Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey

8
£129.95

VERDICT:

8
10
Comfortable, warm and breathable jersey that makes the most of recycled materials
Good temperature regulation
Great construction quality
High percentage of recycled materials
Tail could be longer
Weight: 
240g

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.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

With classical looks and a blend of materials that work well together, the GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Jersey is one of those pieces of clothing that could be one of the staples of your year-round cycling wardrobe. The fit is great and the jersey warm and breathable – but the overall high quality and the merino wool-mix material contribute to a considerable cost.

Want to stay warm this winter? Then check out our best winter cycling jerseys buyer's guide.

Contrary to popular belief it doesn't actually rain all of the time in the UK – 'only' around 150 days saw 1mm or more of rainfall in 2022. This means you'll often need a jersey for dry winter rides, and ideally one that covers quite a wide-ranging temperature base.

And GripGrab's Gravelin Merinotech jersey does a pretty good job of fulfilling that role.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - hem.jpg

The testing period from mid-September to mid-December fortunately saw a wide variety of temperatures from an Indian summer-like 25°C to below freezing – which is quite a range in anybody's book.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - back.jpg

The material is made from a mix of 66% recycled polyamide, 9% virgin polyamide and 25% merino wool, creating a jersey that's pretty light and not that bulky, but the GripGrab Merinotech keeps your body heat in well.

With a mesh baselayer underneath I was comfortable up to around 12-13°C even when I was riding quite hard, which was helped by the Merinotech's impressive breathability.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - seam.jpg

Even when pushing hard on the climbs I'd soon cool down and dry out once I'd hit the flat section, and if the climb is followed by a descent any sweat build up doesn't make you cold.

On much colder days I was able to pair this with a long-sleeve base layer underneath, when I was warm enough down to temperatures as cold as -3°C. I reckon it would okay if it was a little chillier too, though the weather wouldn't play ball so I couldn't put this to the test.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - shoulders.jpg

Its lack of bulk means you can also wear it with layers over the top. If you feel the cold – I don't tend to – you could easily wear a waterproof jacket or softshell.

The GripGrab has a tailored, close fit, so there won't be any fabric flapping around when you're riding.

The sizing is realistic, the medium coming up as you'd expect, and GripGrab's website has a sizing guide to help you decide.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - chest logo.jpg

The arms are long enough for you to ride in a stretched-out position.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - cuff.jpg

That said, the tail isn't quite as dropped as you'll fin on some jerseys. But it is long enough to stop any chills when you wear it with a pair of bib shorts or bib tights.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - back logo.jpg

The three rear pockets are wide enough to get your gloved hand in, and deep enough for all your riding essentials.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - pockets.jpg

And you get a zipped valuables pocket too, which isn't always the case.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - zipped pocket.jpg

The full-length zip runs very smoothly and I found it easy to grip the small tab on the fly, while the top zip garage limits any irritation at the neck.

2023 GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey - collar.jpg

The Merinotech is available in four colours: olive green, navy, black or the mustard yellow we tested.

Value

The jersey's £129.95 price is far from cheap, but it is backed up by an impressive build quality and material that has a lovely soft feel to it.

The Band of Climbers thermal jersey is priced at £115, but its performance impressed Laurence, who rated it for excellent attention to detail.

Mat liked the Alpine Merino Blend jersey, but felt it was more for autumn and spring than winter.

The 7mesh's Ashlu Merino jersey also contains merino wool in its construction, and Emma found that the women's version worked very well, though at £160 it's a fair bit pricier.

Conclusion

The GripGrab is a comfortable jersey with a lovely soft feel and the wool-mix fabric performs well in a wide range of temperatures

Verdict

Comfortable, warm and breathable jersey that makes the most of recycled materials

road.cc test report

Make and model: GripGrab Gravelin Merinotech Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

GripGrab says: "This jersey blends the best of synthetic and wool fibers, delivering thermal insulation and exceptional riding comfort."

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

Merino wool fabric blend

Full length YKK zip

Rear pockets

Reflective details

Athletic fit

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

The sizing is realistic and in line with GripGrab's sizing guide.

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?

No problems whatsoever - and I put it through the washing machine countless times.

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

It worked well in a wide range of temperatures.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comfortable material.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Tail is shorter than some.

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

It's priced higher than quite a few jerseys but considering it includes merino wool in its construction, the value isn't bad compared against the likes of the 7mesh jersey 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

This is a well-made jersey that should work well in a wide range of winter temperatures, thanks to its breathability and warmth.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  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,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Latest Comments