Altura Women's Synchro Short Sleeve Jersey

This bold jersey from Altura is an improved redesign of their original and popular Synchro jersey from 2011. The new Synchro jersey is available in two colours; the bright blue on test, and an inverted black/white and red body. It comes in at an attractive sub-£40 price too.

It's good to see the pockets re-worked. There are now two, albeit small, pockets on the rear, with a mesh-lined zipped pocket for valuables. For reference, this comfortably fits an iPhone 5, though you'll want to plastic bag any gadgets as none of the pockets are water resistant.

The new fit is described as 'performance'; the 12 on test is pretty skintight, and although the stretchy fabric means it doesn't feel constrictive at all, size up if you're used to Altura's standard fit and want something a bit less snug.

It's good to see a women's jersey available up to a size 18, and the stretch in the fabric should accommodate curves (or lack of) in many shapes and sizes. The 1/4 length zip helps here too, with a smooth fit with no bulging zip folds on the stomach area. I have a long back, and the Synchro is shorter than I like personally. That said, the thick silicone gripper which runs the full circumference of the hem does an excellent job of holding the jersey in place at whatever length it's stretched to.

Altura have chosen just one material to make up the entire body of the jersey. The nylon with high Spandex content means the silky material is super soft and super stretchy. It's the same material found in the old Synchro design, and is unusual in a standard jersey, being more akin to skinsuit material. Despite not finding the material to be particularly well wicking, evidenced by the fact that it's usually the slowest drying jersey on my washing line, it does feel luxuriously comfortable on the skin, even when damp.

One thing to watch is dampness showing up quite clearly on the coloured body panel. Working hard does result in darker sweat patches under the pits. This is in no way clammy, but definitely results in a rapidly cooling feeling in the wind or at stops. The jersey does lend itself well to layering though, and works brilliantly as a colourful top or mid-layer over a well tucked-in baselayer.

For riding in low light, there are heat sealed reflective prints on the mid-back and a strip just below the pockets, with similar strips on the arms for side visibility. Another is located on the front right hip, which is probably not the most useful location. Incorporated reflective elements are a really good feature, and they've remained intact thus far, but it's worth noting that heat sealed prints are prone to peeling over time, especially on elasticated fabric.

It's a striking alternative to a typical logoed-up full length zip jersey, and is a good option for any woman with curves looking for a less performance oriented jersey which can be both comfortable and flattering.

Verdict

Comfortable and colourful jersey for a wide range of body shapes