Etxeondo Feather Short Sleeve jersey

The Etxeondo Feather Short Sleeve jersey is an extremely slim fitting jersey with a very breathable fabric. It's excellent on the bike but does come with a high price tag. It does look good though, stylish and simple, and you're not likely to see many people wearing Etxeondo kit on UK roads.

Etxeondo is a Spanish firm, based in the Basque region and they proudly design and manufacture everything in their own facility. And they've been around since 1976 so they've got plenty of expertise when it comes to cycle clothing design. Their logo has been seen on some prestigious shoulders in the past; both Sean Kelly and Miguel Indurain raced in Etxeondo clothing during their careers.

That racing heritage gives you a good indication of the focus of the Feather jersey. It's designed with racers in mind. This applies to the fit. I tested a medium, but holding the jersey up in the air, it just looks teeny, more like a small or extra small. Once on however, the fit is excellent. In fact, I'll go as far as saying it's one of the best fitting jerseys I have ever tested.

It wraps and hugs the body with extraordinary comfort. Etxeondo clearly take fit very seriously. This second skin fit is good from an aerodynamic viewpoint, as there's no excess fabric to billow and flap in the wind. And it fits very well around the waist and the three pockets, even when loaded up, don't sag.

The fabric used is called Meryl, not one I've come across before. It's essentially a Lycra with a high stretch factor. It has soft feel against bare skin and weighs very little which combined with the stretchiness means the jersey almost disappears once it's on. The fabric also has UV treatment, handy for riding in hot weather, and at the same time it's highly breathable and very good at wicking sweat.

I particularly liked the shaped of the collar, which has a lower front section where the zip puller stops. This means you can do the zipper right up without any restriction around the neck, increasing comfort. There's a three-quarter length zip, I usually prefer a full-length zip for a summer jersey, but there's still plenty of scope for ventilation when you're toiling up the Galibier. The three-quarter zip does benefit the fit as there's an uninterrupted elastic waistband.

Around the back are the standard three pockets. They're plenty generous enough for a typical rides worth of supplies. There's no zipped valuables pocket which is a shame, something they've presumably omitted in the quest for lightness.

All that and it looks good too. I like the black finish with the offset white and red band, matching the sleeves and a slim detail around the neck.

Verdict

A stylish and very good jersey for racing and hot weather riding.