The Santini Spot women’s jersey is a comfortable summer option with eco-friendly credentials, but it’s not as lightweight or breathable as some hot-weather tops.
> Buy now: Santini Spot women’s jersey for £100 from Santini
The Spot is designed for hot summer days and specifically temperatures between 18-35°C, according to Santini. I tested it during the recent UK heatwave with temperatures reaching the high 20s, and it performed well overall. That said, there are lighter and more breathable tops out there that feel better suited to the very hottest days, such as Le Col’s Pro Air jersey.
Materials
Santini has taken a sustainable approach with this jersey, stating that it’s made with ‘ecological fabrics’, although the exact percentage of recycled or eco-friendly materials isn’t specified.
The front, sides and sleeves of the jersey use a lightweight, slightly meshed fabric, while the back panel is a smoother, more traditional Lycra-like material. Overall, it’s reasonably breathable but it doesn’t feel significantly cooler than a standard jersey.
At the rear, there are three standard pockets made from the same back panel fabric, plus a handy zipped valuables pocket and some reflective detailing.
The pockets are a good size, offer plenty of stretch, and the elasticated tops kept everything securely in place throughout my rides. They do sit slightly higher on the back than on many jerseys, though, as there’s an extra panel of fabric beneath them which gives the back of the jersey a longer fit.
The Spot comes in two colours – this lilac and sand combination or an orange and brown.
Sizing and fit
As with all Santini jerseys, it comes in an impressive range of eight sizes from XXS to 3XL.
I usually wear a size small in cycling jerseys, and this one fitted me well. It’s not as tight as a race-fit jersey, but also not loose or baggy. The fit in the body and arms was great, though there was a little excess material on the shoulders for me. I fall between a small and medium on Santini’s size chart and I wouldn’t have wanted to size up.
The sleeves are a good length and have a two inch mesh elastic band cuff that kept them securely in place.
The full-length zip has a nice pull-tag, making it easy to unzip on the move, and the neckline also sits comfortably – not too high, not too low.
The bottom of the jersey is elasticated with a silicone gripper designed to keep it in place. However, I did notice it had a tendency to ride up my back during rides, particularly when paired with bib shorts that have a lower back.
Value
At £100, the Spot jersey sits in the mid-range for a premium brand. It’s not a budget option, but it’s also not pushing into the top-tier price bracket.
There are certainly less expensive options offering much of the same performance. For example, I was really impressed with Bioracer’s Icon Coldblack Women’s jersey, a high-quality design that’s well-suited to hotter days, and just £58 (though mostly sold out).
And Charlotte reviewed Madison’s Flux Women’s Short Sleeve Jersey which offers excellent performance with a high-end feel for only £39.99.
There are more expensive options too, such as MAAP’s Women’s Eclipse Pro Air Jersey 2.0, which is £160. It’s a high-performing option for hot conditions, with good eco-credentials too.
You can read more road.cc reviews of women’s cycling kit, and check out our guide to the best women’s cycling jerseys for summer.
Overall
The Santini Spot is a solid all-round option, offering a comfortable fit and good quality, though it’s not quite as light or breathable as some hot-weather jerseys.
> Buy now: Santini Spot women’s jersey for £100 from Santini
Verdict
Solid all-round option, offering a comfortable fit and good quality
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Santini Spot – Women’s Jersey
Size tested: Small
Tell us what the product is for
Santini says, “Our Spot women’s jersey is the ideal option for your bike rides during the hot summer days. Made with ecological fabrics, this jersey features a smooth and breathable fabric on the front and sleeves, ensuring comfort and coolness, while the back and sides are made of a breathable and light fabric, perfect for warmer days”.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Santini lists:
– smooth and breathable fabric on the front and sleeves
– breathable and light fabric on the back and sides
– mesh elastic band
– internal elastic with grip at the bottom
– triple rear pocket and an additional zip pocket
– reflective details on the back
– Made in Italy
A good all-round option.
Seems very well made, no problems so far.
A comfortable fit with very stretchy fabric, though there was some excess material on the shoulders for me.
I’m between a small and medium on Santini’s size guide, but I’m glad I chose the small – it still had a little excess material, so sizing up wouldn’t have been necessary.
Not as lightweight as some jerseys designed purely for high temperatures, such as Le Col’s Women’s Pro Air Jersey that weighs 77g.
A really comfortable jersey.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
No issues washing. Wash is at 30°C.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The jersey is a solid all-round option, but while Santini markets it as being designed for hot summer days, I’ve worn lighter and more breathable jerseys better suited to the hottest days.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Comfortable fit.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing major, it performed well but not as well as some other summer-specific jerseys I’ve tested.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It’s sits in the mid-range price bracket – not budget and not über expensive. There are certainly some less expensive options that perform well, such as Bioracer’s Icon Coldblack Women’s jersey for £58 (now mostly sold out) and Madison’s £39.99 Flux Women’s Short Sleeve Jersey, but also more expensive options, such as MAAP’s Women’s Eclipse Pro Air Jersey 2.0 at £160.
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
It’s a good all-round option with a comfortable fit, though there are more breathable and lightweight options out there for the hottest days.
About the tester
Age: 25 Height: 175 Weight: 64
I usually ride: specialised tarmac sl6 My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
