Q36.5 Dottore Clima Jersey Women

The Q36.5 Dottore Clima Jersey is the most expensive short sleeve jersey we’ve reviewed but it’s packed with loads of tech. It’s a very impressive warm weather jersey combining exceptional breathability, a fantastic fit and high-quality construction – though you would hope so for the price.

Q36.5 is a high-end brand, and it calls the Dottore Clima its “most advanced hot weather jersey ever”. This year’s version has apparently been re-engineered using feedback from the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

The jersey now uses a new polyester-graphene yarn to improve comfort when the temperature rises, paired with redesigned, raw cut, ribbed sleeves to aid with aerodynamics.

The graphene technology is woven directly into the fabric and is supposed to regulate body temperature by improving heat transfer and helping the body shed excess heat. It certainly seems to work in practice. I wore the jersey throughout the summer heatwave and in the French Alps, and found it noticeably cool and comfortable across a range of riding intensities.

The breathability doesn’t stop at the main body of the jersey. Across the back, the three main pockets are made from a mesh fabric, which isn’t something I’ve seen on a jersey before. It’s double-lined and surprisingly not fragile, with an elasticated top. It does mean your riding buddies can clearly see how many gels you’re carrying, but the pockets work well and hold contents securely.

There’s also a zipped pocket for valuables like keys and cash which is made of the same mesh material. It’s a small detail, but the zip is particularly well executed: the
puller makes it easy to open and close and the zip sits flush when closed rather than protruding or catching on anything. There’s also reflective detailing on the zipper teeth, adding a touch of visibility.

The full-length front zip doesn’t feature the same reflective detailing, but it has a similarly generous pull tab and feels robust and well made.

At the bottom of the jersey at the rear, there’s no silicone gripper, but the material used here does a great job of keeping the jersey securely in place. It’s very stretchy and lightweight without feeling bulky and transitions seamlessly into the main body of the jersey.

The jersey is available in black, lime and white, and is impressively lightweight without being see-through. My size S weighed 90g, which is slightly heavier than the 77g Le Col Pro Air Jersey I tested, although that jersey used an especially thin mesh fabric.

It is available in five sizes, from XXS to L, and I opted for a size S based on Q36.5’s size guide. This is my first piece of kit from the company, and the fit was spot on. Q36.5 does note that if you already wear a smaller size in its kit, you may want to consider sizing up.

It may have been developed with input from the pros, but the jersey remains comfortable in all positions on the bike (as well as stood up off the bike) and is not restricted to that very low race position.

Value

At £220, this is the most expensive jersey we have reviewed at road.cc, and there’s no getting around the fact that it’s a lot of money to spend.

The closest comparable women’s jersey in terms of cost that we have reviewed is the Jelenew Glider Short Sleeve Pro jersey which initially sold at an RRP of £209, though it does appear to be listed on the website for £114 now.

The MAAP Women’s Eclipse Pro Air Jersey 2.0 has an RRP of £160 and I found it combined breathability and an impressive fit with good eco-credentials.

Clearly, you can also spend a lot less. Gorewear’s Spinshift Breathe Jersey Women’s, which Rebecca said was a seriously lightweight jersey that became her go-to for summer riding, has an RRP of £89.99 and we’ve often seen it heavily discounted.

Overall

While it’s difficult to recommend a jersey costing £220, the level of development that has gone into the Dottore Clima is clear. It’s not only an exceptionally breathable summer jersey, but also comfortable, lightweight and great quality.