body to keep you feeling comfortable, doesn't get waterlogged easily, and dries pretty fast while you're riding. You might want something lighter for mega-hot rides, but for typical UK summer temperatures it's a good choice.

The collar and cuffs are polycotton/Lycra although they feel soft and natural. They're ribbed and stretchy so you get a snug but not too tight fit. The other details are top quality too. You get a silicone gripper around the inside of the waistband that helps prevent any riding up and the neck zipper is a high-end option. 18cm long, it has a sturdy feel and it locks at whatever height you position it rather than creeping down.

The usual three pockets in the lower back come with elasticated tops to help keep your stuff from jumping out, and there's a little zipped compartment on the outside of the right-hand one that's ideal for stashing your phone and a bit of cash safely.

Sizing is about average but go to the size chart on Solo's website http://www.solocc.com/product.cfm?cid=14&pid=1 to be on the safe side. The cut is traditionally slim and there's enough give in the fabric that a close fit doesn't feel at all restrictive.

You can buy a jersey for much less money than this... but you can pay a lot more too. This top doesn't break any new ground in terms of technical innovation, but it's an attractive design and it does its job well.

Verdict

Stylish summer jersey with high-quality features

road.cc test report

Make and model: Solo St Neith Jersey

Size tested: Blue/black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Solo say:

Highly breathable and wickable polyester fabric keeps you cool and dry

18cm front zip with over-size zipper pull designed for using with gloved fingers

Customised silicon elastic waist band

Small rear zipped rear pocket (in addition to the standard 3 rear pockets) for safe storage of phone, keys, cash etc

Unique knitted polycotton/lycra arm and neck bands for the real 'retro' look

Superb quality screen-printed (not digitally printed) design means brighter and more vivid colours

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very good build quality

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

I've no reason to doubt it'll last well. The zip, hem gripper and collar/cuffs are all high quality.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

It's not a bad price for a well-designed and well-made jersey.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, largely because I think it looks neat

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yep

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 190cm  Weight: 74kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

4 comments

Avatar
farrell | 13 years ago
0 likes

I like this and the Cafe du Cycliste gear that was reviewed today, I love Rapha's gear too, however, I'll most likely to be sticking with using Decathlons cycling jerseys for under a tenner for the foreseeable.

Avatar
Simon E | 13 years ago
0 likes

It's all subjective - everyone has a different idea of whether something is worth the price asked. And beware of brand snobs on internet forums.

If you like it then buy it. If you like Rapha and have the £££ buy that instead. Until you've tried it you won't know. Styling, fit and fabric are more important than price.

Avatar
Pifko | 13 years ago
0 likes

It's not. Spend a little more and go for Shutt/Rapha instead.

Avatar
seanieh66 | 13 years ago
0 likes

Worth 80 quid? Hmmmm, not so sure.  23

Latest Comments