Pella Mortirolo Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey

Spending the majority of my waking life in Lycra means I like to wear kit that feels and looks good. Pella's Mortirolo jersey ticks both of those boxes plus a few more to boot.

With temperatures recently nudging 30°C (guaranteed it will be cold and raining when you read this) I've been searching through my wardrobe each morning looking for the most breathable jerseys. The short sleeved Mortirolo is made from Coolmax fabric which is designed to take moisture from your skin and spread it across the fabric speeding up the rate at which it dries, so it's been one of the jerseys to grab.

While on the move the fabric works well, removing heat and sweat to the atmosphere thanks to the wind passing over you and you certainly do feel cool and pretty dry. As soon as you stop the Mortirolo can soon get overwhelmed as your body heat increases though the speed at which it dries once you move off again is impressive. It has to be said it suffers no more than most other jerseys in this respect.

The fabric is very soft too, feeling very comfortable against the skin should you prefer not wear a baselayer at all times. The elasticated cuffs and hem keep it in position. The neck is deep, keeping annoying draughts out, and the full length zip also has material covers top and bottom to protect from skin irritation.

Round the back you get the standard three deep pockets which are strong enough to be loaded up without too much sag and an extra zipped one for phones/ keys and the like. The dropped tail keeps your lower back covered when you are in the drops and thanks to the elasticity of the material it doesn't bunch at the front either.

The cut is slim without being too close which is down to some well-shaped tailored panels rather than using a tighter material. The sizing is pretty generous considering it's Italian-made and my usual size medium was a good fit.

The Pella is priced at £65 which I think seems a fair price when you take the cut and performance into account. For that kind of money I expect quality and the Mortirolo certainly has that with the seams neatly stitched and zips running smoothly.

The size range goes from small to XX-large so should fit most and thanks to the cut should still look flattering on larger riders and for those of you that like a bit of colour on your kit you won't be disappointed here. The bright blue is accompanied by a red version and a fluoro yellow which all share the white side and underarm panels. It is also available in a more stealthy black.

Overall the Pella Mortirolo is a very well made piece of kit that combines plenty of Italian style without being extravagant or garish. The colours are bright and thanks to that nicely shaped cut it really does feel good on. The price is good for the quality and looks and the fact it's made in Italy is a nice touch.

Verdict

Really well made with close attention to detail that easily justifies the price; looks just as good as it feels