Isadore X Kompot Polka Dot Long Sleeve T-Shirt

As long as you go careful with sizing and fit, Isadore's X Kompot Polka Dot is a comfortable long-sleeve top that has the potential to become a firm favourite in your ride wardrobe.

• Pros: Great value, nicely made, cyclist-friendly cut with extended rear
• Cons: Slightly strange sizing especially if you're broad-chested, no reflective highlights

A few weeks back I tested Isadore's Urban Jeans and, I have to say, I gave them a bit of a kicking. They were too expensive and, in my opinion, not made to a high enough standard. So it's nice to be able to state from the outset that Isadore's X Kompot Polka Dot long-sleeve T-shirt is about as far removed from both those areas of criticism as it's possible to get.

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At £40 this is a fine bit of urban, leisure or even mountain biking cycle wear. The shirt is made in Portugal from 100% organic cotton and feels soft and light, yet retains a sense of hardwearing longevity. Essentially, it treads the fine line between being too delicate or too over-engineered very well.

There is also a small selection of nice details, such as the outer button and inner tab for retaining rolled-up sleeves, or the (very) extended rear cut, with an abundance of material to keep your lower back covered while in the saddle. Sleeve length is very good, too.

Indeed, in the saddle performance is top notch. It's airy and loose enough without flapping around to make you feel like a human spinnaker. It's also surprisingly adept at preventing too much chill from getting through. Now the weather has turned towards winter, I wouldn't suggest it be worn as anything more than 'just another layer'. But come spring and temperatures back in the mid-teens, you could quite happily get away with this and just a baselayer.

Which brings us to a few minor negatives. The first is that the relaxed neckline will expose said undergarment, meaning you might appear more Rab C Nesbitt than stylish urban road warrior. The second issue is that there are no reflective highlights. The polka-dot design is fun and eye-catching without being luridly high-vis during the day, but it's not particularly effective as an outer layer in the dark.

> Buyer's Guide: The best casual clothing for cycle commuting

The third criticism regards fit. According to Isadore's own sizing guide, my manly 46in chest should very definitely require an XXL shirt. But that extended almost down to my knees and we had to send it back as the photos looked ridiculous. The replacement XL version you see here is a pretty good fit but sits just a little tight across the pecs. So definitely try before you buy, and ignore Isadore's sizing suggestions.

Verdict

Well-priced and nicely made long-sleeve top with no question over quality but some issues with sizing