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Altura Icon Long Sleeve Jersey

8
£59.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Really well-cut, warm and stylish jersey at a great price
Soft lining
Good cut
Wicks really well
Good value
Not windproof
Weight: 
349g

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.

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The Altura Icon Long Sleeve Jersey is a warm, comfortable and very effective top or mid-layer for cool to cold rides, with a style and build that belies its price. It breathes and wicks well, and bar a lack of windproofing really has no negatives.

The fleecy white lining is soft against the skin and stays put against baselayers, and while the overlocked seams are fairly chunky, they're never perceptible once on.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Continuous silicone grippers on the side elastic (and silicone dots on the broader rear band) stop it rucking up, and the length is well judged both in the front and for the dropped tail (which includes a reflective band). I never had anything bunch up or chilly gaps appear.

2020 Altura Icon jersey LS - reflective.jpg

Sleeve length is longer than some jerseys but spot on for sealing snugly with gloves, and the collar is slightly looser than the previous iteration's – as long as you're not as skinny-necked as our model, no draughts get in. That said, the fabric isn't windproof, so this is better beneath a hardier shell on days with stabby winds.

2020 Altura Icon jersey LS - chest.jpg

It all adds up to a jersey that's warm and very comfortable, and the fabric (polyester with a dash of spandex) is nicely breathable and very good at wicking sweat: the Icon managed the impressive trick of ending rides drier than both the layer above and below it. It's also soft on the outside for a feel/look that, if not quite premium, is certainly pleasing.

2020 Altura Icon jersey LS - back.jpg

Strong elastic and an average depth mean the three pockets are happy keeping hold of phones, packable layers and gels, and there's a side zip for extra security. Note this pocket (roughly 16x11cm, but with an 11cm zip that makes getting bigger phones in a struggle) intrudes on the main pocket's space, so you still only really have three rather than four.

2020 Altura Icon jersey LS - pocket.jpg

This Hex-Repeat design of the Icon comes in three different colour options: this orange/navy, teal/blue and yellow/navy. If you like your patterns bold then there is also a Tokyo version available in white/black or lime/black. There are various options for women too.

> Buyer’s Guide: 18 of the best winter cycling jerseys

Scanning our recent reviews shows the Altura to be well priced compared with others such as the dhb Classic Long Sleeve Jersey. That costs £65 (not that dhb's products are ever marked up at full rrp) and I'd say after wearing both that the Altura is the better jersey.

The Giant Illume Mid-Thermal was a jersey that I also liked when I reviewed it at the beginning of the year. It was warm and breathable, sharing a lot of the qualities of the Icon. It, too, is priced at £65, again highlighting the Altura's competitiveness.

> How to dress for cycling in autumn

The Icon is pretty typical for a long-sleeve winter jersey, whatever the price: fleecy lining, high-ish collar, three pockets, silicone grippers and reflective highlights. Brilliantly, it hits the sweet spot with all these aspects, boasts impressive quality, looks sharp while doing it, and is very affordable. Recommended.

Verdict

Really well-cut, warm and stylish jersey at a great price

road.cc test report

Make and model: Altura Icon Long Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Altura says this is "designed with a new subtle block geometric pattern for Autumn Winter. Lightweight and breathable, this thermal long sleeved jersey is perfect to use in cold weather conditions".

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

The company lists:

- Highly breathable

- Thermal properties

- Three rear cargo pockets

- Rear zipped security pocket

- Reflective elastic hem

- Semi-fitted design

- Lightweight and comfortable with thermal properties

- Plenty of storage for day long rides

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Sizing is in line with Altura's guide.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

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

No problems with cool washing.

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

Very well indeed.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Great fit, soft lining, stylish, warm.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

No windproofing.

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

Compares very well on price – it's cheaper than a lot of similar products and gives little to nothing away, as you can see from the competition mentioned in the 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

I can't say this is exceptional – it doesn't excel in any area – but I can say it's very good in (almost) every area and so a really strong eight.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  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,

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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1 comments

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Freddy56 | 3 years ago
0 likes

like it and the design

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