Lusso Unisex Paragon Jersey

The Lusso Unisex Paragon Jersey is well made and comfortable, and is best suited to mild conditions, with an understated look and a fit that isn’t restrictive. From a woman’s perspective, it will appeal if you find female-specific jerseys too short in the body.

> Buy now: Lusso Unisex Paragon Jersey for £105 from Lusso

Lusso has gone from offering its men’s Paragon Jersey in just one colour, to stocking no fewer than nine colour options with a revised ‘unisex’ design, in sizes from XS to XXXL. The Jersey has retained many of its great characteristics, most noticeably soft-to-touch fabrics that feel great to ride in and a fit that isn’t restrictive.

I’ve had a good stint of warm weather for testing – from the low 20s up to 30°C – and I’d say the jersey is better suited to the lower end of this range. In the hottest temperatures, without a base layer, the fabric really clings to you when you start sweating.

That’s not unusual for a jersey made of synthetic fibres, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re planning a hilly ride and/or a long one with stops – that damp clinginess can suddenly feel a bit chilly. The good news, however, is that it does dry out pretty quickly.

I ventured out for a few early morning rides to see how the Paragon handled cooler temperatures. And teamed with a minimal vest, it worked very well – I never felt too hot or too cold.

Unisex can work

Fit-wise, Lusso has done a great job. No single jersey is going to suit everybody but offering a unisex garment is an interesting manoeuvre. The size chart put me in a medium and this is my go-to size anyway.

Lined up next to a female-specific jersey, the Paragon is noticeably longer. In addition to this, for me personally, there is a small amount of ‘bag’ around my waist when in a riding position. This isn’t said as a negative – not everyone wants a jersey that stretches and squeezes about your every lump and bump. If you want a snug fit, if you’re a female rider I’d say consider sizing down.

The fit around the shoulders and chest is excellent, even with shoulder seams that sit much closer to the neck than on most jerseys – the sleeves are contoured to compensate, so they sit perfectly over the shoulders. With a raw-cut finish that sits flat and doesn’t ride up, they make for a clean look.

The jersey’s length does go against it if you load the pockets unevenly – it has a tendency to swing to one side. The minimal grippy tabs around the elasticated waist band aren’t so effective if you’ve loaded one of the side pockets heavily and not the other.

The rear pockets are deep – there’s space for loads of stuff. Since the fabric is super stretchy they easily accommodate a bulkier gilet or rain jacket; there’s also a zipped security pocket. A huge plus of the longer body length is that the pockets are easy to get into, even when riding.

I frequently find pockets on female-specific jerseys awkward to access because they sit higher up the back, and it’s often the case that those that are most easy to access don’t have a huge amount of depth.

Their generous capacity may come with a downside. I loaded up for a longer ride and noticed the stitching attaching the pockets to the rear panel was really stressing the fabric. Over time, this repeated loading may take its toll, so I’d recommend not overloading the pockets; the rest of the jersey is faultless when it comes to quality of construction.

The only other negative I’ve found with the Paragon Jersey is the fabric’s tendency to cling onto odours. After a sweat-inducing ride you’re definitely going to want to throw it straight in the wash. The synthetic material doesn’t stay fresh, unlike like some merino blends, and while this is the case with most man-made fibres, it’s worth thinking about if you’re planning a multi-day trip.

Value

At £105 I’d say the Paragon Jersey, despite a very decent performance and a pleasing fit, might struggle to compete with similarly understated designs.

The Sportful Classic Jersey costs £60, while the Boardman Men’s Series 9 is a bargain at just £50.

For a women’s jersey with a similar design, the Madison Flux costs just £39.99.

Likewise, Bioracer’s Icon Coldback Jersey is also much cheaper than the Lusso at £55.50.

Coming in at a similar price to the Lusso is the Specialized Women’s Prime Short Sleeve Jersey at £100, which Lara liked a lot.

One factor that maybe worth considering is that Lusso is based in the UK, still making its jerseys in Manchester – hence the city’s Bee logo on the jersey – and this will inevitably add some cost.

Our best summer cycling jerseys buyer’s guide covers both male and female short-sleeve options, and we’ve also got our women’s summer jerseys buyer’s guide.

Conclusion

All in all, it’s a good jersey that feels great to wear and offers decent, accessible pocket capacity – though be cautious of fully exploiting it – at a slightly higher than average price.

Verdict

Comfortable, understated looks, a good body length and a wide choice of colours – and it’s made in the UK

> Buy now: Lusso Unisex Paragon Jersey for £110 from Lusso 

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