The Altura DFTR Unisex Tech Tee looks and feels just like a cotton T-shirt, but the technical materials it’s made from give it great wicking properties and a tough, resilient finish. It’s ideal for rides where figure-hugging Lycra isn’t necessary, it looks the part, fits well and comes at a decent price.

2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - front logo.jpg
2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - front logo (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

The DFTR T-shirt is manufactured from a blend of 90% polyester and 10% elastane, and feels very soft against your skin – just like a natural cotton one would. The small amount of elastane gives it some stretch when you’re riding, though I’m not sure it’s totally necessary given the T-shirt’s loose-fitting nature.

2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - front.jpg2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - collar.jpg2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - front logo.jpg2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - back.jpg2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - back detail.jpg2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee.jpg

By that I mean that the cut is generous, maybe even to the point of being a touch oversized compared to a T-shirt from a high-street brand. The one I’m reviewing is a large, my normal size, but I could easily drop down to a medium according to Altura’s size guide.

2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - back.jpg
2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - back (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

That said, when I was mountain biking or on a leisurely gravel ride, the Altura’s unrestrictive fit worked well, especially during our recent spell of hot weather. The material generally feels airy, but when things really warm up, such as when you’re climbing, the DFTR did a great job of wicking sweat away.

The material is a heavier weight than a Lycra jersey, so it isn’t quite as breathable and when I was really pushing the pace I noticed it could get overwhelmed quite quickly. So I think it’s one for more sedate riding rather than trying to smash out personal bests or hammering along on a hard commute.

2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - collar.jpg
2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - collar (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

The material stays smelling fresh too. I wore it for numerous rides on the trot to see what it would be like for bikepacking or touring and I was impressed with how a hard day’s riding didn’t leave it smelling of stale sweat.

The shape and cut also works well off the bike, and the two colour options, the Dark Slate Grey we’re testing or Brick Red, keep things looking subtle. I think the rear logo graphics are a neat touch too.

2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - back detail.jpg
2025 Altura DFTR Tech Tee - back detail (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

The Chinese-made DFTR’s stitching is neat throughout, the seams feel very robust and the material tough wearing. With the way the vegetation has grown over the last few weeks I found myself on trails with sleeve-snagging brambles everywhere, and the Altura shrugged things off save for the odd hitch. And it’s stood up to general riding use and abuse very well.

Value

Looking around to see the Altura’s competitors I found the Specialized Men’s Trail Short Sleeve Jersey, which is a technical T-shirt primarily designed for being worn on the bike, but it looks just at home away from it. It’s made from a mix of 80% polyester, 14% cotton and 6% spandex and boasts a 50+ UV protection level.

The T-shirt is priced at £45, and if you want to know our full thoughts on it, Liam reviewed the long-sleeve version for off.road.cc.

Rapha offers a few technical T-shirts for riding, the most recent we’ve tested being the £65 Trail Lightweight option. It uses a lot of different technical fabrics compared to the Altura, which accounts for the considerably higher price.

Rapha’s 100% polyester Explore Technical T-Shirt is probably more directly comparable to the DFTR, but at £60 it’s also a fair bit pricier.

Conclusion

Overall, the Altura DFTR is a very good all-round T-shirt for day-to-day riding. It’s not as technical as a proper jersey, but it’s better wicking and more comfortable to wear when you’re riding than a standard T-shirt. It’s well made, tough enough to stand up to the rigours of off-road riding and I also think it looks good off the bike.

Verdict

Well-priced, relaxed fitting casual wear that’s ideal for the commute, trails or the pub – and looks good too

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Altura DFTR Tech Tee

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Altura says: “The Altura DFTR Tech Tee combines the best of both worlds. The soft, natural feel of cotton with the high-performance benefits of technical fabric. Designed for all-day wear, this lightweight, moisture-wicking tee keeps you feeling fresh whether you’re riding, training, or just relaxing.

With a relaxed fit for easy movement and bold logo print graphics, it’s an essential that looks as good off the bike as it feels on.”

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Soft-Touch Cotton Feel – Enjoy next-to-skin comfort without sacrificing performance

High-Wicking Fabric – Quickly draws moisture away to keep you cool and dry

Relaxed Fit – Designed for easy movement and all-day wear

Bold Printed Graphics – A clean, stylish design that makes a statement

Polyester – 90%, Elastane 10%

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

It sized up in line with Altura’s guide, but its generous sizing means you might need to drop a size if you’re looking for a closer fit.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

I washed it repeatedly with no problems.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It wicks well and gives you a free range of movement when you’re riding.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The material feels very soft against your skin.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

You might need to check the sizing as this large came up a bit bigger than I’m used to.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It’s well priced compared to the similar offerings from Specialized and Rapha that we’ve reviewed, which are mentioned in the main review.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

It’s comfortable, well made and performs well for a decent price – which is why it scores a solid 8.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 46  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month’s test bike  My best bike is: B’Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,