The Boardman 9 Series Short Sleeve Jersey is a well-made, comfortable and good-looking top. It comes in a tasteful burgundy or black, has a snug but forgiving fit and at just £50 it’s the usual excellent value from the Boardman brand.
Check out our best summer cycling jerseys buyer’s guide for more options.
Boardman has released this 9 Series jersey at the same time as its 9 Series bib shorts that I absolutely loved, so this jersey had a lot to live up to.
While I wasn’t quite so blown away as I was with the bib shorts, I’ve still been very impressed with the jersey, and I thoroughly enjoyed wearing it throughout the test period.
It might be very modestly priced by today’s standards, but the fit and feel are the equal of that of much more expensive jerseys. There’s a wide gripper at the rear to help the jersey from riding up during rides, with the rest of the jersey offering a snug but not tight fit.
The sleeves follow the modern trend of finishing just above the elbow, with laser-cut edges that ensure a crisp line. The sleeves don’t have any grippers, so they might ride up a little, especially if you have less muscular arms.
The right-hand sleeve features a couple of stripes in a different hue of burgundy, which not only do I think look smart, they’re reflective too, to boost your visibility at night – and the right arm is the best place for this. The slight downside is that this material isn’t quite as stretchy as the rest of the material, which you might feel if you’ve got bigger biceps.
There are three deep and capacious rear pockets, though they’re a little less secure than on some other jerseys, so stuff may move around a little.
I think the Boardman jersey has a modern and stylish look with understated logos, a small ‘B’ on the chest and a small vertical Boardman logo on the right-hand pocket.
The logo has a slight gradient to it rather than being a solid black, and I think it fits the modern aesthetic.
In addition to burgundy, you could also go for an all-black option, which I think looks a little more timeless though it might be a little less visible on the road.
The polyester and elastane material proved comfortable against my skin but it’s not the thinnest fabric out there. This proved pretty much perfect for spring riding though you may get a little warm in summer. That said, the material wicks effectively, so I never felt clammy, and the full-length zip will help with ventilation.
The small and unobtrusive zip was secure and easy to operate.
Value
The jersey’s £50 RRP is undoubtedly impressive, especially when compared with options from some of cycling’s biggest names.
I reviewed the Santini Eco Sleek Bengal jersey a few years ago, which has a similar feel to the Boardman jersey though with a more racy fit, but it costs £130.
Even the dhb Aeron Ultralight comes in at £90, though in its Port Royale colourway it resembles the burgundy Boardman.
More recently Shaun reviewed the Madison Roam jersey that’s a tenner dearer than the Boardman. He was impressed with it too, though he felt the wicking could have been a bit better.
Conclusion
I’ve been impressed with both the look and the feel of the Boardman jersey – and its very appealing £50 price. It not only competes with options that cost a whole lot more, I think it looks the part while doing so. It’s a great choice if you’re new to cycling or just want to get the maximum bangs for your buck – provided you’re happy with black or burgundy, of course.
Verdict
Comfortable, stylish, close-fitting option with the usual Boardman balance of high quality and a low price
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Boardman Mens 9 Series Short Sleeve Jersey
Size tested: Medium
Tell us what the product is for
Boardman says: ‘The Boardman 9 Series Jersey is designed for riders seeking both performance and all-day comfort. Made from a breathable and quick-drying polyester/elastane blend, it offers just the right amount of stretch for a tailored fit that accommodates a variety of body types. Laser-cut sleeves provide a sleek, modern look, while the reflective band enhances visibility in traffic for safer rides. Three rear pockets offer convenient storage for essentials, allowing you to stay on the road longer without interruption. With its combination of style, functionality, and comfort, this jersey is a great choice for any cycling enthusiast.’
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Breathable and quick drying polyester/elastane fabric
Tailored fit
Elastic waist with silicone gripper to hold in place
Three rear pockets
Laser cut sleeves
The jersey is well made and there were no issues during testing.
It’s comfortable and performed well.
So far it’s shown no signs of wear and tear.
It’s not the raciest fit, but it’s not baggy either, and should fit a good chunk of body shapes.
My medium jersey came up just the right size for me.
It’s not heavy, and doesn’t feel cumbersome.
It would get a 9, but I could feel a very slight restriction on the right arm caused by the reflective band.
As is often the case with Boardman it comes in at a great price – but, as with the company’s bikes, it doesn’t look cheap.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Washing the jersey was easy and caused no issues.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
It’s performed excellently – comfortable, a good fit and enough pocket space. What more do you want?
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The fit and the size of the pockets.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
I’d have preferred it if the sleeves had a gripper.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It’s very much at the less expensive end of things for a jersey of this quality.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes – if they were new to cycling or on a budget.
Use this box to explain your overall score
A well-made, comfortable and good-looking jersey. It fits well, does what you want and looks good while doing it. And it’s Boardman’s usual great value.
About the tester
Age: 24 Height: 174 Weight: 75
I usually ride: Storck Aerfast My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Semi pro
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, touring, club rides, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
