Hoy Vulpine Men's Fortress Jersey and Arm Warmers

The Hoy Vulpine Fortress is a really good windproof and water-resistant jersey in an excellent cut, and the arm warmers, which use the same fabric, are equally impressive performers.

I love the cut of the Fortress jersey. It's slim without any bagginess. If you're a chunkier build than me and you're concerned that this might mean it's a tight fit, you probably don't need to worry because the polyester/polyurethane fabric is super-stretchy across its width. That's one of the beauties of this jersey (and, to be fair, of many other jerseys of a similar ilk from other brands) – you get protection from the weather in a sporty, aero cut.

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The dropped tail is excellent too. It's long enough to keep your bum covered and silicone print on the inside of the gripper meant it always stayed properly in place throughout testing, whether I was sitting in the saddle or standing up. It's the most successful tail design of any jersey of this kind that I've tried.

Grippers inside the sleeves are similarly effective whether working against your skin or the top of the arm warmers.

The neck is tall and close fitting. I have the medium sized jersey and the collar has a 14 inch (35.6cm) circumference (if you wanted to check that against one of your existing jerseys). It's lined with a microfleece fabric so it feels comfortable.

Although it's lightweight, the Fortress is considerably warmer than a standard jersey in dry weather by dint of being windproof, but it's in wet conditions that it really scores. The fabric keeps out spray from the road and can deal with anything up to quite hard showers as long as they don't go on for too long. As with other foul weather jerseys, water can get in through the untaped seams over a period of time, but sometimes that's a better option than carrying and sticking on a flappy and perhaps less breathable waterproof jacket.

Speaking of breathability, sweat vapour is able to escape through the fabric, although I've used other jerseys that are more capable in this regard. Hoy Vulpine has perforated the reflective panels on top of the shoulders and on the tail so as not to compromise the performance there.

In terms of temperature range, I'd say the Fortress is suitable for about 8°C up to 15°C or so.

> Buyer's Guide: The best winter cycling jerseys

The three rear cargo pockets have elasticated tops to help keep the contents in place, and there's a zipped outer pocket for your valuables back there too.

The leading sections of the arm warmers are made from the same water resistant fabric, while the panel along the underside is a brushed back Roubaix. They use the same grippers as the jersey and stay in place perfectly.

When looking at value we rate a product according to its RRP, and at £140, although not cheap, the Fortress set is good value. It's nearly £100 cheaper now – and a steal. Don't dither, though – the medium in mandarin is already sold out...

Verdict

Windproof and water resistant jersey in an excellent fit, with added arm warmers and now at an excellent price