Sportful Sky Rider Supergiara Jersey review

The Sportful Sky Rider Supergiara is a lightweight jersey, designed for gravel riders. It has an airy mesh fabric and styling that may divide opinions but is still one of the best gravel clothing items in the segment.

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Sportful Sky Rider Supergiara Jersey – Technical details

The Sky Rider Supergiara jersey is available in sizes S to 3XL and just one colour, perhaps aptly named, mud. The main feature that makes the jersey more suited to gravel riding is an additional three pockets to a standard jersey, with the extra pockets being in the same location but covered in a mesh fabric.

Sportful_Skyrider_Supergiara_Jersey_Back.jpg, by Matt Page

It has a close fit like a road jersey, with a raw-cut sleeve that hugs the upper arms all the way to the elbow area. All the panels are thin made from polyester and elastane fabric but the back panel, in particular, is a see-through mesh. The size small jersey pictured here weighs a scant 101g.

Sportful Sky Rider Supergiara Jersey – Performance

Owing to the close fit this jersey is suited more for gravel riding with an edge towards speed, racing or perhaps simply road use with extra bonus pockets.

With such thin fabric, I found it best used on warmer days with little wind, as there is barely any protection from the elements. While fit will be personal, I found the close fit good in most areas but a little loose-fitting around the upper chest.

Sportful_Skyrider_Supergiara_Jersey_Pocket1.jpg, by Matt Page

The main feature that makes this aimed towards gravel riding is the extra pockets. These mesh pockets sit on top the existing pocket configuration and are slightly shorter than the three main pockets. The main three are narrow but deep and the tightness of the top helps keep contents secure. The additional pockets are shorter but the mesh fabric is also more flexible, giving less security. I found them harder to locate while riding, especially the middle pocket and when the inner pockets are full. Overall, the pockets can be useful but some thought needs to go into what you store where.

Sportful_Skyrider_Supergiara_Jersey_pocket2.jpg, by Matt Page

After limited use, I noticed the rear panel with the mesh fabric has sections that have frayed, likely due to simply using the pockets and subsequently given it a slightly scruffy look. Designed for off-road use, the fabric is likely to see more abuse than on the roads and will easily fray or pull if caught by any bushes, nettles and branches.

The front full zip has an easy-to-grab puller and it runs smoothly in both directions. The jersey features a few quite small reflective patches with the Sportful logo on the chest area, and a small hatched design on the back to one side.

Sportful Sky Rider Supergiara Jersey – Value and verdict

Sportful_Skyrider_Supergiara_Jersey_fabric.jpg, by Matt Page

The Sky Rider Superiara jersey costs £120, a price that puts it among other premium brands, such as the ASSOS  Mille GTC jersey C2, which is £5 less and has a more relaxed, less race-orientated fit. There are few benefits over a standard road jersey – in fact, the only ‘benefit’ is the three extra pockets but these difficult to use and don’t really offer much extra over a standard jersey.

If you like the style, need a little extra storage capacity and want a closer fit, the Sportful Sky Rider Supergiara jersey may be what you’re looking for with features and a design that make it suitable for more than just gravel riding.

• saddleback.co.uk
• The reader’s guide to Off-Road.cc’s review scoring system

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