Ekoi Racing Outlast Jersey

The Ekoi Racing Outlast Jersey may look like your everyday close-fitting pro-level cycling jersey – but it has a nifty trick up its (short) sleeves. It has been designed to offer ‘intelligent thermoregulation’ courtesy of its ‘Outlast’ material. This has been created to adapt to a wide range of temperature changes, and I’ve been testing it through our varied British spring to see if it can live up to Ekoi’s bold claims. And while I haven’t got a laboratory to confirm it, I found the jersey not only comfortable, but that it did indeed cope well with a wide range of temperatures.

> Buy now: Ekoi Racing Outlast Jersey for £98.41 from Ekoi

For more options, check out our best summer cycling jerseys buyer’s guide.

Ekoi Racing Outlast Jersey: features and fit

The standout feature of the Ekoi Racing Outlast Jersey is its Outlast fabric, which is marketed as an intelligent material that adapts to temperature changes. Ekoi claims the jersey can reduce perspiration by 30-50%, and reduce the increase in your body temperature by an average of 8%, helping you to maintain a consistent thermal balance – figures almost certainly recorded under laboratory conditions.

Ekoi supplies kit to the Israel Premier-Tech professional cycling team, and this fabric is used in the team jerseys. It’s boldly claimed that the team riders were the only ones able to ride in the extreme heat of the 2023 Tour de France with their jerseys fully zipped.

The main fabric is a blend of 90% polyester and 10% elastane, offering UV50 protection and stretch properties to keep it close fitting. It also features microencapsulated wax, which is said to regulate your skin’s microclimate by absorbing heat as your skin warms and releasing it as it cools.

Ekoi offers the jersey in sizes S to XXL, accommodating chest sizes from 85 to 113cm (33.5-44.4in). It uses what Ekoi terms a ‘pro-fit’ – a skin-tight cut – with textured fabric on the sleeves, a now-common feature in performance jerseys because of its aerodynamic benefits.

I’m 62kg in weight and 168cm tall, and have an 86cm chest – and I just about made the cut for the Small. As Ekoi doesn’t offer this jersey in an XS size, this may exclude the smallest riders. It’s available in three colourways: two predominantly black designs with different accent colours at the sleeves and collar (coral in the case of our test jersey), and a white option.

Ekoi Racing Outlast Jersey: Performance

For me, the fit is spot on – close to my skin without feeling restrictive. It has a well-shaped collar and I found I could ride with the jersey fully zipped without it interfering with my neck or affecting my breathing. Although there’s no zip garage, I didn’t find this to be a problem.

The zip puller, however, is very small. While this may be an intentional design choice, it does make it more difficult to locate and use while riding.

The sleeves are a reasonable length, although they’re shorter than on some aero-focused jerseys, stopping short of the elbow. They remained in place in a consistent riding position, but they do ride up slightly when stretching or reaching for items in the rear pockets. Even so, the overall sleeve length and fit are quite good.

The rear section is cut long and stays securely in place, aided by heat-welded seams and effective elastic hem grippers. There are three traditional rear pockets, although contrary to Ekoi’s description, there is no zipped pocket. The pockets sit flat against the jersey for better aerodynamic performance. This slightly reduces ease of access, but in practice they’re deep and capacious. Items such as a phone or snacks sit securely inside without disrupting the jersey’s slippery aero profile.

Despite wearing the smallest available size, I found the front of the jersey rather long. When I was in a typical low riding position, this resulted in the fabric bunching slightly at the front, causing some creasing. I’m not especially tall, but other brands’ aero-style jerseys often feature a shorter front, which avoids this issue.

Overall, aside from the slightly long front, the jersey is very comfortable. While I can’t verify the body temperature regulation claims under real-world conditions, I’ve worn it on rides when temperatures ranged from just into double digits to the mid-20s, with one long ride spanning 10-26°C, and it has consistently felt fine without feeling the need to unzip the jersey.

Although it might sound like marketing hype, phase-change materials are increasingly used at the highest levels of sport, including Formula 1, where similar technology is employed to help maintain optimal tyre temperatures. The Outlast jersey’s fabric is not as thin or light as that used in some other lightweight jerseys, but it feels smooth against your skin, the collar sits well, the back stays firmly in place, and the pockets are genuinely practical.

Value

Aero-optimised clothing and jersey design have advanced considerably in recent years, both in terms of fabric technology and construction. A few years ago, the Le Col x McLaren Project jersey lacked both the comfort and structural integrity that the Ekoi jersey now delivers, with its thicker fabric also proving overly warm.

Ekoi prices the Racing Outlast Jersey at £164.02 (which changes regularly with the exchange rate), but it’s presently discounted by 40% to £98.41, which can also change without warning.

Rapha’s Pro Team Aero Jersey is yours for £185, and while Laurence didn’t find it flawless, he thought that the fabric quality and fit were ideal if you were looking for aerodynamic efficiency.

Castelli has recently introduced its Aero 8s, which I’m currently testing. At £168 it’s a similar price and has left a strong first impression, thanks to its improved zip, shorter front and longer sleeves. In some respects, though, it’s the opposite of the Ekoi, it features a shorter rear and is made from an extremely light, almost transparent fabric, making it more suited to the very hottest days.

Ekoi Racing Outlast Jersey: Overall

The fit and construction are excellent, with only a few relatively minor drawbacks. The zip is small and the front feels slightly too long for my build. However, the rear is superb, contributing to a clean, aerodynamic profile with minimal creasing and no loose fabric flapping.

While the thermoregulation claims are best assessed in a laboratory setting, the jersey proved comfortable across a broad range of temperatures typical of British spring and summer conditions. With practical rear pockets and a choice of light or dark colours, this is a jersey that holds its shape well, feels good to wear, and offers usable storage for real-world riding.

Verdict

Comfy and with potential thermoregulation benefits – but the long front compromises a perfect aerodynamic fit

> Buy now: Ekoi Racing Outlast Jersey for £98.41 from Ekoi

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