Boardman Mens Long Sleeve Jersey

The Boardman Men’s Long Sleeve Jersey promises to be a reliably hardy and very UK-appropriate layer of warmth for a very attractive price. Unfortunately, it takes a presidential approach to promises, and fails in a way that’s both overwhelming and baffling.

The reason the Boardman Men’s Long Sleeve Jersey fails is that the arms are not properly arm shaped. Stand with your hands by your side and they’re fine, but reach to a handlebar and you find the fabric underneath is too short, and joins the body too low down. It creates a kind of batwing effect, and the resulting tension pulls everything out of place.

It pulls the waist up, and although the body is long enough to stop it ending up like a crop top, it can create a gap at the back. I found it annoying.

It also pulls the sleeves up. The cuffs, which hang perfectly on my wrists if I put my hands in my pockets, sit at least two inches higher when riding, leaving bare skin to get cold.

Meanwhile, all the misplaced fabric bunches around the top of both shoulders (which you can feel) and bulges outwards across your upper chest (which doesn’t help with warmth). There’s a reasonable stretch to the fabric so the tight spots aren’t actually uncomfortable, but they are noticeable. 

Were it not for this misshaping, the Mens Long Sleeve Jersey would be a really solid option – in all other respects it’s good for the attractively budget price. It’s relatively thick to give some autumnal/cool summer evening warmth, and has a softly fuzzy inside that’s comfortable against the skin.

There’s a zipped pocket on the middle of the usual open-topped trio, and it even takes phones, though only just – my 16cm Android stretched it to the limit. The three open pockets work fine. 

The lower hem gets a nice silicone gripper – though it’s helpless in the face of the poor shaping – and the seams are all overlocked for comfort. (Comfort that is spoiled anyway by the shaping.) There’s a zip garage at the top to avoid chafing, but… yeah. It’s all moot.

It’s disappointing, really, that such an obvious flaw made it to the production version.

Value

Even at £30 I can’t recommend this jersey, which is a shame as the only things wrong are some duff measurements. If it hung even reasonably well while riding it would be easy to recommend, but it doesn’t, and you’re not starved for alternatives.

> Best winter cycling jerseys 2026 — keep warm when the temperature drops

The Van Rysel Men’s Mid-Season Long-Sleeved Road Cycling Jersey RC100 is just £19.99, and did reasonably when Caroline tested the women’s version. She found it a little unstretchy and basic, but otherwise fine.

The dhb Long Sleeve Jersey is still available and is now £40, and though it has its own shaping issues (slightly capacious chest and narrow sleeves), they’re mild and certainly not a deal breaker. It’s not as warm as the Boardman, however.

Overall

This is disappointing. With just a bit more care at the design stage, it could have been a very useful bit of chilly UK kit at a very attractive price. As it is, it leaves wrists cold, waists cold and – as a way to spend £30 – it leaves me cold too. Shame.

Verdict

Solid budget jersey ruined by poor shaping and the bad fit that results

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