Rapha Women’s Souplesse Aero jersey

The Rapha Women’s Souplesse Aero Jersey is a lightweight and high performing top designed to save you a few valuable watts on race day, but it’s slightly let down by a tight collar and a very high price tag.

• Pros: Tight race fit, easy zip pocket, lightweight and apparently very aerodynamic
• Cons: Slightly tight around the neck, expensive

I had the pleasure of reviewing a previous incarnation of this jersey back in 2017. While overall I have been impressed with the changes that Rapha has made, it still isn’t perfect.

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The jersey is designed to be incredibly aerodynamic so, as you might expect, it leaves little to the imagination with a tight race cut. I am a UK size 8 and tested a size small, the same as I wear in all Rapha kit. This jersey comes up generally tighter than its predecessor, but still fits well for the most part. If I’m being very picky, there was a little extra material around my shoulders which wasn’t noticeable while standing but caught the wind a bit on fast descents.

My only real issue size-wise was with the collar; with the zip fully done up, it was uncomfortably tight around my neck. This isn’t a problem I’ve ever experienced before, and certainly not with the previous version of this jersey I tested, so I don’t think I have an unusually large neck. It was slightly more comfortable in a riding position and I got used to it over time, but I did end up riding with the jersey slightly unzipped a lot. I suspect this was pretty counteractive to some of the other aerodynamic gains it gave me.

The front of the jersey is shorter than most that I own, sitting only just below my belly button. This felt a bit odd off the bike, but was absolutely fine once riding.

The longer rear hem features a simple rubber gripper which didn’t grip as well as I’d have liked, meaning that the jersey rode up at the back a bit while I was riding.

Rapha says it is its most aerodynamic jersey ever, although it doesn’t say exactly how many watts it might save. Without the resources to test this, we will just have to trust Rapha on this one. It went through wind tunnel testing during development and is used by both men’s and women’s pro teams.

The Aero Jersey features a raised rubber Rapha logo on both the sleeve and back. I am no aerodynamics expert, but I thought this might affect the airflow over the jersey and its aerodynamic properties. I asked Rapha about this, but am still waiting for a response.

Where previously I found the textured, aerodynamic material on the sleeves uncomfortable, the new design is much improved. A selection of textured fabrics are still employed for aerodynamics, but the jersey sits comfortably flush against my skin and I had no issues with rubbing or chafing here.

The three different polyester and elastane fabrics used combine to make a very lightweight, albeit slightly see-through, jersey. The main back panel felt particularly thin, although not fragile, and wicked away sweat really nicely to keep me cool when necessary.

The jersey has three rear pockets with an additional zipped pocket for valuables. The inside of the pockets features a breathable mesh lining to increase ventilation, a feature that I love. Rapha has also updated the zipped pocket with an easy pull zip. It really does do the trick and makes accessing the pocket easy. Size-wise, as smartphones have grown, pockets have not and fitting my phone in was a struggle, but a handful of cash and my keys fitted absolutely fine.

If you like to stand out, this might not be the jersey for you as the latest edition comes in a choice of three fairly subtle tones: Navy, Black or Green Grey. I enjoyed testing the navy version, but preferred the old colour choices, some of which are still available on Rapha’s website if you scroll past all the ‘new season’ kit. There are even some on offer with big discounts!

> Buyer’s Guide: 17 of the best summer cycling jerseys

I don’t think I have ever bought, tested, or worn an item of Rapha kit that I have not liked, but the price is usually harder to stomach. The Aero Jersey has an RRP of £140. There’s quite a lot out there just below this price point, and not much above it. For example, Emma tested the Alé Women’s R-EV1 Summer Jersey (£110) last summer and found it to be a great fit, lightweight and comfortable, albeit perhaps less aerodynamic than the Rapha. Castelli’s Aero Pro Women’s Jersey and Dhb’s Aeron Lab Raceline Jersey are both £110 as well, while Santini’s Genio Jersey, its aero offering, is £125.

> Read more road.cc reviews of women’s cycling jerseys here

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you whose is the most aero, but all are designed to be close fitting, lightweight and breathable. For many, though, £140 for the Rapha Souplesse Aero jersey will be too high a price to pay while there are better value options offered by other brands.

Verdict

Designed and optimised for racing, but with a high price tag

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